Bender v. Addams

OPINION OF COURT.

The following is taken, verbatim, from the opinion.

VICKERY, J.

Now the theory of the case was th&t, inasmuch as tigs was a “bona fide” private residence, the issuance of a search warrant was illegal, and that it gave no right to Patrick and Connors to enter upon the premises; that they were trespassers and that they were liable for whatever damages might have occurred. In any event they were liable for nominal damages.

There is no question, in the instant case, even under the Miller law, to construe it, as it has been argued, that this Bender residence remained a private residence and a “bona fide” private residence, because there was no liquor of any kind, contraband or bond liquor, that was found on the premises. So far as this case is concerned, the persons who entered the premises were trespassers.

Now th& theory of holding McDonald was on the ground that there existed the relationship of principal and agent between him and Patrick, and that the doctrine of “respondent superior” applied. In other words, that Patrick was not an officer, that he was simply the agent of McDonald, State Prohibition Commissioner, and if Patrick was responsible as agent, the principal would likewise be liable. We do not think that the doctrine of “respond-eat superior” applies in this case.

Now, as already stated, both from subsequent events and what should have appeared before anything was done, the home of Senator Bender was a “bona fide” private residence. That being so, can thé defendants escape responsibility by showing that they had a search warrant ?

Now it is claimed that the Miller law changed the law heretofore existing, so that if one had a search warrant to search what would otherwise be a “bona fide” private residence, and they found liquor, or, liquor that was illegally manufactured or obtained, then the house would cease to retain its character as a private residence and those who held the search warrant would be immune from damages by reason of a search under such a warrant.

It would be interesting to read this section of the statute in conjunction with others. The section, under discussion, of the Miller law, seems to me to refer to the trafficking in intoxicating liquors: “No place shall be regarded as a ‘bona fide’ private residence under the laws prohibiting liquor traffic, wherein liquors are possessed or have been illegally manufactured or obtained.” It will be seen that this section refers to traffic in intoxicating liquor, and the possession of liquor, illegally obtained or otherwise, is only to be taken in connection with the former part of this phrase, “trafficking in intoxicating liquors.”

Now this trafficking in liquors, as defined in this statute, does not very materially change the ordinary definition from a trafficking in intoxicating liquors. It means the buying, selling, enabling, procuring, or aiding to procure liquors in which there is to be a trafficking in, and to possess them for that purpose.

Section 6212-14, paragraph 2, reads as follows:

“The term ‘given away’ and the term ‘possess’ shall not apply to intoxicating liquor in a bona fide private dwelling.”

So from these authorities, under the Miller law, the character of a “bona fide” private residence can only be changed so it is not immune from search, by doing something which amounts to a trafficking in liquors; the mere possession of liquor, no matter when manufactured, does not change the character of the home. It depends upon the use to which the house is put.

We are not saying that before you could change the character of a private residence into a place for which a search warrant might be issued, it would be necessary, in all cases, to show by direct evidence that there was a sale of liquor. The quantity of liquor that Was procured, how often it was procured, all of those things should be taken into consideration, as bearing upon the question as to whether or not there was a trafficking in intoxicating liquors, and even though they might not show, as a matter of fact, that there was a sale, yet circumstances might be sufficient to taint that house, and that house would cease to be a “bona fide” residence. Even if the officers had found a bottle of liquor, unless it would have been under such circumstances that a trafficking might be presumed, the mere possessing of a bottle of liquor would not, of itself, change the'character of the home into that of a place that would not be immune from search.

Let us make this proposition: That, under the law, .in the same Miller act, is this provision: “Providing that nothing in this act shall be construed to permit any person to enter or search, with or without a warrant, a bona fide private residence as herein defined.” Now this statute is simply in accordance with the general law that a man’s home or his house is his castle, and it is immune. That being so, the proposition that we lay down is that a house, being a “bona fide” private residence, no officers of the law seeking to .enforce the dry law, have a right, either with or without a warrant, to enter and search a “bona fide” private house. If they do so, they do so at their peril, and .are trespassers, ab initio, and are liable for at least nominal damages.

We are of the opinion, in view of the positive prohibition of the statute against the issuance of a search warrant to search a “bona .fide” private residence, that .before an officer is authorized to swear to an affidavit upon which a search warrant is to be issued, he must first investigate and have reasonable grounds to believe that which appears to be a “bona fide” private residence is in fact not a “bona fide” private residence.

Taking these propositions in connection with the charge, of the court: It was, in effect, that if Connors did not know of the situation and circumstances, and he went in there at- the request of Patrick, who had a search warrant, he would not be responsible, and the jury must have believed and relied upon this statement and followed the instructions of the court. Now every man, especially an officer, who seeks to enforce law, must know the law, and Connors is presumed to know that, under no circumstances, with or without a search warrant, could he search the “bona fide” private house of Bender or anybody else. That being so, when he entered upon these premises he was guilty of a trespass and the court was wrong in his charge to the jury upon which this verdict was based, because the evidence is undisputed that Connors did go in this house with Patrick, and they searched this house from cellar to garret. It is said they did it with the consent of Senator Bender. Well, Senator Bender did not want to create a disturbance by fighting with officers, and so he did what most men would do, make the. best of a bad situation and, smilingly perhaps, permitted them to search the house; but that does not show that'they were invited into the house, and that he waived any of his rights. It simply shows that he did not obstruct the officers in what they regarded as the performance of their duties. But that does not excuse the officers.

We think that the- searching a “bona fide” private house, with or without' a warrant, is a trespass, and a violation of the right of the party who owns the house and who was in possession when it was so searched, and that the plaintiff would be entitled to recover at least nominal damages.

We think, therefore, that the court was wrong in his charge, and it was such prejudicial error that it resulted in a wrong judgment and for that reason the judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded to the Common Pleas Court to be retried.

(Sullivan, PJ. and Levine, J., concur.)