Commonwealth v. One Ford Truck

Opinion by

Gawthrop, J.,

The Commonwealth filed in the Court of Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia County a petition for the forfeiture of a certain Ford truck and its contents, consisting of intoxicating liquor, the allegation being that the truck was being used to transport liquor in violation of the National Prohibition Act and the State Enforcement Act of March 27, 1923, popularly known as the Snyder Act. The owner of the truck filed an answer averring that he had no knowledge of and did not consent to the use of the truck for the transportation of liquor; that he leased the truck to O’Brien and Hess to be used by them in the trucking business, the owner to receive thirty per cent of the receipts of the operation of the truck; and praying that the truck be returned to him. After hearing on J une 6,1924, a decree was forthwith entered condemning the truck and ordering the sheriff to sell it. On June 10,1924, a petition for a jury trial was filed and on September 22, 1924, the Commonwealth moved to dismiss the petition for a jury trial. The court below refused the motion and ordered that the decree of condemnation of the truck be vacated. This action constitutes the error assigned here.

The proceeding is under the Snyder Act which gives to any person claiming the right of possession of property seized and sought to be condemned the right to file a claim therefor and to show why it should be returned to him. The act provides for a hearing before the court or judge thereof without a jury and, if the facts justify it, a decree of condemnation under which the liquor may be ordered destroyed and the vehicle sold by the sheriff. Section 11 (VII) provides, however, that “unless either the Commonwealth or the claimant shall demand a jury trial within five days after the conclusion of the hearing, the right to such jury trial shall be deemed to have been waived.”

As we view this case, it is unnecessary to consider most of 'the questions which have been so well argued by the able assistant district attorney. It is clear beyond question that the section of the act just quoted contemplates that there shall be a trial by jury if it is demanded within the time prescribed. Whether the legislature could have deprived claimants of such a right is wholly foreign .to the question before us. It is quite sufficient to know that the right was recognized and the method to secure it pointed out. While the act does not describe the details of the practice in making the demand for a jury trial, we are of opinion that the filing of a demand in writing by the claimant in the court in which the condemnation proceeding has been instituted may be made at the time the claim is filed or at any time thereafter until the end of the fifth day after the conclusion of the hearing before the court. We agree with the learned judge of the court below that the act contemplates that the claimant shall have the opportunity to make his demand for a jury trial before any judgment is actually entered, and that the court should not enter its decree until the five days for making the demand have expired. If the demand is made, the petition to condemn should be refused. As the decree of condemnation in this case was .made before the expiration of the five days and the demand for jury trial was made within the time fixed by the act, the decree was properly vacated and the petition of the Commonwealth to refuse the jury trial was properly dismissed.

The order is affirmed.