Davis v. State
Davis v. State
Opinion of the Court
The accused was charged with the offense of illegally manufacturing spirituous, alcoholic, malt, and intoxicating liquors. The evidence disclosed that he was seen at a still, it not being disclosed what kind of still it was nor what was being produced therefrom. There was a fire under the still. The defendant was seen stirring beer in a box with a paddle. There were six good-size boxes of beer at the place. The evidence fails to disclose anything at all in reference to the nature of the beer, — as to whether it was alcoholic, and it is entirely silent on the question as to any liquor there found being spirituous, alcoholic, malt, or intoxicating, nor was any of the liquor named or called by such a designation as is commonly understood to. refer to alcoholic-liquors. The evidence of one of the witnesses was: “I did see Bill Davis and Horace Hall, they were in the beer, stirring beer. The still was in operation, they had a fire.” The State’s witnesses testified also that the defendant had offered them money and whisky not to tell what they had seen. Most of the evidence introduced was concerned with a description of the surroundings and as to whether it was possible for the State’s witnesses to have seen the still or persons
Judgment reversed.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting. The evidence for the State was in part as follows: “I did see him [the defendant] at the still; he was stirring a box with a paddle, stirring beer. . . There was afire in the still, the still was running. . . That was in this county, where the still was being run and operated. . . Did not ever see anybody making liquor before, not before that time. . . I did not ever see a still, not until I seen that one. The color of it —it was bright, it was copper all right. . . I talked with Bill Davis on the following Sunday night afterwards. He come to the church and told us not to tell it, that they had too much money in it, and he offered us ten dollars apiece not to tell it, and ‘if you
The word “liquor” and the word “still” were used by the witness in the present context as relating to alcoholic or spirituous liquid, and the proof is sufficient to show, in the absence of adverse testimony, that he manufactured an alcoholic or spirituous liquor.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.