State v. Lafargue
State v. Lafargue
Opinion of the Court
The accused was tried on an information charging that he “did keep a grog or tippling shop and did retail spirituous and intoxicating liquors without previously obtaining a license.” He was convicted, and has appealed.
“The bill of information against defendant was filed by the district attorney on Wednesday the 21st day of March, at motion hour, and at that time he asked .if any lawyer would answer for defendant. No one being present to answer, the case was docketed for Monday, the 26th day of March. Then, on the 23d, the accused being represented in court by counsel, Blr. J. C. Cappel, who only appeared for fixing, waived arraignment, pleaded not guilty, and fixed the case for Monday, the 26th, the day previously set by 'the district attorney.
“That, the case being one originating at the parish seat, Marksville, the witnesses for the state being known by the accused; the defendant had ample time to prepare his defense, and, further, the accused’s witnesses were all summoned and appeared on the day of the trial and testified in the case. The defendant had eight witnesses to testify in his behalf besides himself.
_ “Further, that neither the motion for a continuance nor the motion for a new trial alleged or showed that, if given more time, additional evidence would be produced.”-
“Counsel for defendant objected to that portion of the bill of particulars which intended to show other sales of liquor other than that named in the affidavit and bill of information, on the ground that it did not conform to the affidavit and bill of information under which defendant was being tried, nor was it in compliance with a call for a bill of particulars, and that it named other dates on which liquor was sold other than in the bill of information, and asked the court to strike 'out and to not consider that portion of the bill of particulars naming said other dates.
“'Which objection and request the court overruled and refused for the following reasons, to wit:
“The charges against the accused for retailing spirituous and intoxicating liquor and keeping a grog and tippling shop, the court stated it would restrict the evidence as to the sale to the date of the information, that is, to March 18, 1917, but Would permit evidence to show sale or sales during a month previous as to the charge of keeping a grog or tippling shop.” .
In the case of State v. Green, 127 La. 832, 54 South. 45, it was held, that on a charge of
State v. Ryan, 131 La. 1054, 60 South. 681, is to the effect that, even when the charge is the keeping of a tippling shop, the prosecution will be confined to one 'date, if when called upon for a bill of particulars it so confined itself. In the instant case the prosecution very properly refrained from so confining the bill of particulars.
On rehearing, the same doctrine was applied in State v. Elliott, 138 La. 457, 70 South. 473, where no bill of particulars had been filed, Justice O’Niell, who had been the organ of the court on the original hearing, dissenting, and properly, since no bill of particulars had been filed, and hence the accused could not have been misled to his prejudice, time not being of the essence in such a case.
The third bill of exception covers the same ground as the second.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE v. LAFARGUE
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- (Syllabus by Editorial Staff.) 1. Criminal Law An information was filed against defendant on March 21st and the case docketed for Monday, March 26th. On the 23d he appeared by counsel, pleaded and fixed the case for March 26th. The case originated at the parish seat, the witnesses for the state were known by accused, he had ample time to prepare his defense, and his witnesses were all summoned and appeared and testified at the trial; eight witnesses testifying in his behalf besides himself. Held, that the refusal of a continuance was not error, especially where no showing was made that if given more time additional evidence would be produced. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §. 1316.] 2. Criminal Law The granting or refusing of a continuance is a question largely in the discretion of the trial court, with which the Supreme Court does not interfere except in highly exceptional cases. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 3045-3049.] 3. Intoxicating Liquors Under an information charging defendant with keeping a grog or tippling shop and retailing spirituous and intoxicating liquors without a license, evidence of sales on days other than that named in the affidavit and information was admissible, since the offense of keeping a tippling shop_ is continuous in its nature, and its continuity may be established by proof of sales on every day within the period during which it continues. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Intoxicating Liquors, Cent. Dig. § 273.] N