People v. Quinn
People v. Quinn
Opinion of the Court
Respondent was prosecuted and convicted before a jury in the circuit court for the county of Muskegon, and brings the case here on exceptions before sentence. The following is a copy of the information upon which the conviction was had:
‘ James O. McLaughlin, prosecuting attorney for the oounty of Muskegon aforesaid, for and in behalf of the people of the State of Michigan, comes into said court in the October term thereof, A. I). 1887, and gives it to understand and be informed that heretofore, to wit, on July 19, in the year 1887, at the city of Muskegon, in said county of Muskegon, Thomas D. Quinn, late of said -city of Muskegon and county aforesaid, whose business at that time consisted in part of the sale of drugs and medicines, and who was not then and there authorized by the laws of the State of Michigan to engage in the business of selling, furnishing, giving, or delivering as a beverage any spirituous, malt, brewed, fermented, or vinous liquors, or any mixed liquor, a part of which is spirituous, malt, brewed, fermented, or vinous, to any person, did, on the said July 19, A. D. 1887, at the city of Muskegon, in said county, sell and furnish Walter S. Deveraux one glass of spirituous liquor, to be used as a beverage by said Walter S. Deveraux, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the people of the State ■of Michigan."
1. That the acts alleged in said information do not constitute any offense known to the laws of the State of Michigan.
2. That no offense is stated or charged in said information which the laws of this State confer jurisdiction upon this court to try and determine.
The court overruled' the motion to quash, defendant entered his plea of not guilty, and the cause proceeded to trial before a jury duly impaneled.
The people, to maintain the issue, called as a witness the county treasurer of the county, who produced the bond given by defendant as a druggist for the year 1887. The people offered this bond, with the indorsement thereon, in evidence. This was objected to by defendant’s counsel for the reason as then given by him,—
“ Because it is not alleged in the information that the respondent sold and delivered the beverage or that the furnishing of the beverage was by the respondent in his capacity as a druggist, or as a druggist, in any manner whatever. He is described in the forepart of the information as being engaged in that kind of business, but, when it comes to the allegation of selling and furnishing, the information is entirely silent as to whether he sold as a saloonist, private individual, druggist, or in any other capacity.”
The court overruled the objection, and admitted the bond in evidence, whereupon the people called Walter S. Deveraux, who testified that on July 19, 1887, at the city of Muskegon, in said county, respondent did sell and furnish to him one glass of spirituous liquors. This testimony was taken under objection of respondent’s counsel that it was incompetent and immaterial. This was all the testimony given by the people in the case. The respondent was sworn in his own behalf, and denied making any
1. That the information does not state any ■ offense.
2. That the information does not state a cause of action within the jurisdiction- of the court to try and determine.
The claim made by counsel for the respondent in his brief is this: That the sale of intoxicating liquors to be used as a beverage is made unlawful by chapters 28 and 71 of Howell’s Statutes, when made in violation of either of those chapters, but that chapter 28 has reference to general sales by what is termed “saloon-keepers;” while chapter 71 refers exclusively to druggists, who sell in that capacity, or whose business consists in whole or in part of the sale of drugs, medicines, etc.; that offenses committed by selling in violation of chapter 28 are declared to be misdemeanors, and triable exclusively in justice’s court; while offenses committed under chapter 71 are also declared to be misdemeanors, but, on account of the penalty attached being beyond the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace, are exclusively triable in the circuit court; that to authorize the trial and conviction in the circuit court of a person charged with the unlawful sale, it is not sufficient to prove the sale, but that proof must be made that the person was acting in the capacity of a druggist in order to bring the ease under chapter 71, and thus give the circuit court jurisdiction. Chapter 71 was amended in 1883, by Act No. 187, but the amendment does not affect the question raised by this record.
The offense is charged to have been csmmitted on July 19, 1887, and some time before the act of 1887 took effect. We are therefore to look at the several acts of the Legis
“Whenever any druggist shall violate any of the provisions of this section he shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punished by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $200, and costs of prosecution, and imprisonment in the county jail not less than 10 days nor more than 90 days.”
Chapter 28 of Howell's Statutes, referred to by counsel for defendant, includes Act No. 156, Laws of 1881, amending the act of 1879 in reference to the taxation of the business of selling, etc., intoxicating liquors. Section 6 of this act provides the penalty for its violation, and
We think the information charges. an offense coming within the provisions of section 13, and that the court properly overruled the motion to quash. While all sales of intoxicating liquors not made in compliance with law constitute an offense, yet those made by a person in the capacity of a druggist form an exception to the general class, and on account of that exception the circuit court is given jurisdiction to try and determine such offenses. The information covers a case falling within the provisions of section 13 (How. Stat. § 3383), of unlawful sales by a druggist. The information charges the respondent with being engaged in a business consisting in part of the sale of drugs and medicines, and also negatives the fact of his having the lawful right to engage in the business of selling, furnishing, giving, or delivering as a beverage any spirituous, malt, brewed, fermented, or vinous liquors to any person, and also alleges the sale of a glass of spirituous liquors to one Deveraux, to be used as a beverage. It is claimed by defendant’s counsel that there is nothing exclusive about the provisions of chapter 71, which forbids directly or by implication a druggist from engaging in the sale of liquor under other provisions of the law, but he becomes liable to the penalties prescribed in section 13, if at all, because of the character of the business in which he is engaged, and the selling and furnishing of liquor in that particular character, at his place of business. We think, however, the allegations in
The court below is advised to proceed to judgment upon the verdict.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The People v. Thomas D. Quinn
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published