State v. Tooley
State v. Tooley
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
The indictment charged: (1) A sale of alcoholic liquors; (2) the maintenance of a nuisance where persons resorted to drink such liquors; and (3) the storing of such liquors. The verdict was, guilty of storing. The judgment was, service on the public works without the alternative of a fine.
There are two exceptions. Let them be reported.
*410
2. The Courts have, under the Constitution, “power, in their discretion, to impose sentence of labor upon highways, streets and other public works, upon persons by them sentenced to imprisonment.” Const, art. V, sec. 33. Did the Court have the power to sentence the defendants to imprisonment, without the alternative of a fine?
*411 Thereby the Court is empowered in its discretion either to fine or to imprison, in those cases where no punishment is provided for.
Both exceptions are overruled, and the judgment below is affirmed.
Footnote. — See State v. Freeman, post.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State v. Tooley Et Al.
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Intoxicating Liouors — Offenses—Storing—Evidence.—In a prosecution for storing alcoholic liquors, the Court may not infer as matter of law that the discovery of a very small quantity of liquor in defendant’s safe on three separate occasions within a period of six months did not amount to storing. 2. Intoxicating Liuuors — Unlawful Storing — Intent. — The chief element in the offense of storing alcoholic liquors is the unlawfulness of the storing, the intent of him who has the liquor. 3. Intoxicating LiauoRS — Unlawful Storing — Quantity.—If defendant’s act in storing liquors be unlawful, a Court will not measure with nicety the quantity defendant had in his safe. 4. Intoxicating LiauoRS — Unlawful Storing — Punishment of Imprisonment— Statute. — Act Feb. 19, 1916 (29 St. at Large, p. 704), limiting the punishment of the Court to imprisonment for all persons who violate any of the provisions of any law of the State relating to or regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors, does not apply merely to sales, but to unlawful storing as well. 5. Intoxicating Liuuors — Unlawful Storing — Punishment—Statute. —Under Cr. Code 1912, sec. 839, providing that on conviction for violation of any provision of the chapter, where punishment is not provided for, the person shall be fined or imprisoned at hard labor, in the discretion of the Court, since act Feb. 19, 1916 (29 St. at Large, p. 704), provides no penalty for the unlawful storing of intoxicants, the Court is empowered in its discretion either to fine or imprison a person found guilty of the offense.