Doyle v. State
Doyle v. State
Opinion of the Court
Article 364 of the Penal Code, with regard to betting at a gaming table or bank, was amended as follows by an act approved March 5, 1881: “ Article 364. If any person shall bet or wager at any gaming table or bank, or pigeonhole or Jenny Lind table, or nine or ten-pin alley, such as are mentioned in the six preceding articles, or shall bet or wager any money or other thing of value at any of the games included in the six preceding articles, or at any of the following games, viz., poker dice, jack pot, high dice, low dice, low die, dominoes, euchre with dominoes, poker with dominoes, sett with dominoes, muggins, crack loo, crack or loo, or at any game of any character whatever that can he played with dice or dominoes, or on any table, hauls or alley, by whatsoever name the same may he Isnown, and without reference to how the same may he constructed or operated, he shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $25; provided no person shall be indicted under this section for playing any of said games with dice or dominoes at a private residence.” (Gen’l Laws 17th Leg., p. 17.) We have italicised a portion of the article, with a view to the discussion of the indictment in this case.
This language is, “or at any game of any character whatever that can be played with dice or dominoes, or on any table, bank or alley, by whatsoever name the same may be known, and without reference to how the same (table or bank) may be constructed or operated.” Legally and properly construed, this language means that it is unlawful to bet at any game of dice or dominoes, of any character whatever, except at a private residence; and that it is also unlawful to bet at any game played on any table, bank or alley, by whatsoever name the same may be known, without reference to how the table, etc., may be constructed and operated.
The indictment before us was brought evidently under this latter provision of the act. It charges that defendant did “ unlawfully bet money at a game with five corns, which said game is a gambling device that can be played on any table,” etc.
When the table or bank is not one of those specified, then, no matter how it is constructed or operated, a bet or wager upon a game played upon it comes within the purview of the statute if the table or bank is kept or exhibited for purposes of gaming. Eo bet or wager upon any game not specifically mentioned is an offense unless it be played upon a table or bank kept or exhibited for purposes of gaming. (Penal Code, art. 363.) We are expressly referred to the six preceding articles, and those articles refer to tables or banks which are played, dealt or exhibited.
Because the indictment charges no offense against the law, the judgment of the lower court is reversed and the prosecution is dismissed.
Reversed and dismissed.
[Opinion delivered November 21, 1885.]
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.