Lemons & Martin v. State

PETERS, C. J. Tbe indictment in this case contained two counts. The first count charged, that the defendants in tbe court below, as retail dealers in vinous or spirituous liquors, ^did unlawfully evade, or attempt to evade, a compliance with [132] the revenue laws of the State. Under this count, the court below charged the jury, that the evidence was insufficient to convict. This count need not, therefore, be further noticed. The second count, on which the defendants below were convicted, was in these words, omitting the term, of the court: “ The grand jury further charge, that, before the finding of this indictment, James Lemons and John F. Martin did, after the 1st day of January, 1873, aforesaid, carry on, or engage in carrying on, the business of retail dealers in vinous or spirituous liquors, without having paid for and taken out a license as such retail dealers in vinous or spirituous liquors in said county, and contrary to law; against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.” The acts above charged constitute an offence, which subjects the party or parties committing them, if found guilty, to punishment. Section 105 of the “ act to establish revenue laws for the State of Alabama,” approved December 31, 1868, declares, “ That it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, company, or corporation, to engage in or carry on any business or profession hereinafter mentioned, without first having paid for and taken out a license therefor, in the manner hereinafterv provided.” Acts 1868, pp. 297, 329, § 105. The 112th section of the same act then prescribes the prices of licenses and the businesses and professions in which they shall be required. The 4th clause of this section prescribes, “ For retailers in spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors, on any steamboat or watercraft, one hundred and seventy-five dollars; in any place not in an incorporated city, town, or village, fifty dollars; in any incorporated city, town, or village, of more than one thousand, and less than five thousand inhabitants, seventy-five dollars; in any city of over five thousand inhabitants, two hundred dollars. Any person who shall sell or dispose of spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors, in any quantity less than one quart, shall be deemed a retail dealer.” Acts, supra, p. 331, § 112, clause 4. The admitted evidence in this case, as set out in the bill of exceptions, which consists of agreed facts, is in these words : “ That within the time covered by the indictment, and in said county, the defendants sold, on a few several occasions, case whiskey in quantities less than one quart; that defendants, during the time, were merchants and partners in said county, doing the business of general merchandising at Barnes’ Cross Roads; ” “ that defendants had no license.” This was clearly a violation of the statute above quoted. The court so charged. There was no error in this. Upon this charge, the defendants w#ere found guilty by the jury, and a fine was assessed against them for one hundred and [133] fifty dollars; and judgment was rendered against them jointly, for this amount. The offence charged in this indictment is a misdemeanor, and the fine is fixed by law at double the amount of the required license. Rev. Code, § 3652. The retailing charged was at “ Barnes’ Cross Roads.” It does not appear that this was an incorporated city, town, or village. If the offence is committed in any place not in an incorporated city, town, or village, then fifty dollars is the price of the license. The defendants should have been fined double this sum, that is, one hundred dollars; jointly, if they sold the spirits as a firm composed of themselves as partners; or one hundred dollars each, if they sold the spirits as the individual members of a partnership, and not as a firm. A firm can take out the license, and the members of the firm, as partners, may be jointly found guilty, and fined jointly, if they act in that capacity. The jury can only impose such fine as the law directs. For this reason, a conviction under the clause of the act above quoted must be governed as to the fine imposed under that act. But, in this prosecution, it appears that the retailing was in quantities less than a quart, without a license. This is an offence under section 3618 of the Revised Code, which is necessarily included in that which is here charged. On conviction for such a violation of the criminal law, a fine may be imposed of not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars. Rev. Code, §§ 4199, 3618. Then, the fine imposed is not improper under the included offence. The judgment is, therefore, affirmed.