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Commonwealth v. ThacherCommonwealth v. Thacher

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Nov 15, 1867
Reporters:
Before:
Wells
Wells, J.

The ticket being set forth by copy in the indict ment, no other descriptive averments ‍​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‍are necessary. It purports to entitle the holder to whatever prize shall be drawn by its corresponding number in a scheme called a “ prize concert.” The prizes consist of ‍​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‍“ gifts in greenbacks” and gifts in other kinds of property. One half of all the tickets represent blanks, as “ every other ticket draws a prize.” This clearly constitutes ‍​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‍a lottery. In the first count the ticket, and in the second count the lottery, is alleged to be “ false and fictitious.” The demurrer and plea of guilty admit the truth ‍​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‍of this allegation. No objection was taken at the trial, and none is now open to the defendant, except the general one of insufficiency of the indictment; and no particular defect is ‍​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‍pointed out. We think the allegations are sufficient, and that the appeal should be dismissed.

Case Details

Case Name: Commonwealth v. Thacher
Court Name: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Date Published: Nov 15, 1867
Citation: 97 Mass. 583
Court Abbreviation: Mass.
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