Johnson v. State

| Ala. | Jun 15, 1851

CHILTON, J.

The defendant was indicted and convicted of playing at cards under the 8th section of the 6th chapter of the penal code, which provides that “ if any person shall play at •any tavern, inn, store-house for retailing spirituous liquors, or house or place where spirituous liquors are retailed or given away,” &e., such person, on conviction, shall be fined, &c. The indictment contains two counts; one charges the playing at a .store house for retailing spirituous liquors, the other count is for •playing in a place where such liquors were retailed.

The proof was that the proprietors of the establishment for xetailing had procured a house containing two rooms, one above, which was accessible only by means of a flight of steps leading ■up from without, which was used by one of the proprietors as -a bed room, and the other, or lower room, was that in which the •spirituous liquors were retailed. The playing took place in the -upper room. And the question is, must we consider it within ¡the prohibition of the statute 2

We are of opinion that it comes both within the letter and tho -spirit of the prohibition. The upper story not only constituted * part of the house, but was used by the proprietors as an appendage to the prosecution of their business. We think the ob-wious .design of the statute would be defeated, if parties could evade the law by playing in a room other than that in which the-retailing is carried on, but which constitutes a part of the same-house, and is used by the same concern in the prosecution of their-business.

The ease in 5 Leigh 751, clearly shows that the party was properly convicted in this case. The object of'the statute was not only to, suppress the evil practice of' gaming, ‘ but to disconnect it from tippling shops and houses where ardent spirits are retailed;,- and whether the gaming takes place in the room, where the retailing is carried on, the one in which the parties keep their books, or that in which they or their clerks sleep, if connected with the same establishment and constituting an appendage, tka party playing is equally guilty. No other construction could give effect to the statute, or prevent such evasions as would ren.-¿ der it wholly inoperative.

Judgment, of conviction affirmed».