110 Mich. 491 | Mich. | 1896
The respondent was convicted of keeping a saloon open on Sunday. But two questions need be considered. The first relates to the sufficiency of the information, and the second as to whether the defense offered any testimony which fairly tends to sustain the claim which is made that the saloon was opened under the stress of overruling necessity.
The information failed to state that the saloon was not a drug store. Section 2283 e, 3 How. Stat., provides that—
‘ ‘ All saloons, restaurants, bars, in taverns or elsewhere, and all other places, except .drug stores, where any of the liquors mentioned in this act are sold or kept for sale, either at wholesale or retail, shall be closed on the first day of the week, commonly called ‘ Sunday.’ ”
We think the words “except drug stores” are used to apply to “other places,” immediately preceding, and that an information alleging that a saloon where liquors mentioned in the act are sold is kept open on Sunday is good. People v. Robbins, 70 Mich. 131; People v. Sullivan, 83 Mich. 355.
The respondent offered testimony that on the Sunday in question he and his father-in-law were walking along the street, and came to nearly in front of his saloon, when they met four men; that respondent’s .father-in-law was taken suddenly ill, and it was suggested that he be taken home in a carriage, but he replied that
“My father-in-law and the four persons that came in with me would be five. I don’t remember the sixth person at all.
“ Q. They [referring to the officers] testified that there were seven persons there besides yourself,- — one in front of your bar; you were behind it; and that there were six in this room. Are they correct or not in that ?
“A. No, sir. There was about five there. There may have been six. I don’t think there was seven people there, though.”
It also appeared that, when the officers came to the front door, they were admitted, or at least one of them, without the respondent knowing that he was an officer.
We think this testimony fails to show any overruling necessity for opening up the saloon and admitting people indiscriminately. If it was necessary to take his father to a place for treatment, there was a drug store within a few feet of the place, lawfully open. Or, even if it might be said that it was proper to open the saloon for this purpose, it was not necessary to let in a battalion of customers at the same time. The facts were not disputed except as to the number of people admitted.
No error was committed to the prejudice of respondent, and the conviction will be affirmed.