100 Ala. 123 | Ala. | 1893
The demurrer to the indictment in this case should, in our opinion, have been sustained. The indictment charges that the defendant “did sell, give away or otherwise dispose of spirituous, vinous or malt liquors, intoxicating bitters or intoxicating drinks without a license, and contrary to law, against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.” Clearly the giving away charged alternatively is not an offense against the general laws of the State; and the same is true in respect of the charge that the defendant otherwise disposed of vinous, spirituous or malt liquors, &c., &c. And, as there are intoxicating bitters or intoxicating drinks which contain neither vinous, spirituous or malt liquors, (Allred v. State, 89 Ala. 112), even the sale of such bitters or drinks is not necessarily a violation of general laws on the subject. So that upon each of these considerations the indictment here charges no offense against the general statutes on the subject of the sale of spirituous,
Again? the indictment, while the necessity to allege venue has been obviated by statute, must be taken to aver that the acts charged against the defendant were committed in Shelby without reference to the consideration whether they were committed in any one of the several prohibited districts within that county ; and its averments would be established by proof that the defendant gave away or otherwise disposed
The judgment of the court is reversed and the cause remanded.