State v. Austin

62 Vt. 291 | Vt. | 1890

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Tart, J.

The complaint against the respondent is that he “ became and was intoxicated by the use of intoxicating liquor,” etc. The point made under a demurrer to the complaint is that he is not charged with having been “found ” intoxicated. Was the latter allegation necessary ? The first act of our modern legislation on the subject of intoxication was s. 2, act No. 2, Session Laws of • 1855, which imposed a penalty upon one, in the words of the statute, who “ becomes ” intoxicated. In the General Statutes which took effect August, 1868, the wording of the act was changed, imposing a penalty, upon one who is “found” intoxicated. G. S. c. 91, s. 10. This wording has remained in the statute until the present time. JEt. L. s. 3812. What was the object of changing the phraseology of the statute unless it was to change the nature of the offense ? Making that intoxication only a crime, which is seen or witnessed by another. In Bennett’s Vt. Justice, 535, it is stated that it is a crime to be found intoxicated,italicising the words “ to be found,” thus indicating the views of that eminent jurist, the compiler of the General Statutes. The construction contended for by the respondent has been given a similar statute in Connecticut, State v. Bromley, 25 Conn. 6. To become intoxicated is not a crime, to be found so, is one.

Judgment reversed, demurrer sustained, complaint adjudged insufficient and quashed, respondent discharged.

At the same term, State v. Hawley, involving the same question, was heard and like disposition made of it.