State v. Bennett

79 Me. 55 | Me. | 1887

Haskell, J.

The statute 1885, c. 275, § 21, provides that "it is unlawful to . . catch, ... or possess,” certain female and short lobsters, "and such lobsters, when caught, shall be liberated alive, . . under a penalty of one dollar for each lobster so caught . . or in possession, not so liberated.”

The penalty is for not liberating alive certain lobsters caught, or in possession, or in other words for destroying them.

The indictment avers that the defendant "did have in his possession ” certain female and short lobsters. All this might be true, and yet no offense be committed, because the defendant might just then have taken the lobsters from the sea mixed promiscuously with large lobsters, having an intention of liberating alive the lobsters described in the indictment as soon as he could do so.

Exceptions sustained. Demurrer sustained. Indictment quashed.

Peters, C. J., Walton, Virgin, Libbey and Emery, JJ., concurred.