State v. Illsley

81 Iowa 49 | Iowa | 1890

Granger, J.

1. Liquojr nuisance: evidence of liquors found at another place. George Hansen was a witness for the-state, and testified that the defendant kept a bakery and eating-house on corner of Sixth and Locust streets, Les Moines, and gave evidence strongly tending to show that intoxicating liquors were kept there for sale, and sold there. The defendant resided with his father on Ninth and Pleasant streets, and the witness was allowed to testify that he searched these premises, and found there five barrels of bottled beer. Of the admission of this evidence the defendant complains. Its admission was right. It afforded a fair inference, when unexplained, that it was abase of supplies for the saloon, and, judging from the record of the case, it undoubtedly was.

2. Appeal: instruction not set out in record. II. Appellant says he asked the usual instruction that verbal statements and admissions should be received with care, caution, etc., and complains that it was not given ; but the instruction is not set out in the record, and without it we cannot say that it correctly stated the law.

3. Instbuctions: defenses III. Appellant says “he could not deny, for he could not know, that intoxicating liquors were sold in his place. But he testified and contended , , , . that, if they were sold, it was without his knowledge or consent;” arid he urges, as to this, his principal defense, he was entitled to have “the law clearly and unmistakably stated.” It is true the court has not especially called attention to this as a defense, and there is nothing in the record to indicate that reliance was principally based on such facts. The instructions of the court leave no doubt that the jury,, to convict, must find that the defendant alone, or in connection with others, “established the business of keeping for sale, and selling, intoxicating liquors.” The instructions are utterly inconsistent with the idea of' his being guilty of maintaining a nuisance that he had no knowledge of. If appellant wanted more, it is certainly not a bad rule that would require him to ask it.

*514 LiQcror. mii-denoe:ofvl‘ presumption: instruction, IN. Tlie court said to the jury as follows : “ It is also provided that in all actions, prosecutions and proceedings, under the law of this state, prohibiting the illegal manufacture and sa^e oi intoxicating liquors, the finding of guch liquors, except in the possession of one legally authorized to sell the same, or except in a private dwelling-house which does not include, or is not used in connection with, a tavern, public eating-house, restaurant, grocery, or other places of public resort, shall be presumptive evidence that such liquors were kept for illegal sale, and proof of actual sale shall be presumptive evidence of illegal sale.” Appellant complains that the instruction does not ‘ ‘ state the law in plain and concise language in such manner that the jury would clearly understand it."” We think, as applied to the testimony, that any person of ordinary understanding could understand the instruction. It is a correct statement of law and applicable; and our statements and references in the former division of this opinion apply to the neglect to present to the court an instruction embodying appellant’s wishes. The judgment is AEEIKMED.