State v. Keen

| Me. | Jul 1, 1852

Appleton, J.

No rule of criminal pleading is better established, than that, when the enacting clause describes the offence with certain exceptions, it is necessary to state all the circumstances which constitute the offence, and to negative all the exceptions. If the allegations in the indictment may be true, and yet constitute no offence, it must necessarily be deemed insufficient. The counsel for the defendants have invoked these principles in aid of the defence, and if, on examination they shall be found applicable, the result which they seek to attain must inevitably ensue.

While all the exceptions in the enacting clause are required to be negatived, it is immaterial what precise words are used, if they clearly and explicitly accomplish that purpose. There is no necessity that the. exact words of the statute should be adopted. Other language of the same legal import, excluding with equal certainty the exceptions of the statute, may be employed. The substantial meaning, not mere verbal identity, should be regarded.

In Spiers v. Parker, 1 D. & E. 141, which was an action of debt on a penal statute, and where the same principles as in indictments apply, Bulles., J., says, “ nothing is to be presumed, but what is expressly stated in the declaration, or what is necessarily implied from the facts which are stated. I know of no decision against this rule.” In Williams v. Hingham Turnpike, 4 Pick. 346, Parker, C. J., says, “ it cannot be presumed that facts not stated have been proved, unless they are of a nature to be necessarily inferred from those which are alleged.” “ In civil or penal actions enough must be stated in the declaration or must necessarily be inferred from what is stated, to show a perfect right of action.”

Whatever is necessarily inferrable, is in fact stated, else there would be no ground for such necessary inference ; and whatever is thus stated, the Court cannot disregard. No greater absurdity can be conceived, than when an offence is fully and clearly set forth, to discharge the guilty, because the precise words, adopted by the draftsman of the statute, had not been inserted in the indictment. It would be to ascribe the same sacredness to the words of a statute, which the Roman jurisconsults ascribed to verbal formulas and to corporeal symbols. In United States v. Bachelder, 2 Gal. 18, Story, J. says, “ it is not in general necessary, in an indictment for a statutory offence to follow the exact wording of the statute. It is sufficient if the offence be set forth with substantial accuracy and certainty to a reasonable in-tendment. The cases cited from the common law, where a different rule is supposed to prevail, do not apply. In these cases, the very technical words used are those only, which constitute the specific offence. The law allows no other because no other words are exactly descriptive of the of-fence.

In State v. Little, 1 Verm. 534, Hutchinson, J., refering to the indictment, says: “ It does not attempt to charge the defendant in the words of the statute. Nor was that necessary, if other equivalent words were used. That technical notion of construing language used in criminal proceedings, which Avould exclude every common and reasonable intendment, seems in modern instances to have been exploded.” The same principles received the sanction of the Court in People v. Rynders, 12 Wend. 425" court="N.Y. Sup. Ct." date_filed="1834-10-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/people-v-rynders-5514359?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="5514359">12 Wend. 425. In Commonwealth v. Odlin, 23 Pick. 275, the defendant was indicted for selling spirituous liquors in less quantities than fifteen gallons. The objection taken was, that the indictment did not sufficiently negative that quantity. In reference to that, the Court remark, “ we do not consider that any particular form of words must be adopted, but some words must be used, which convey the idea of a sale under fifteen gallons,

The Court therefore are to look at the language of the indictment to ascertain whether it excludes the possibility of the defendants’ having been duly appointed to sell, for if not thus appointed, as that is the only defence, the verdict must stand.

The indictment charges that each of the defendants “ without any lawful authority, license or permission, did presume to be and was a common seller of spirituous and intoxicating liquors,” <&c. The words “ without being duly appointed,” therefore, are not to be found in the indictment. The question therefore is whether this language excludes the case of an appointment, for if not, judgment must be arrested. No provision is made for granting a license by this statute. As the law now is, none can be granted. The only authority under which a legal sale can be made, is by virtue of $ 2. Now the agent appointed under that section, and he alone, would have “ lawful authority.” No other person can have “ lawful authority” to sell. The existence of lawful authority is denied. The existence of a due appointment, the only mode of conferring lawful authority is equally negatived. The proof of an appointment would disprove the allegation in the indictment, would establish legal authority and protect the defendant, if the sales were within the appointment.

It is insisted in the defence, that by a just construction of the statute no one who has been appointed agent, though he may have knowingly and intentionally violated its provisions and sold for other than medicinal and mechanical purposes, can be indicted and punished as a common seller; — that in such case he is only liable to a suit on his bond and to a revocation of his authority; — that if he were punishable criminally, he would suffer twice for the same offence: and that therefore the appointment must be negatived by express words in the indictment.

To decide this satisfactorily, it will be necessary to examine different sections of the statute for the purpose of gathering therefrom the real intentions of the legislature. The first section prohibits the sale of any spirituous or intox-* icating liquors or any mixed liquors a part of which is spirituous or intoxicating, except as hereinafter provided. The only provision for selling is to be found in section second, which provides for the appointment of “ some suitable person as the agent of said town or city, to sell, at some central and convenient place within said town or city, wines or other intoxicating liquors to be used for medicinal and mechanical purposes and no other; and said agent shall receive such compensation for his services as the board appointing him shall prescribe,” &c. The agent thus appointed, previous to receiving his certificate of appointment, is required to give bond. to.conform in all respects with the provisions of the law relating to the business for which he is appointed. For any violation of this contract, and for that alone, the individual appointed would be civilly responsible in damages. It presents the ordinary case of a contract to do or to refrain from doing certain specified acts and nothing more.

The argument of the counsel for the defendants assumes that it was the intention of the legislature, that no one thus appointed should be criminally punished, however numerous and intentional may be his violations of the statute. The appointment is required to .be of some suitable person. It reposes trust, it implies confidence in the integrity of the person thus appointed. The violating the trust, the forfeiting the confidence thus reposed, furnish no reasons for exemption from the inflictions of penal law. The statute is violated if the individual appointed knowingly sells without the authority given and in violation of his bond, equally as if he had never received any appointment. What the law prohibits is done in either case, and little reason is perceived why the offender should be exonerated from its penalties, because to the violation of its provisions he has superadded the aggravation of a breach of implied faith as well. as of contractual obligation.

It is said that in this way he will be twice punished for the same offence. But it is not so. In a suit on the bond, the extent of liability will be such damages as the jury under proper directions from the Court may assess for a breach of the conditions of the bond. No penalty for an offenee created by statute will have been imposed. If then an indictment cannot be sustained, or an action of debt for a penalty be maintained, the deliberate and intentional violations of law will escape all punishment. An individual enters into a recognizance to keep the peace as to all the good citizens of the State, but particularly as to A B, and after giving such recognizance commits a breach of the peace by making an assault upon him. He is liable on his recognizance, he is responsible to the person assaulted in damages, but he is none the less liable to indictment. The cashier of a bank gives bonds for the faithful performance of his duties, and embezzles its funds. Would it be any defence to criminal proceedings, that he might be liable for a breaeh of his civil contract ? Civil and criminal proceedings are separate and distinct, and in no instance can a civil liability be set up as a bar to criminal process. In some eases the civil remedy remains in abeyance till after the termination of the criminal prosecution, if one has been commenced, and if sueh prosecution is not commenced, the civil injury is by the common law, deemed forever merged in the public offence. In no ease is the precedence given to the rights of individuals over those of the public, — and there is nothing in this statute which indicates an intention on the part of the legislature to be indulgent to offenders, still less to those, who, on every principle of morality, must be deemed as especially deserving of punishment.

Sales for medicinal and mechanical purposes by one not appointed an agent, would constitute the person selling a common seller, and render him liable for the statute penalty. The second section provides for the appointment of an agent, by whom alone sales can be made, and exempts him from the penalty whieh would otherwise accrue. The words in § 8, “without being duly appointed as aforesaid,” do not refer to a manufacturer of spirituous or intoxicating liquors, for no provision authorizes or permits their manufacture. They do not refer to a common seller, for the agent appointed is peremptorily inhibited from being one. For what purpose then, are these words inserted ? Undoubtedly to protect the limited sale for medicinal and mechanical purposes, which the agent under <§> 2, is authorized to make. The exemption from punishment is only coextensive with the authority conferred, and is limited by it. As the appointment is to sell for medicinal and mechanical purposes and none other, so those only are to be exempted from the penalty, attached to a violation of the statute, who act within their appointment. Any other construction would involve the absurdity that the same section which imposes the penalty, absolves from all liability those whose violation of its prohibition is most without. excuse. No one is or can be “ duly appointed” a manufacturer or common seller in its more general sense, and no one in either case is protected as such. If his appointment be under the statute and he sells under it, his sales are by “lawful authority,” and his defence would be established. All other sales would be against the spirit and object of the law, and when knowingly and intentionally made in disregard of its provisions, no reason can be perceived why the penalties attached to its violation should not be imposed. The law presumes good faith and integrity on the part of an agent in all sales made by him, but if the presumptions of law are overcome, if the jury are satisfied that he has designedly and intentionally disregarded the provisions of the statute, it would be a reproach to its administration if the guilty were to escape its penalties. The authority to do a lawful, can be no justification for the intentional performance of an unlawful act. In State v. Hutchinson the indictment is adjudged good. In State v. Keen the exceptions are overruled, and judgment is to be rendered on the verdict.

Shepley, C. J., Tenney and Howard, J. J. concurred.