State v. Terre Haute Brewing Co.

186 Ind. 248 | Ind. | 1917

Myers, J.

On October 30, 1915, by indictment, appellee was charged with having violated what is known as the “Corrupt Practices Act,” as defined by §7111d Burns 1914, Acts 1913 p. 489.

Appellee’s motion to quash the indictment was sustained, and from a judgment discharging appellee the state appeals. The indictment, in substance, charges that The Terre Haute Brewing Company, a private corporation, did make a contribution of $200 to William Murphy Draper to promote the success of a principle to be voted on at a special election, commonly called a local option election, held in Curry township, Sullivan county, Indiana, on May 28, 1915, in accordance with the law of the State of Indiana governing such elections.

This indictment was drawn under §4 of the “Corrupt’ Practices Act,” approved March 3, 1911, as amended in 1913, (§3, Acts 1913 p. 489, §7111d, supra). Appellee insists, as it did in the trial court, that under this section of the act a corporation is not subject to indictment, nor is the allegéd offense within the definition of the particular statute. As to whether appellee could be guilty of any offense under this section, we are not concerned. The only question for decision is presented by the indictment and the motion to quash, and the answer depends upon whether or not the legislature in this section has expressly designated the crime for which appellee is indicted, as applicable to corporations, and fixed an appropriate penalty as a punishment.

1. Since the session of the legislature in 1852, our criminal law is entirely of statutory origin, and a crime may be defined as an act committed or omitted in violation of a penal statute. Section 237 Burns 1914, §237 R. S. 1881, is still in force, and- provides that: “Crimes and misdemeanors shall be defined, and punishment therefor fixed by statutes of this state and not otherwise”. In Ledgerwood v. State (1893), 134 Ind. 81, 88, 33 N. E. 631, 633, it is said: “It was not for the purpose of securing a more minute definition of crimes and misdemeanors than the common law afforded, that this provision was added, but it was to get rid of common law offenses entirely by not adopting that part of the common law.”

2. 3. As applied to corporations, the rule in this State is that they may be indicted only when the legislature has specifically so provided. State v. Ohio, etc., R. Co. (1864), 23 Ind. 362; Paragon Paper Co. v. State (1897), 19 Ind. App. 314, 49 N. E. 600; State, ex rel. v. French Lick Springs Hotel Co. (1908), 42 Ind. App. 282, 82 N. E. 801, 85 N. E. 724; State v. Sullivan Co. Agr’l Society (1895), 14 Ind. App. 369, 42 N. E. 963. And as a general rule, criminal statutes must be strictly construed to avoid the creation of penalties by construction. Groff v. State (1908), 171 Ind. 547, 85 N. E. 769, 17 Ann. Cas. 133. That part of the statute at all applicable to the questions under consideration reads as follows: “No contributions, payments or favors of any kind shall be made, extended by or solicited from any private corporation to promote the success or defeat of any candidate for public office or of any political party or principle" or for any other political purpose whatever.”

4. If there were any ambiguity in the words used in this statute, there would be room for a line of reasoning as to what the legislature intended, but no such condition is here presented. This is a penal statute, and includes only those coming fairly within its import, and for a crime therein enumerated. Paragon Paper Co. v. State, supra.

5. ' As said in United States v. Wiltberger (1820), 5 Wheaton 76, 5 L. Ed. 37: “To determine that a case is within the intention of a statute, its language must authorize us to say so. It would be dangerous, indeed, to carry the principle, that a case which is within the reason or mischief of a statute, is within its provisions, so far as to punish a crime not enumerated in the statute, because it is of equal atrocity, or of kindred character, with those which are enumerated.” The statute does provide, in substance, that no contributions shall be made by any private corporation for the purpose of procuring certain named results which are purely political in character. Were the offense charged based upon a contribution alleged to be for a named political purpose, we would have a question that we are not now called upon to decide. It seems evident to us from the language employed that the legislature had in mind practices only as applied to politics as generally understood, and that it was not the purpose of this section to extend the statute to cover every possible principle which might be submitted to the electors. To do so, would require us to give the word “principle,” qualified as it is, a meaning not indicated by the statute. The -legislature was then considering a subject apparent to all requiring legislative action. It was this evil which the legislative sought to correct by drastic legislation, and while it may be said that the offense sought to be charged was of the same kindred character, yet it is not a crime enumerated in the statute, for a violation of which appellee must answer. The subject is one of legislative power, and not judicial construction. We are of the opinion that no indictable offense is charged. Judgment affirmed.

Note. — Reported in 115 N. E. 772. See under (4) 36 Cyc 1187. Criminal law: (a) liability of a corporation for an act of misfeasance other than homicide, Ann. Cas. 1916 C 459; (b) jurisdiction over corporations, 133 Am. St. 774, 775.