State v. Barr

1. Criminal Law — Indictment—Objections to upon Demurrer-Case Adjudged. — It is not essential that an indictment shall follow the words of the statute ; an indictment is good which uses words of equivalent meaning and import. Nor is the averment as to time important, when time is not of the essence of the offence charged. So the averment, in this case, sufficiently negatives the exceptions made by the statute creating the offence charged. 2. -=--Test op Sufficiency of Averment Negativing the Exceptions in a Statute Creating an Offence. — Where the averment in the indictment cannot be true, .and the facts on which the exception made by the statute is based exist (as in this case), the indictment sufficiently negatives the exception of the statute. Besides if there be an exception in a subsequent clause, or subsequent statute, that is matter of defence, and is to be shown by the other party. (State v. Elam, 21 Mo. App. 290).

Error to Platte Circuit Court, Hon. James M. Sandusky, Judge. Statement of case by the court. The defendant was indicted for selling intoxicating liquors as a druggist. The indictment was as follows: “In the circuit court of Platte county, August term, A.D., 1887. “The grand jury for the state of Missouri, summoned from the body of Platte county, empaneled, ■charged and sworn, upon their oaths, present that A. C. Barr, late of the county aforesaid, on the fifteenth day of June, 1887, at the said county of Platte, state aforesaid, being then and there a druggist and. dealer in drugs and medicines, did unlawfully sell and give away intoxicating liquor' in less quantity than one gallon, to-wit: one pint of whiskey for five cents; one pint of wine for five cents (and less), without taking out or having a license as a dram-shop keeper or any other legal authority to sell or give away the same. (The said Intoxicating liquor not being then and there sold or given away for sacramental purposes, nor prescribed by a regularly registered physician, nor used solely in the ■admixture of necessary remedial compounds or preparations of tinctures, nor compounding of a written prescription made out and signed by some regular practising physician, who stated in such prescription that the liquor therein prescribed was a necessary ingredient), against the peace and dignity of the state.” The defendant demurred to the indictment, assigning as grounds of demurrer the following: (1) Because the indictment does not state any offence against the laws of this state; (2) because the indictment does not follow the words of the statute relating to the alleged offence; (3) because the indictment does not negative the words of the statute creating the alleged offence contained in the same section; (4) because there is na time alleged as to when defendant was a dealer in drugs, or when he committed the offence ; (5) because it is not negatived in said indictment that the intoxicating liquor was sold for sacramental purposes in good faith, nor on a written prescription dated and signed, nor prescribed by a regularly registered and practicing physician, nor that such prescription stated that said intoxicating liquor was prescribed as a necessary remedy (6) that the indictment is drawn under the laws of 1879, which were repealed by the act of 1881, and was not drawn under the act of 1883, the law in force at the time the offence, as alleged, was committed. The court sustained the demurrer. The case is hereon writ of error sued out by the state. I. The indictment is sufficient, it is not necessary that the exact words of the statute should be followed,, provided, words of equivalent import be used, and the defendant sufficiently apprised of the nature-of the offence charged, and his substantial rights-not prejudiced by omissions or surplusage. Rev. Stat. 1879, sec. 1821; State v. Williamson, 21 Mo. 496 ; State ¶. Dengoleslcy, 82 Mo. 44. The court erred in sustaining defendant’s demurrer to the indictment. It does-not matter what section of the statute the pleader may have had in view, the indictment will be held good, if an offence is charged against the provisions of any existing statute. Whart. Crim. Plead, and Prac. [8 Ed.]; chap. 3, sec. 226. II. Negative averments may be set out in general terms, and it is not necessary that they should be stated, in the exact words of the statute. The indictment sufficiently negatives that the liquor was not sold for sacramental purposes or on a written prescription. State q* McBride, 64 Mo. 364; State v. Elam, 21 Mo. App. 290. Negative averments are not matters to be proved by the state, and their entire omission from the indictment would not prejudice the substantial rights of the defendant. Rev. Stat., sec. 1821; Statev. Edwards, 60 Mo. 490 ; State x. Dalton, 27 Mo. 1; State v. Craighead, 32 Mo. 561; State v. Cox, 32 Mo. 566 ; State v. Duelos, 35 Mo. 237 ; State v. Willis, '37 Mo. 192. The negative averments contained in section two, of the act of 1883, amendatory of the druggist act of 1881 (Sess. Acts. 1883, 90), as to sale of liquor for sacramental purposes or on a written prescription, are not so incorporated with the clause defining the offence as to become a material part of the definition of the offence, and hence are matters of defence and need not -be pleaded even though contained in the same section. Whart. Crim. Prac. and Plead. [8 Ed.] chap. 3, secs. 238, 240, 241; State v. Elam, 21 Mo. App. 290; State ¶. O’Brien, 74 Mo. 549. III. The indictment is not bad for duplicity because it is not charged -that defendant did unlawfully sell and give away intoxicating liquor, etc. State v. McGrath, 73 Mo. 181; State v. Filman, 76 Mo. 56. Several offences not repugnant may be stated in one count. State v. Murphy, 47 Mo. 274; State v. Fitzsimmons, 30 Mo. 236 ; State «. Faneher, 71 Mo. 460. The term and “gave away,” as used in the indictment, may be rejected as surplusage and the remainder of the count held good. Whart. Crim. Prac. and Plead. [8 Ed.] sec. 401; State v. Hornbeclc, 15 Mo. 478 ; Rev. Stat., sec. 1821.