State v. Freeman

• Citation: 93 S.E. 13,107 S.C. 431
• Decision Date: 07 July 1917
• Docket Number: 9743.
• Parties: STATE v. FREEMAN.
• Court: United States State Supreme Court of South Carolina

93 S.E. 13

107 S.C. 431

STATE v. FREEMAN.

No. 9743.

Supreme Court of South Carolina

July 7, 1917

Appeal from General Sessions Circuit Court of Beaufort County; Jas E. Peurifoy, Judge.

Ella Freeman was convicted of storing and keeping in possession contraband liquors, and she appeals. Reversed, and remanded for a dismissal of the case.

Talbird & Jenkins, of Beaufort, for appellant.

W. J Thomas, Acting Sol., of Beaufort, for respondent.

FRASER J.

The appellant was charged with storing and keeping in possession contraband spirituous liquors, malt liquors, and brewed liquors, containing alcohol and used as a beverage.

The appellant lives at Ft. Fremont, in Beaufort county. It seems that appellant was expecting some freight from Savannah, Ga., and went to the boat "Pilot Boy" and demanded the box and barrel, claiming that they contained groceries. A rural policeman was on the boat, and suspected that the box and barrel contained contraband liquor. As soon as the box and barrel were put ashore the policeman asked appellant if the box and barrel belonged to her. She said "Yes." The policeman at once seized the box and barrel and opened them and found that they did contain spirituous liquor. The stuff was seized, and the appellant arrested, tried, and convicted of storing and keeping in possession contraband liquor. Appellant made a motion for a direction of a verdict on the ground that there was no evidence of storing or keeping in possession. The motion was refused, and from the judgment upon conviction this appeal was taken.

The only question that legitimately arises is: Was there any evidence to sustain a conviction on the facts as they appear in the record? That question is answered in the negative by the case of Easley Town Council v. Pegg, 63 S.C 103, 41 S.E. 19:

"We think the offense of storing and keeping in possession of contraband liquors involves more than the mere having in possession of such liquors. 'Storing' means, as stated in the request, the laying away for future use; keeping in possession means to have habitually in possession. The Century Dictionary gives among the definitions of 'keep,' the following: '8. To have habitually in stock or for sale. 9. To have habitually in attendance or use. * * * 19. To maintain habitually.' The offense of storing and keeping in possession contraband liquors involves the idea of continuity or habit. It may be that proof of having in

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