Greer v. State

Citation168 N.E. 581,201 Ind. 386
Decision Date14 November 1929
Docket Number25,760
PartiesGreer v. State of Indiana
CourtSupreme Court of Indiana

1. CRIMINAL LAW---Admission of Evidence---Review on Appeal---Answers as well as Questions Must be Set Out in Appellant's Brief.---In order to obtain a review of the rulings of the trial court in the admission of evidence, not only the questions propounded to the witnesses but the answers thereto, or, at least, the substance thereof, must be set out in appellant's brief, as the court will not search the record for the evidence adduced by the questions complained of. p. 388.

2. INTOXICATING LIQUORS.---Transportation in Automobile---Evidence Sufficient to Sustain Conviction.---Evidence (set out in note to the opinion) held sufficient to sustain conviction for feloniously transporting intoxicating liquor in an automobile in violation of 2720 Burns 1926. p. 388.

3. SEARCHES AND SEIZURES---Search of Automobile Without Warrant---When Defendant Guilty of Felony---Transporting Intoxicating Liquor in Automobile.---Where the defendant abandoned his automobile, which he had been driving, and fled upon the approach of police officers, and they smelled whisky in the car, they had reasonable and probable cause to believe that the defendant was engaged in committing the felony of transporting intoxicating liquor in an automobile (2720 Burns 1926), and had a right to search the car without a search warrant. p. 388.

4. CRIMINAL LAW---Search of Automobile Without Warrant---Admissibility of Evidence Obtained.---Where the defendant abandoned his automobile which he had been driving and fled on the approach of police officers and they smelled whisky in the car, they had reasonable and probable cause to believe that the defendant was engaged in committing the felony of transporting intoxicating liquor in an automobile, and jugs of whisky found in the car were admissible in evidence though the officers had no warrant to search the automobile. p. 388.

5. INTOXICATING LIQUORS---Transporting in Automobile---Evidence Held Sufficient to Show that Jugs Contained Intoxicating Liquor.---In a prosecution for transporting intoxicating liquor in an automobile (2720 Burns 1926), where two police officers testified that the contents of jugs found in the car smelled like whisky and two other witnesses testified that the jugs contained intoxicating liquor, the evidence was sufficient to sustain the charge. p. 389.

6. SEARCHES AND SEIZURES---Evidence Obtained by Search---Right to Object Thereto---When Ownership or Control Disclaimed.---In a prosecution for transporting intoxicating liquor in an automobile, where the defendant disclaimed both ownership and control over the car at the time of the search thereof by police officers, his objection to the admission in evidence of jugs of liquor found in the automobile was unavailing, as one cannot object to the search of premises or property of which he disclaims ownership or control. p. 389.

From Monroe Circuit Court; Herbert A. Rundell, Judge.

Howard Greer was convicted of transporting intoxicating liquor in an automobile, and he appealed.

Affirmed.

Q Austin East and R. L. Mellen, for appellant.

James M. Ogden, Attorney-General, and V. Ed Funk, Deputy Attorney-General, for the State.

OPINION

Martin, J.

Appellant was tried by a jury on an affidavit which charged him with unlawfully and feloniously transporting intoxicating liquor in an automobile in violation of Acts 1925, ch. 48, § 7, § 2720 Burns 1926. He was found guilty and sentenced to the Indiana State Prison for not less than one year nor more than two years.

The alleged error relied upon is the overruling of appellant's motion for a new trial wherein he alleges that the verdict is not sustained by sufficient evidence and is contrary to law, and that the court erred in permitting certain witnesses to answer 31 questions which are quoted, and in admitting in evidence three five-gallon jugs of intoxicating liquor.

The appellant did not set out in his motion for a new trial, nor has he set out in his brief, the answers given to the questions of which he complains. These answers, or at least a statement of their substance, and not merely the questions themselves, must be presented, together with his grounds of objection, in order for a determination to be made by this court of the existence of harmful error, and the court will not search the record for the evidence adduced by the questions complained of.

The evidence (which is set out in a foot note [1] ) is sufficient to sustain the finding and the same is not contrary to law. Under the facts shown (especially the fact that appellant abandoned his automobile and fled upon the approach of the officers and the fact that they smelled whisky in the car), the officers had reasonable and probable cause to believe that the automobile contained intoxicating liquor which it was their duty, under the statute (§ 2748 Burns 1926), to seize, and that the appellant was engaged in committing the felony of transporting intoxicating liquor. They, therefore, had the right to search the automobile without a search warrant and the...

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