In re Gattina

Decision Date18 December 1919
Docket Number6 Div. 970
PartiesIn re GATTINA. v. STATE. ONE FIVE-PASSENGER FORD AUTOMOBILE LICENSE NO. 52242, MOTOR NO. I583987
CourtAlabama Supreme Court

Appeal from Circuit Court, Jefferson County; Hugh C. Locke, Judge.

The state of Alabama through a solicitor filed a bill to condemn the automobile in question because found transporting prohibited liquor. Tony Gattina intervened and filed claim for the automobile, and from the decree rendered he appeals. Reversed and rendered.

C.B Powell, of Birmingham, for appellant.

J.Q Smith, Atty. Gen., and Lamar Field, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

ANDERSON C.J.

This court has heretofore held in the case of Hughes v State, 82 So. 104, that the words "aided and assisted," as used in the prohibition statute as to the condemnation or confiscation of vehicles of transportation implied either knowledge on the part of the owner that the vehicle was being used for unlawful purposes, or such negligence or want of care as to charge him with knowledge or notice that the property was so used. It is not controverted by the evidence that the claimant was the owner of the car, or that he loaned it to his younger brother to be used for a perfectly legitimate purpose; and there was no evidence to charge claimant with notice that it was being misused for the illegal transportation of liquor. There was no proof that it had been previously used for said purpose, or to negative the fact that it was not being generally used for the purpose for which the claimant turned it over to the defendant, except as to the single occasion in question. The only evidence offered by the state to create an inference that the claimant was charged with notice or negligence in failing to acquire same was that the defendant had, several months previous, pleaded guilty to having corn whisky in a house occupied jointly by the claimant, the defendant and their father. This, however, did not create a reasonable inference that the vehicle would be or was being used months thereafter for the illegal transportation of liquor, and was at most a bare conjecture or suspicion. It is true, as suggested by counsel for the state, that the claimant's place of business had been raided on several occasions in the search for liquor, but the proof also shows that none was found.

The trial court erred in not rendering a decree for the claimant and the decree must therefore be reversed,...

To continue reading

Request your trial
8 cases
  • Commercial Discount Corp. v. Milwaukee Western Bank, 192
    • United States
    • Wisconsin Supreme Court
    • January 21, 1974
    ...had a perfected security interest. In Black's Law Dictionary (4th ed.), 'aid and assist' was illustrated by an Alabama case, In re Gattina, 203 Ala. 517, 84 So. 760. The case stated that the phrase 'aided and assisted,' as used in a statute prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors with ......
  • Clements v. State
    • United States
    • Alabama Supreme Court
    • June 23, 1921
    ... ... 90, 82 So. 104 (intrastate use); Maples v. State, supra ... (intrastate use); Frazier v. State, 203 Ala. 276, 82 ... So. 526 (no use made of car); State v. One Lexington ... Auto., 203 Ala. 506, 84 So. 297; State v ... Crosswhite, 203 Ala. 586, 84 So. 813 (intrastate use); ... In re Gattina, One Ford Auto., v. State, 203 Ala ... 517, 84 So. 760; State v. Merrill, supra (intrastate use); ... Wise v. State, 204 Ala. 84, 85 So. 266 (intrastate ... use); State v. One Paige Auto., 204 Ala. 44, 85 So ... 276 (interstate use); Bowling v. State, 204 Ala ... 405, 85 So. 500 (intrastate ... ...
  • Spratt v. Gray
    • United States
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • February 15, 1921
    ...purchaser which would entitle him to the possession of it as against the owner. State v. Hughes, 203 Ala. 90, 82 So. 104; In re Gattina, 203 Ala. 517, 84 So. 760; v. State (Ala.) 85 So. 500; One Packard Automobile v. State (Ala.) 86 So. 21; Smith v. Spencer-Dowler Co., 24 Ga.App. 235, 100 S......
  • Glover v. State
    • United States
    • Alabama Supreme Court
    • April 7, 1921
    ...upon the proof required these cases have been modified by subsequent decisions. Flint Motor Car Co. v. State, 85 So. 741; One Ford Automobile v. State, 84 So. 760: Bowling v. State, 85 So. 500; One Automobile v. State, 86 So. 21; Briscoe Motor Car Co. v. State, 85 So. 475; Byles v. State, 8......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT