Phillips v. State

Decision Date10 May 1927
Docket Number4 Div. 259
Citation112 So. 810,22 Ala.App. 97
PartiesPHILLIPS v. STATE.
CourtAlabama Court of Appeals

Appeal from Circuit Court, Covington County; W.L. Parks, Judge.

Ernest Phillips was convicted of selling or having in possession prohibited liquors, and he appeals. Reversed and remanded.

Baldwin & Murphy, of Andalusia, for appellant.

Charlie C. McCall, Atty. Gen., and W.M. Rayburn, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

BRICKEN, P.J.

The evidence in this case discloses, without dispute, that during the absence of the defendant the searching officers found in the shack, where he and other negroes slept, some bottles which smelled of liquor or rum. The evidence also showed that in one or two of the bottles were just a few drops of the liquor. The search was made on a Sunday, and the evidence disclosed that this defendant left the quarters of the turpentine still where this shack and numerous others were situated, on Saturday, the day before the search on Sunday; and that he did not return to the quarters until Monday, the day after the search. The evidence also shows, without conflict, that the shack was left unlocked on Saturday, and that witness Parsons, who apparently owned the property, locked up the shack on Sunday. There is no evidence whatever that tends in any manner to connect this appellant with the bottles found in the shack during his absence, nothing to show he even knew they were there; and the only evidence in the entire case on this important question was that of the defendant, who testified that he knew nothing whatever of any bottles being in the shack, and he strenuously denied any knowledge of or connection with any whisky being there. We are of the opinion that the evidence in this case falls far short of the required measure of proof; that it is not sufficient even to afford an inference adverse to defendant; and that the affirmative charge requested should have been given. The case of Ammons v. State, 20 Ala.App. 283, 101 So. 511, is similar in many respects to the case at bar. What this court had to say in that case is peculiarly pertinent here. Upon the authority of the Ammons Case, supra, the judgment of the lower court is reversed and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

To continue reading

Request your trial
5 cases
  • Burt v. State, 7 Div. 269
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Appeals
    • June 23, 1953
    ...20 Ala.App. 625, 104 So. 678; Thomas v. State, 20 Ala.App. 640, 104 So. 687; Allen v. State, 21 Ala.App. 23, 104 So. 867; Phillips v. State, 22 Ala.App. 97, 112 So. 810; Clayton v. State, 22 Ala.App. 276, 114 So. 787; Talbot v. State, 23 Ala.App. 559, 129 So. 323; Eldridge v. State, 24 Ala.......
  • Buckner v. State
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Appeals
    • March 7, 1933
    ...Ala. App. 625, 104 So. 678; Allen v. State, 21 Ala. App. 23, 104 So. 867; Tuggle v. State, 22 Ala. App. 89, 112 So. 540; Phillips v. State, 22 Ala. App. 97, 112 So. 810; Williams v. State, 22 Ala. App. 425, 116 So. Copeland v. State, 23 Ala. App. 91, 121 So. 445; Coggin v. State, 23 Ala. Ap......
  • Scott v. City of Troy, 4 Div. 805.
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Appeals
    • August 4, 1931
    ... ... which this appeal was taken must be reversed and the cause ... remanded. See Ammons v. State, 20 Ala. App. 283, 101 ... So. 511; Parsons v. State, 20 Ala. App. 615, 104 So ... 556; Tuggle v. State, 22 Ala. App. 89, 112 So. 540 ... In the ... a suspicion, however strong, do not overcome the presumption ... of innocence"-citing numerous cases of like import. See, ... also, Phillips v. State, 22 Ala. App. 97, 112 So ... 810; Clayton v. State, 22 Ala. App. 276, 114 So ... 787; Copeland v. State, 23 Ala. App. 91, 121 So ... ...
  • Grimes v. State, 4 Div. 270
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Appeals
    • December 21, 1954
    ...a coal house on defendant's premises. The coal house was unlocked and the defendant was absent at the time of the search. Phillips v. State, 22 Ala.App. 97, 112 So. 810: Liquor found in shack occupied by accused and several other men. Accused absent at time of search. Talbot v. State, 23 Al......
  • 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