majority">

By the Court,

Beatty, C. J.:

The appellant was convicted upon an indictment, the material portion of which reads as follows:

“ That the said On Gee How, on or about the twentieth day of July, A. D. 1879, and before the finding of this- indictment, at the county of Storey aforesaid, did unlawfully resort to a room or apartment kept to be used by persons for the purpose of indulging in the use of opium, or a preparation containing opium, by smoking or otherwise, said room or apartment being situated in the cellar or basement of the building at No. 4 (a) South H street, in the city of Virginia, county and state aforesaid, and then and there so kept by some person or persons to this grand jury unknown, for the purpose of indulging in the use of opium, or a preparation containing opium, by smoking or otherwise, contrary to the form,” etc.

The defendant demurred to this indictment, and moved in arrest of judgment upon various grounds, which were overruled by the district court; and now, on appeal from the judgment, he relies on the following points:

“ (a) That the words ‘ place of resort ’ are omitted in the description of the premises referred to in the indictment.

“ (b) That the words ' by smoking or otherwise’ being in disjunctive, are fatal.

“ (c) That no purpose or intent on the part of the defendant is alleged in the indictment.”

The second and third of these points (b and c) we think are unfounded. The words “ by smoking or otherwise ” are wholly unessential and may be rejected as surplusage. It is the intent to use opium that gives character to the act. The mode of using it is entirely indifferent and need not be changed.

The purpose of the defendant is charged by the words “ for the purpose of indulging in the use of opium,” where *187they occur for the second time in the indictment. Where they first occur they describe the purpose for which the place was kept. But we think, the district court erred in not sustaining the demurrer on the first ground (a).

The only object of the law upon which the prosecution rests (Stat. 1879, 121) is the suppression of the places commonly known as opium dens (State v. Ah Sam, decided at January term). To this end it imposes a penalty (Sec. 6) upon the patrons and supporters as well as upon the keepers of such places. To smoke or otherwise use opium in places other than those described in the statute, or to go to other places with intent to use it is no crime, and therefore it is essential that an indictment under section 6 of the act should charge the defendant with going to the sort of place defined by the statute; that is to say, to a house, room, or apartment kept “to be used as a place of resort ” by some person or persons for the purpose of using opium.

This indictment omits the words “ as a place of resort,” and the omission is sought to be justified upon the ground that those words would have added nothing to the meaning of the language used.

We think, however, that this argument is based upon an erroneous construction of the statute. A house or apartment kept as a place of resort is a place for the entertainment of persons other than the inhabitants or occupants of the premises, and it was only such places that the legislature had in view. But the place described in this indictment may, for aught that is alleged, have been kept for the exclusive use of the persons residing therein. This, in our opinion, was a fatal defect.

The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded. The district court will, if it see proper, submit the charge to another grand jury.

Citation profile

How this case has been treated — in progress