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27 Del. 405

State v. Van Winkle

New York Court of General Session of the Peace · decided 1913-11-12

Indictment (No. 32, June Term, 1913), for the violation of Chapter 139, Volume 27, p. 340, Laws of Delaware, known as the “Hazel Law”, by delivering to one Smith in local option territory in Delaware, to wit, Kent County, as agent of the Adams Express Company, malt liquor which had been received by said company in the State of Pennsylvania, for the purpose of being transported to and delivered in local option territory within the State of Delaware, to wit, Kent County.

Decided 1913-11-12

Pennewill, C. J.,

¶1charging the jury:

¶2Gentlemen of the jury:—The court decline to instruct the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. The court think this case is controlled by State v. Grier, 88 Atl. 579, recently decided in Sussex County, inasmuch as all the questions raised in the present case were raised and determined in the Grier case.

¶3[1,2] For the reasons given in the opinion delivered in the Grier case, which are applicable to the questions now raised, we hold that the statute of this state, known as the “Hazel Law”, is constitutional, and the federal act, known as the “Webb-Kenyon Law”, is also constitutional, and applicable to the present case, if the facts raise the same questions of law as to its applicability, as would be raised if the indictment were against the express company of which the defendant was agent, which is the contention made by the defendant.

¶4The court are therefore of the opinion, upon the agreed statement of facts, that under the laws of the State of Delaware, and *413of the United States of America, a crime punishable under the laws of the State of Delaware is stated or shown to have been committed by the defendant. Being of such opinion, the jury is charged and directed to return a verdict of guilty against the defendant; and it is ordered that judgment be entered against the defendant upon such verdict, in conformity with the terms and stipulations of the case stated.

¶5Verdict, guilty.

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