Summary
In Edwards v. State, 42 Ala. App. 307, 308, 162 So.2d 894, 895 (1964), the Alabama Court of Appeals held that the State failed to show that the search was made in legal hours where the warrant was executed when it was "dark.
Summary of this case from Kuenzel v. StateOpinion
4 Div. 501.
April 7, 1964.
Appeal from the Circuit Court, Covington County, F.M. Smith, J.
W.H. Baldwin, Andalusia, for appellant.
A search warrant cannot be executed at night unless magistrate issuing it has stated that it is to be executed at any time of the day or night. Code 1940 Tit. 15, § 107; Lakey v. State, 18 Ala. App. 442, 93 So. 51; Weldon v. State, 39 Ala. App. 286, 97 So.2d 825. Evidence obtained by means of illegal search of private dwelling is inadmissible in prosecution for violating prohibition law. Code 1940 Tit. 29, § 210; Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643, 81 S.Ct. 1684, 6 L.Ed. 2d 1081; Weldon v. State, supra; Dennis v. State, 40 Ala. App. 182, 111 So.2d 21; Lawson v. State, Ala.App., 157 So.2d 226.
Richmond M. Flowers, Atty. Gen., and Paul T. Gish, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
Unless otherwise stated therein a search warrant may be executed at any time between 8 A.M. and 6 P.M. Weldon v. State, 39 Ala. App. 286, 97 So.2d 825; Jordan v. State, 39 Ala. App. 469, 103 So.2d 815; Code 1940, Tit. 29, § 220.
Edwards was convicted of possessing prohibited liquors and sentenced as a multiple offender to twelve months hard labor. This lengthier term comes from Code 1940, T. 29, § 99, for a third or subsequent conviction.
February 16, 1963, officers armed with a search warrant issued on an affidavit based on probable cause found moonshine whiskey in Edwards's home. No time of execution appears on the return to the warrant.
The evidence of the time of search is as follows:
"Q What time of the day did you enter that home?
"A It was late afternoon.
"Q Was it before 6 o'clock, P.M.?
"A Well, I really couldn't say about that.
"Q What is your opinion as to what time you went there?
"A It was about good dark.
"MR. BALDWIN: May I inquire along this line, if the Court pleases?
"THE COURT: Has anybody told you about a night time search warrant?
"A Yes, sir.
"Q Was it dark? We'll put it that way.
"A It was dark, yes, sir.
"MR. BALDWIN: We object to the introduction of the proposed exhibit, being a purported affidavit for a search warrant, a search warrant being issued by Comer Mahone, Justice of the Peace, on the 16th day of February, 1963, on the following grounds: It appears that the search was made at a time not in the day time; the search warrant does not authorize a night time search. On the further grounds that the warrant was not executed in the manner prescribed by law, in that the results of the search do not appear on the return attached to the warrant.
"THE COURT: Overrule.
"MR. BALDWIN: We reserve an exception."
The facts being uncontroverted, no motion to suppress before trial was mandatory. Lawson v. State, 42 Ala. App. 172, 157 So.2d 226; Brown v. State, post p. 429, 167 So.2d 281 (Ms., 7 Div. 739).
The State failed to show the search was made within the legal hours. Under Weldon v. State, 39 Ala. App. 286, 97 So.2d 825, this judgment is due to be reversed.
Reversed and remanded.