{
  "id": 8723771,
  "name": "Cook v. State",
  "name_abbreviation": "Cook v. State",
  "decision_date": "1927-04-18",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "711",
  "last_page": "713",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "173 Ark. 711"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ark.",
    "id": 8808,
    "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 34,
    "name_long": "Arkansas",
    "name": "Ark."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "60 S. W. 236",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "68 Ark. 529",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1334075
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/68/0529-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "108 S. W. 223",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "85 Ark. 360",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1523376
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/85/0360-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "133 S. W. 604",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "97 Ark. 156",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1318884
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/97/0156-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "282 S. W. 984",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "170 Ark. 1143",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1371737
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/170/1143-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 269,
    "char_count": 3882,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.471,
    "pagerank": {
      "raw": 2.454858700363489e-07,
      "percentile": 0.8047702781127394
    },
    "sha256": "6160f843dd1fed481f2b088606a9b90de74838c5dfb9564bec853664cea910c8",
    "simhash": "1:03a676bf389f08e1",
    "word_count": 689
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:39:02.380114+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "HxjmphReys, J., dissents."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "Cook v. State."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Smith, J.\nAppellant was indicted for making mash suitable for the distillation of alcoholic liquors, was convicted, and has appealed. For the reversal of the judgment, it is insisted that the testimony is not legally sufficient to support the verdict, and we have concluded that this assignment of error is well taken.\nThe testimony, stated in the light most favorable to the State, is as follows: Witnesses Cowan, Smith and Ray searched appellant\u2019s premises, and they fonnd a barrel buried in the ground behind a log. The barrel was covered with a tow-sack and some leaves, and was about two-thirds full of a mash, which was fermenting. Near by were some rocks, with ashes between them. Neither a still nor any part thereof nor any whiskey or other intoxicating liquor was found. The top of appellant\u2019s house could be seen from the place where the barrel was found. The barrel was about 200 or 250 yards from appellant\u2019s house, and, nearer still to appellant\u2019s residence, a hole was found, into which mash had been poured, and a metal barrel was found on appellant\u2019s premises, under which a fire had been'built, as was evidenced by the fact that the barrel, was smoked. The witnesses testified that the mash appeared to have been made of sour meal and shorts, and there was foam over the top of it, but none of the witnesses knew whether the mash was fit for the distillation of alcoholic spirits.\nThe barrel was not in appellant\u2019s inclosure, but was found in his woodland, about 75 yards from his fence. There was no path to the barrel, but, just above where the barrel was found, there was a path leading to the house from the creek farm. The farm was on,.a creek. The barrel was not on the creek, but on a hillside towards the house. The home of a Mr. P\u2019alvin was about the same distance from the barrel as\u201ethat of appellant, and that of a Mr. Jackson somewhat farther away.\nFrom this testimony it is very probable that appellant made the mash, and that it was fit for the distillation of alcoholic spirits, although no witness stated as a fact that it was fit for that purpose. Appellant was not seen at the barrel, or in possession of it, and no liquor was found on his premises. No still was found, or instrumentality which could have been employed in making liquor, except the smoked barrel. The barrel of mash was on appellant\u2019s land, but was not within his inclosure, and was as near the home of Palvin as it was to that of appellant. '\nWe think therefore that, while there is a high degree of probability that appellant was guilty, there is nothing more, and this is not sufficient.\nIn the case of Hogan v. State, 170 Ark. 1143, 282 S. W. 984, we reversed the judgment of conviction because of the insufficiency of the testimony, and, in doing is'o, said: \u201cIt devolves upon the State to establish his guilt by legal testimony of a substantive character, and matters of conjecture merely are not sufficient for that purpose.\u201d\nThe judgment in the 'case of Reed v. State, 97 Ark. 156, 133 S. W. 604, was reversed on the ground of the insufficiency of the testimony, and in the opinion it was said: \u201cThere may be in this testimony some evidence of ' suspicion against defendants, but, at the most, -it is a circumstance of bare suspicion. But mere circumstances of suspicion are not sufficient upon which to base the conviction for a crime, which must be established-by substantial evidence to the exclusion of a reasonable doubt.\u201d See also Jones v. State, 85 Ark. 360, 108 S. W. 223; France v. State, 68 Ark. 529, 60 S. W. 236.\nWe think the testimony set out does not measure up to this standard, and the judgment will therefore be reversed, and the cause remanded.\nHxjmphReys, J., dissents.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Smith, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Mehaffy & Miller and Culbert L. Pearce, for appellant.",
      "H. W. Applegate, Attorney General, and Darden Moose, Assistant, for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Cook v. State.\nOpinion delivered April 18, 1927.\nMehaffy & Miller and Culbert L. Pearce, for appellant.\nH. W. Applegate, Attorney General, and Darden Moose, Assistant, for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0711-01",
  "first_page_order": 727,
  "last_page_order": 729
}