Harris v. Commonwealth

Citations

• 81 Va. 240
• 1885 Va. LEXIS 27

Syllabus

<p>1. Criminal Law—Construction—Buie.—Though prosecution be on a revenue law, yet so far as that law imposes penalties, it is a penal statute, and must be construed strictly like other criminal laws.</p> <p>2. Idem—Public exhibitions—License—Skating rinks.—Skating rinks are not enumerated in the act requiring license to be taken out “for public performances or exhibitions,” and unless they be conducted so as to be clearly shown that they are properly ‘ public performances or exhibitions,” they cannot be broughtwithin that act.</p> <p>3. Idem— Case at bar.—Where accused kept a skating rink ordinarily visited by persons for the purpose of skating, and took out no license, except when he gave a performance by professional skaters, and ordinarily charged ten cents for admission and ten cents more for use of skates, and some visitors skated, whilst others did not—</p> <p>Held :</p> <p>The case does not clearly come within the statute requiring license. Acts 1883-84, p. 593, et seq., sections 80 and 81.</p>