City of Watseka v. Wilson

An ordinance of the city of Watseka makes it unlawful “to operate or maintain” without a license any automatic vending machine for the sale of candy, peanuts, soft drinks, popcorn, gum, cigarettes, or other merchandise. Harold Wilson was employed by Leonard P. Leverich, doing business as Canteen Service Company, to service automatic vending machines owned by Leverich. He was arrested while servicing an unlicensed machine in Watseka and was found guilty and fined by a police magistrate. He appealed to the circuit court of Iroquois County. That court found him not guilty, and the city appeals…