In order to constitute a criminal offense there must be a union or joint operation of an act and intention, or criminal negligence. From this it will be observed that a criminal offense is generally composed of two essential elements, to-wit, the forbidden act and the intention to do the act.28

But there are exceptions to this principle. There is a class of cases in which, out of necessity or upon grounds of public policy, the doing of the forbidden act alone constitutes the criminal offense; the statutes defining these offenses do not make intention an element of the crime, and this is so in both felonies and misdemeanors. In such cases the accused acts at his peril and he must know whether his act alone constitutes a criminal offense. Among these cases are violation of the laws forbidding the sale of intoxicating liquors to minors, the unlawful sale of naphtha, the selling of adulterated milk or other foods, and other offenses of like nature.29

16 Lamkin vs. People, 94 111., 504; Herman vs. People, 131 111., 597; Hughes Cr. Law, Sec. 3289

27 People vs. Lyon, 99 N. Y., 210, 216; Pillsbury vs. Brown, 47 Oal., 480; 8 Am. & Eng. Ency., 281 (2nd Ed.).

28 Am. & Eng. Ency., 290 (2nd Ed.).

29 Com. vs. Murphy, 165 Mass., 66; 42 K. E., 504; Halsted vs. State, 41 N. J., 552; Meadow-croft vs. People, 163 111., 72; Sikes vs. People, 127 111., 131; Seacord vs. People, 121 111., 631; Hughes, Cr. Law, Sec. 468.