Case ID: pr_4/html/0073-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Figueras,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The People v. Padró Et Al.
    Appeal from the District Court of Mayagüez.
    No. 18.
    Decided June 27, 1903.
    Appeal — Eelony.—When a defendant is sentenced to pay a fine and in default of payment thereof to imprisonment in the penitentiary, the crime is considered a felony and an appeal lies from such judgment.
    STATEMENT OE THE CASE.
    The hearing was had in this appeal from the District Court of Mayagüez and prosecuted by The People of Porto Rico against Isaac Padró and Felipe Reyes, accused of a crime against the election laws.
    A sworn information was filed by the Fiscal against the aforesaid persons, who, upon being arraigned, pleaded “not guilty”, but asked to be tried by a jury, which prayer was granted. After the legal formalities the trial was had, and on the 24th of April last, the'following verdict was returned: “We the jury, and on behalf of all, the undersigned foreman, do find the accused guilty and pray the court to be merciful.”
    It was proven at the trial, according to the judment, that on October 15, of last year, Isaac Padró, Felipe Reyes and Serafín Agostini were acting as judges at precinct 27 of the town of Añasco for the purpose of making the registration for the general election that was to be held in this Island on November 4, of that year; on said day a certain Mon-serrate Colón, who had been residing in one of the barrios of said municipal district for over six months, appeared before them for the purpose of having his name registered, but the judges Isaac Padró and Felipe Reyes, the defendants in this case, refused to register aforesaid Monserrate Colón, who returned later and filed an affidavit wherein it was declared that he had a right to be registered as a duly qualified voter, because he could read and write. Notwithstanding this, he was again refused registration, for which reason Monserrate Colón was prevented from casting his vote on November 4, of said year.
    After reciting these facts and taking into consideration section 161 of the Penal Code in force, and the jury’s recommendation of leniency, judgment was delivered on April 27 last, condemning Isaac Padró and Felipe Reyes to pay a fine of one hundred dollars each, the costs of the proceedings to be borne equally by them, and in default thereof to be confined in the penitentiary of the Island for the corresponding term.
    From this judgment an appeal was taken, and the notice of appeal having been entered as filed in due time, section 356 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was complied with, the ten copies of the record referred to therein being forwarded to this Supreme Court.
    Manuel F. Rossy, Esq., appeared before this Court on behalf of the appellants, and having failed to perfect the appeal notwithstanding the time allowed him for the purpose, the record was submitted to the Fiscal who contested the appeal, alleging that according to section 345 the appeal did not lie, and even if it did, it should be dismissed because the judgment was just, inasmuch as the act upon which the accusation is based, clearly constitutes a crime against the election laws, and said crime was committed by the defendants.
    On the 24th of June last, the hearing was had, when counsel for defendants argued in favor of the appeal and the Fiscal, on behalf of The People of Porto Rico, in opposition thereto.
    
      Mr. Manuel F. Rossy, for appellants.
    
      Mr. del Toro, Fiscal, for respondents.
   Mr. Justice Figueras,

after making the above statement of facts, delivered the opinion of the court as follows:

Inasmuch as in the judgment appealed from the penalty of imprisonment in the penitentiary, though a subsidiary one, was imposed, the crime prosecuted should be considered a felony, in which case an appeal may be taken when based upon a question of law, according to section 345 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

It does not appear that the defendants had refused the registration from any legal cause which might release them from all responsibility, and under such circumstances the justice of the verdict and of the judgment of conviction must be accepted.

In view of sections 161 of the Penal Code and 345, 367 and 368 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, we adjudge that we should affirm and do affirm the judgment appealed from, as delivered by the Mayagiiez Court on April 27, last, with costs of the appeal to be borne equally by the appellants, but with the understanding that the penalty of imprisonment, in default of the fine, shall be undergone by the defendants in the jail of Mayagiiez, and not in the penitentiary, as directed in the judgment. The original judgment is ordered to be executed, and also an entry to be made in the. record of proceedings of the one now rendered, and a certified copy of said entry forwarded to the clerk of the Mayagiiez Court.

Affirmed.

Chief Justice Quiñones, and Justices Hernández and Mac Leary concurred.

Mr. Justice Sulzbacher did not sit at the hearing of this case.