Case Name: People, Plaintiff and Appellee, v. Canales, Defendant and Appellant
Court: Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
Jurisdiction: Puerto Rico
Decision Date: 1916-05-15
Citations: 23 P.R. 786
Docket Number: No. 955
Parties: People, Plaintiff and Appellee, v. Canales, Defendant and Appellant.
Judges: Chief Justice Hernández and Justices del Toro, Aldrey and Hutchison concurred.
Reporter: Puerto Rico Reports
Volume: 23
Pages: 786–787

Head Matter:
People, Plaintiff and Appellee, v. Canales, Defendant and Appellant.
.Appeal from the District Court of San Juan, Section 2, in a Prosecution for Aggravated Assault and Battery.
No. 955.
Decided May 15, 1916.
Assault and Battery — Throwing Stones — Sling—Criminal Intent. — Hurling , stones at a person with a sling and causing him bodily injury constitutes the crime of assault and battery. The intent to cause injury is deduced from the act itself, for every person is presumed to know the natural and probable consequences of his acts.
The facts are stated in the opinion.
Mr. Antonio Trujillo Oml for the appellant.
Mr. Salvador Mestre, fiscal, for the appellee.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Wolf
delivered the opinion of the court.
One boy, defendant Claudio Canales, in sport directed a stone from a sling at another boy, and so injured the latter that he lost his vision. Claudio Canales was tried for assault and battery with aggravated circumstances, convicted and sentenced to two years' imprisonment, the maximum of the law. The only error assigned is that there was no malice on the part of the defendant and that hence there conld he no assault and battery, as the intention to hurt is a necessary element of that crime. But the intention may be deduced from the act itself, as a person is presumed to know the natural and probable consequences of his acts. For a similar act a defendant was convicted in People v. Bianchi, 18 P. R. R. 560. See also People v. Astado, ante p. 783 (decided to day), and People v. Blandford, ante p. 580.
Moreover, a hoy is malicious enough who takes a stone and directs it forcibly against another person. Such acts are not to be tolerated and the judgment of the District Court of San Juan must he
Affirmed.
Chief Justice Hernández and Justices del Toro, Aldrey and Hutchison concurred.