Court Opinion

ID: 8529297
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 10:59:32.020237+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:51:43.522690
License: Public Domain

Me. Justice Aldkby
delivered the opinion of the court.
In this habeas corpus proceeding brought in the District Court of Hnmacao that conrt found that there was probable cause for the imprisonment of the petitioner, and the only question to be considered in this appeal is whether it was shown that there was probable cause for the detention of the appellant for violation of section 511 in connection with section 50 of the Penal Code, in that he attempted maliciously to injure or destroy real or personal property not belonging to Mm.
On appeal the appellant alleges that the lower court erred in holding that the evidence as a whole showed that there was probable canse for his detention; in refusing to strike out the deposition of Miguel Simons; in admitting the testimony of stenographer Luis Pérez, and in refusing to strike out the testimony of the district attorney.
*515For the purpose of showing in the court below the existence of probable cause for the detention of petitioner José L. Benitez the district attorney presented a deposition under oath signed by Miguel Simons before the Municipal Judge of Yieques on March 5, 1925, wherein he stated that at about 2 a. m. on the 2nd day of that month Luis Daniel awoke him and asked him to get up because Pepe Benitez desired to speak to him, but as it was so late he asked him to wait until the next day; that about ten minutes later Daniel came hack with Pepe, with whom he talked through the shutters of his window; that he remained alone with Pepe, who said to him: “Miguel, get up and let us go to the house of José J. Benitez; it is a very important matter for him, as it may very well cost him from two hundred to three hundred thousand dollars.” The deponent replied that they should wait until the morning, because Don José might not believe them, whereupon Pepe agreed and went away; that on the next day, Monday, Pepe did not come to his house, but that about 11:30 he heard from Clemente Diaz that Pepe had said to him that in the Playas Grandes Central there had been found some dynamite cartridges in the furnaces of the locomotives, and upon hearing this the deponent started for the central; that there he obtained detailed information of all the facts, that is, that dynamite cartridges had been found in the furnaces of the locomotives; that he asked Don José whether he had received any ■ letter asking him for money and he answered that he had not; that he returned to town and sent for Pepe saying that he wanted to talk to him immediately at his house; that when Pepe came to his room he asked him whether what he wanted to say had any connection with what had happened in the central, to which he replied that it had; that the deponent asked him whether he would accompany him to Don José’s house, to which he replied that he had no objection, but that they should go in different cars so that the people would not see them together; that when the deponent saw Pepe on Monday he (Pepe) said to him among *516other things, that he belonged'to a communist society and that besides the dynamite found in the furnaces of the locomotives they had set two time bombs; that the deponent told Don José about his conversations with Pepe and in view of the the fact that the latter did not arrive, he went toward the central and met him on his way to Don Jose’s house and returned with him; that there for the second time Pepe stated that he belonged to a communist society whose purpose was to destroy capital; that the members had held a meeting and had agreed to destroy one of the centrals of this Island belonging to Americans, but in view of certain circumstances that arose they decided to begin with the Playas Grandes Central, to which he insistently objected, stating that he had some relatives there; that they had set two time bombs, a large one and a. small one, but he did not know the place where they were; that Don José asked him whether he was sure that the bombs had been placed and he replied that he was perfectly sure; that then he was asked how this could be prevented and he said that he could do it because he knew that they were time bombs and by taking a vessel he would have time to confer with his associates and thus .ascertain where the bombs were placed and prevent them from exploding; that thereupon Don José offered him his yacht and some money so that he could immediately sail for the Island, and he left for Naguabo, as he stated that he could confer with his associates in Fajardo or Caguas, agreeing to inform Don José by telephone as soon as he knew the place where the bombs could be found. The form of the telegram that was to give us the information was agreed on and he actually sent from Caguas to the address of the deponent the following telegram: “Maria out of danger, but it is possible a new opinion may be given. Dr. Just will consult tomorrow in search of another treatment. Watch for cock on chimney. Dr. Julia.”
The district attorney also offered two declarations made *517before Mm, one by Antonio Marrero, a policeman, and tbe 'other by Manuel Benitez Carrillo. From tbe first it appears that in tbe morning of March 2nd be searched tbe bouse of José L. Benitez and found under a bed two packages of fuses and 32 or 33 percussion caps of tbe kind found in tbe cartridges at the central. From tbe second it appears that Benitez Carrillo found dynamite cartridges in tbe furnaces of the locomotives and on tbe track at tbe Benitez Central in Playas Grandes, Vieques, some having been placed as blocks under tbe wheels of tbe locomotives; that José L. Benitez bad gone to tbe Playas Grandes Central about three weeks before and bad invited the deponent to look about tbe central, and when they came into the locomotive department be asked tbe deponent bow they worked and told him to open some' of tbe furnaces and saw them in operation, and also asked him to show him tbe furnace of a petroleum boiler existing on tbe back part, and afterwards, as be was bis friend, be invited him to see the rest of tbe factory, and they went as far as the center, but he said that be was only interested in tbe locomotives, as this was what be liked best; that he asked him whether tbe locomotives worked at night and he replied that they seldom did; that be asked bow many there were and what work each did, and that when be was showing him tbe boilers he said that that was a good place to blow up with dynamite, but tbe deponent thought he was not serious.
Inasmuch as these two declarations were made before tbe district attorney, be offered to tbe court tbe testimony of bis stenographer, Luis Pérez, who stated that tbe declarations bad been taken by him in shorthand.
To conclude, the district attorney offered bis own testimony and stated that be bad other declarations corroborating tbe other three and the admissions made by José L. Benitez, as well as other evidence of tbe transportation of tbe dynamite from San Juan to Vieques contemporaneously with tbe *518finding of tlie dynamite cartridges in the furnaces of the locomotives, and also admissions of José L.- Benitez about the transportation of the said dynamite and evidence of the unlawful manner in which it was transported, as it was not carried in accordance with the permit given to José L. Be-nitez.
In a habeas corpus proceeding the guilt of the petitioner is not considered, but only whether there is probable cause for his detention until he gives bail in the amount required; and, taking the evidence as a whole, leaving aside such of it as is hearsay, as no doubt the lower court did, we are convinced that there is probable cause for the detention, of the petitioner; therefore, the court below did not commit the first error assigned.
In the second assignment the appellant merely avers that the deposition of Simons was immaterial and not corroborated. That deposition alone would not be sufficient to connect the appellant with the crime, but it is an element of evidence which with the other proofs show that there is probable cause for the detention of the petitioner, and it is not necessary that the deposition should be corroborated.
The testimony of the district attorney’s stenographer was also admissible, for, as the two witnesses to which he referred testified before the district attorney and he made the notes in shorthand, his testimony was pertinent to prove that the two declarations were the same taken down and transcribed by him.
With regard to the testimony given by the district attorney, we have already said in the case of People v. Pillot, 19 P.R.R. 250, in which the district attorney gave testimony identical to that given in this case, that its admission was not fundamental error; but even discarding that testimony, the rest of the evidence would be sufficient to support the decision of the lower court and. therefore, it is affirmed.