Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

4 P.R. 147

Ex parte Torres

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico

Decided July 23, 1903

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico · decided 1903-07-23

This application for a writ of habeas corpus was presented to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and in it the petitioner sets forth the facts in the following manner. First — In the month of May of the present year, the Justice of the Peace of Isabela issued a warrant for the arrest of Paulino Torres Portalatin by virtue of proceedings instituted against him for the alleged seduction of Catalina Mercado.

Decided 1903-07-23

' Me. Chief Justice Quiñones

¶1delivered the following opinion:

¶2The writ ordering Paulino Torres to be brought before me having been duly executed, the hearing was had, the *151applicant and his counsel being present, as also the Fiscal, who opposed the petition for the discharge of the prisoner.

¶3The petitioner, Paulino Torres has not been deprived of the right allowed him by the Code of Criminal Procedure in force in this Island, to demand a trial by jury, hut as he did not avail himself of this right at the time the information was read, when he could have done so with full knowledge of the charge, his right thereto must, be deemed to have been waived, for which reason the district court had jurisdiction to try the case, and render such judgment as it thought proper, in accordance with the provisions of section 178 of aforesaid Code of Criminal Procedure.

¶4Inasmuch, then, as the District Court of Mayagiiez had jurisdiction to take cognizance of the matter, said court has not exceeded its jurisdiction, nor does the case come within any of the provisions of section 483 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, cited in support of the appeal. It is hereby declared that the discharge of Paulino Torres, cannot be granted, and the prisoner is remanded to the Mayagiiez jail under the custody of the warden thereof, with costs against the petitioner.

/4/pr/147 · .json · Public domain