People v. López Bros., 36 P.R. 139 (1927). · Go Syfert
People v. López Bros., 36 P.R. 139 (1927). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
42 citation events (18 in the last 25 years) across 11 distinct courts.
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Top citers, strongest first. 2 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) FLORIDA PENINSULA INSURANCE COMPANY v. CATHERINE NEWLIN AND ERIC NEWLIN
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
Applying Binger as an evidentiary rule (rather than as a guide to discretion) relegates the "powerful instrument"6 of cross-examination to an afterthought. 6See State v. Eddon, 36 P. 139, 142 (Wash. 1894) ("It is the experience of every court and every lawyer that cross-examination is the most powerful instrument known to the law in eliciting truth or in discovering error in statements made in chief, whether that error arise from mistaken judgment and careless observation and expression, or from a corrupt desire and intention to pervert the truth."). - 19 - Finally, I would note that treating …
discussed Cited "see" Wisconsin Public Power Inc. v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (2×)
D.C. Cir. · 2007 · signal: see · confidence high
See TEMT II Order, 108 F.E.R.C. ¶ 61,163, at 61,935- 36 P 139 .
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
People of Porto Rico, and
v.
López Brothers, and
No. 2932.
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.
Jan 14, 1927.
36 P.R. 139
Monserrat & Monserrat and Pedro Santana, Jr., for the appellants. José E. Figiieras for the appellee.
Took, Wolf.
Published
Mr. Justice Wolf

delivered the opinion of the conrt.

In a prosecution for selling bread under weight tbe complainant began by saying that he was proceeding against López Hermanos, represented by José López. The judgment found “the defendant” guilty, without further specification of the person. We have decided (People v. Fernández, 35 P.R.R. 307) that there can be no prosecution of a firm. The complaint is ambiguously drawn and it might be doubtful whether the complaint was directed against the firm or against José López. The record shows that the defendant pleaded not guilty, but formulated no other objection. Under these circumstances we may assume that the prosecution was individually against José López, especially as in this regard he now assigns error only because the complaint fails to say that José López was the sole managing partner. The case of People v. Arce, 34 P.R.R. 327, is cited. There we decided[*140] that, while the evidence showed that Francisco Arce was a managing partner, yet it did not show that he was responsible for the acts of the firm, nor yet that he was the only managing’ partner. There was no question of pleading involved and here the complaint sufficiently charges that the defendant was responsible for the act of selling bread under weight. People v. Barquet, 19 P.R.R. 753.

The appellant then assigns the insufficiency of the evidence to' justify a conviction. It is not denied that the bread proved to be under weight when placed upon a certain scale, but the appellant insists that the accuracy of the scale was not duly shown. It is conceded that the scale was tested fifteen or twenty days before. In the absence of a showing or authority to the effect that fifteen or twenty days is too remote a period, the principle of continuity is applicable, namely, “that a thing once proved to exist continues as long as is usual with things of that nature.” Law of Evidence, Comp, of 1911, p. 289, Section 102, Par. 31.

We agree with the appellant that the judgment is insufficient. It failed to name José López, but simply found the defendant guilty. This we may correct.

Tlie judgment should also have made a greater specification than to say that the defendant was guilty of violating the law of weights and measures. The offense could have been better described, but the appellant assigns no error in this regard and of the fact of underweight there remains no doubt.

The judgment should be modified so as to say that the court finds the “defendant José López guilty” (convicto), and, as modified, affirmed.

Mr. Justice Hutchison took no part in the decision of this case.