Arroyo v. People
Arroyo v. People
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Conrt.
The District Conrt of Areeibo on a petition of habeas corpus refused to release the prisoner. He presented a notice of appeal. The Fiscal moves to dismiss the appeal, alleging that the notice fails to follow the statute and that this court is without jurisdiction. The Habeas Corpus Act of 1903, section 6550 of the Revised Statutes, provides as follows:
“An appeal is perfected by giving written notice to the court or judge making the order appealed from and to the adverse party. ’ ’
We come then to the merits. The Municipal Court of Manatí tried the petitioner for the offense of carrying a prohibited weapon and sentenced him to one month in jail. On the same day the court recalled the prisoner and sentenced him to three months in jail. The appellant apparently maintains that the court was without jurisdiction to render the judgment as ultimately made, but that nevertheless its final action annulled the judgment rendered earlier in the day.
The court below held that the question of the right to impose a three months’ sentence was prematurely raised '(a destiempo). The theory was that the petitioner should first serve the valid 'one-month sentence and then petition •for his release. If the first pronouncement of the municipal court was a valid one existing, then perhaps the district 'court would be right. An examination of .the record, however, discloses that the Municipal Court of Manatí pro-.hounced but a single written judgment dated the 24th of 'September, 1929'. The written judgment recites that the
The recited judgment and possibly other parts of the record, show that all the facts of this case took place on the same day. The trial was had on the 24th and both alleged judgments were pronounced on the same date. The rule is unquestioned that the court may correct its judgment during the term in which it is pronounced. King v. Price, 6 East 326, 102 Comp. 1312, where Lord Ellenborough said a different judgment may be pronounced within the term. Regina v. Fitzgerald, 1st Salkeld 401, 91 Comp. 347, showed that the imprisonment might be increased during the term. These and other cases- are cited by the court in State v. Daugherty, 30 N. W. 685, deciding the same principle.
On the other hand, a consideration of In re Sullivan, 3 Cal. Ap. 193; Ex parte Lange, 18 Wall. 163; Commonwealth v. Foster, 122 Mass. 317; United States v. Vayson, 27 Philippine Reports 447, tends to show that once the execution of a judgment has begun, the court is powerless to make a correction. Mr. Justice Miller in Ex parte Lange, supra, shows that the principle underlying these decisions is something similar to a second jeopardy. The court in that case says that the reason why a man should not undergo a second or a severer judgment when the first is in process of execution, is the same or similar as in the case of a second trial, after a conviction or an acquittal. One of the differences in England was that apparently there was no valid judgment until a certain kind of enrolling took place and Pence, nothing like second jeopardy could take place.
In accordance with the general principles above enunciated, the judgment appealed from will be affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.