[ G.R. No. 1375, April 01, 1905 ]
THE UNITED STATES, COMPLAINANT AND APPELLEE, VS. PACIFICO GONZAGA, DEFENDANT AND APPELLANT.
D E C I S I O N
WILLARD, J.:
In view of the fact that in the other case against this defendant we held that he could not be convicted for usurping judicial functions in taking and for a time retaining jurisdiction of this case, we do not see how he could be convicted for making interlocutory orders in the same proceeding. Moreover, in no event can he be convicted of a violation of said article 200, for that article is limited to the case of a public officer who makes an arrest not on account of the commission of some crime but for other reasons. In the case before us it appears that the justice of the peace had been charged with a criminal offense; that he had been arrested by reason of that charge, and that his subsequent detention on the 25th of July was on account of the same offense charged against him. The case therefore does not fall within article 200.
We held in the former case that the defendant apparently acted in good faith. In this case it was proved that in making the order increasing the amount of the bond he acted in bad faith. We can not see how this fact can change the result.
The judgment of the court below is reversed and the defendant acquitted, with the costs of both instances de oficio.
Arellano, C. J., Torres, Mapa, Johnson, and Carson, JJ., concur.
[1] Phil. Rep., 135.