[ G.R. No. 11507, August 08, 1916 ]
THE UNITED STATES, PLAINTIFF AND APPELLEE, VS. SEVERO DE LOS REYES, TELESFORO ALCANTARA, AND FLORENCIO GABAYAN, DEFENDANTS AND APPELLANTS.
D E C I S I O N
MORELAND, J.:
The only question raised by the appellants in the case is one of fact and the only argument presented is based on the evidence in the case. We have no difficulty in arriving at the conclusion that the accused are guilty as charged and found by the trial court. The proof of their guilt is evident in every line of the testimony. It appears clearly to be a case in which men of intelligence and knowledge of the world, Filipino Christians, took advantage of the ignorance and lack of experience and knowledge of an Igorot pagan, a member of a savage tribe, for the purpose of depriving him of his property. The story told by the victim is straightforward and direct and carries with it conviction. The character of the story told, the wealth of detail, the tints of local coloring, the ingenious method employed to play upon the childish nature and credulity of the victim, satisfy us of the truth of the victim's testimony. He is too ignorant and dense to have conceived so unique a method of vengeance against the accused. Moreover, the carabao in question was found in the possession of one of the accused who, while he offered an explanation of his possession, failed to convince the trial court, as he has failed to convince us, of his innocence thereof.
The judgment appealed from is affirmed, with costs against the appellants. So ordered.
Torres, Johnson, Trent, and Araullo, JJ., concur.