The United States v. Paulino Caballero

Summary

Criminal prosecution of municipal president Paulino Caballero for allegedly seizing a cow from tenant herdsman Macario Pellire through force and intimidation. The Supreme Court reversed the conviction, finding this was fundamentally a civil property dispute rather than criminal robbery. The cow was offspring of Caballero's cattle under a herdsman agreement. Applying Civil Code provisions, the Court held that natural fruits belong to the owner of the producing animal, giving Caballero co-ownership rights. The Court recognized Caballero's civil right of redemption as co-owner, distinguishing this from criminal seizure by a public officer. The case demonstrates the intersection of property law, co-ownership rights, and criminal prosecution, ultimately requiring civil rather than criminal resolution of ownership disputes.