FACTS
The United States sued Victor Solinap for theft of two carabaos stolen from a complainant’s corral on 16 March 1909. One carabao was recovered in Solinap’s corral on 24 April 1909. Solinap admitted the animal was not his, and claimed it had been entrusted to him by the late Iping. The trial court convicted Solinap of stealing both carabaos.

ISSUE
Whether Solinap’s explanation for the presence of the stolen carabao in his corral is credible enough to defeat the presumption of guilt and warrant reversal of his conviction.

RULING
The Supreme Court held the defendant’s testimony self‑contradictory and implausible, concluding that the evidence of theft was “positive, definite, and conclusive.” The unexplained recovery of one of the two carabaos sufficiently proved Solinap’s guilt for both thefts. The conviction and sentence were affirmed, with costs against the appellant.