Legal

Guajardo Fajardo, gov. Of Nueva Viscaya calls again upon the citizens to provide materials, livestock or themselves in the fight against hostile Indians - Tarahumaras probably- the response is good and there is a list of who contributed what. (T. Barnes) (1975)

Will - complete listing of possessions - includes slaves (4) - inventory includes valuations. (T. Barnes) (1975)

This document consists of testimony filed in a case concerning rights of ownership to land utilized as cattle ranches in the Rio de las Nassas area. The documents provide a rather detailed history of the area in question and some incidental information may be derived respecting Indian affairs and legal processes involving land claims. (C. Needham) (1975)

This document contains little in the way of concrete information regarding the uprising of the Tarahumara Indians. It is basically a notification, on the part of the governor (with supporting testimony), that he took a personal interest in the matter and accompanied the military authorities in some operations. (C. Needham) (1975)

A rather unremarkable document which concerns petitions by creditors involved in an estate settlement. Amounts of money involved are relatively small. (C. Needham) (1975)

This Series of documents concerns the execution of the will of captain Bartolome de Urbanela. The first few documents contain the widow Dona Ana's request for the will to be read and her claim made official. After a couple statements of character by men attesting to Dona Ana's relation to Bartolome the will is transcribed. Following it comes an inventory of capt Bartolome's hacienda San Jose and of his many ^estancias^ in the San Bartolome Valley. After leaving funds to establish a ^capellania^ Bartolome orders his debts paid and leaves the rest to his widow. In the inventory of the estate many Negro slaves are listed. Note- the testamento here is a transcription by Scribe. A list of some of the names in the document- Juan de Santa Cruz, Vezino and Miner of Parral; capt. Alonso Moralez Garcia; capt Alonso Botello y parrano; Diego de Rivera y Zapatta, Vezino and Miner of Parral; Antonio de urbanella, Brother of capt. Bartolome; Diego de Ruiz de Alfaro; Alonso del Castillo; Andres Gonzalez. Persons- capt. Bartolome de Urbanela of Parral; Dona Ana de Biezma, widow of Bartolome; capt Juan Fernandez de Carrion, justicia of Parral. (Roger Davis) (1975)

The case of capitan Baltasar de Ontiberos is carried to the Audiencia at Durango. The capitan gives an account of his long service in the wars of pacification against the Jijimes, Tepeguanes, Tobosos, Conchos, and Tarahumares - as well as his Side of the story in the criminal proceedings against him. He asks the new governor to, in effect, revoke the sentence by returning his hacienda and other property in receivership to him. (C. Needham) (1975)

These documents provide good evidence of investigative techniques in criminal Cases. The teniente de la justicia mayor is dispatched to inquire into the circumstances of the death of Juan Bautista Berocal. A description of the body is recorded (death was caused by both sword and dagger wounds) and testimony is taken from acquaintances. Although the evidence is less than conclusive, Francisco Canedo is placed in the public jail and - as seems to be standard in such Cases - all of his property is impounded pending disposition of the case. (C. Needham) (1975)

Formal denunciations by the alquacil of several merchants who have committed the grave offense of not publically making available a manifest of the merchandise and prices. There follows statements by the accused of their Side of the case. (C. Needham) (1975)

This document provides the records of an investigation of a murder. Testimony is recorded from those who discovered the body of Gaspar de la Cruz, an Indian, lying in the road, an apparent victim of gun shot wounds. There follows a record of the disposition of the body, the rudimentary autopsy performed, efforts to fix the time of death, and testimony of acquaintances who might be able to provide information as to possible enemies of the victim. The document is useful in reconstructing Police proceedures of the time. (C. Needham) (1975)