Crimes (Murder)

Case against Morales for murder of Garza in Aguayo. Testimonies from witnesses who find Garza's body, describe murder and robbery. Lists contents of Garza's house to be given to his widow. Confession of Morales, escape of Morales from prison, character witnesses; receives 10 year sentence. (L. L. Woodward, October 1988)

Palacio conducts investigation of Puga interviewing 12 intolerable, a coward; that he kept salaries of squad; his part in Indian strife; treatment of people and other excesses. Autos reveal Puga's having whipped women; the murder of his wife by Indians; burning of Escandon by Tanambres; Indian theft of food, horses ,and cattle; Puga's peace discussions with Indians and their reply that they wanted war and subsequent battle and massacre of over 32 Tanambres by Puga's detachment; Puga's debts to vecinos; Puga's murder of Indian; Puga's settlement in Aguayo with family and opinions of Puga as capitan. Croix, having read testimonies grants Puga position as company capitan in agreement with Palacio's suggestion. (L. L. Woodward, October 1988)

Case against Nevio for killing Torres. Testimonies on events Nevio and Torres; Torres had reputation of fighting with everyone. Croix responds that Nevio's punishment should be position of soldier for 5 years at half salary. (L. L. Woodward, October 1988)

Tribunal de Cuentas has given ornaments and sacred cups to the colonies of Sierra Gorda which must be distributed. End of the epedemic. Haven't been able to stop the rebels in Sierra de Aguayo and Taumabe. Lopez and 15 soldiers to bring Apostate Indians under control. Indian theft of animals and murder and soldiers and friendly Indian; need for punishment. (L. L. Woodward, October 1988)

Reports by asesores, visitadores, regidores suggesting high; 2, spread of disease among cattle and sheep which causes hair to fall out; 3, sterility of seeds provided for planting; 4, Indian depredations; 5, Estanco de sales competes with local salt industry; 6, moral degeneration and lack of discipline of troops in Nuevo Santander. To deal with last problem, suggest payment in cash be terminated to prevent rampant gambling among troops. Repeat of accusations against Gonzalez Santianes that he has not done enough to prevent Indian attacks. Notes throughout state of poverty in Nuevo Santander, except for discovery of mineral de tamaulipa (?). Beginning folio 235, detailed lists of livestock stolen from inhabitants of Altamira between 1768 and 1772. Followed by Series of less detailed accounts of livestock theft and murder committed against various Villas and rachos in area. (A. Tukey, July 1989)

Repetitious Series of testimonies pertaining to case against Gonzalez Santianes for failing to contain Indian depredations robbery and murder against small Villas and Ranchos. Notes that Texas Indians seem particularly well provisioned with powder, munitions and guns, perhaps supplied by foreign power(S). Includes undetailed account of discovery of unspecified number of English or French victims of Indian raid near Rio Grande. Includes Series of testimonies of conditions of extreme poverty that Indian raids against livestock have caused. Inhabitants of Villa Mier petition for exemption of payment of Alcabala taxes as Indian raids have left the town destitute. Much discussion by officials on whether to Lower Alcabala for entire province. Includes lists of horses stolen from various towns in area. (A. Tukey, July 1989)

Series of requests from justicias and vecinos of the towns of Nuevo Santader to virrey concerning Alcabalas. Description of poor condition of livestock, murder and robbery due to Indian attacks and hostilities with Chichimecs and Tanambres, and lack of commerce. Provides information on required amount of Alcabala payment which differs for each town; provides sale price of livestock; need for Alcabala funds to improve mountain route to San Luis Potosi. Freedom from paying Alcabala would allow area to develop and later, when region is stronger, they could be taxed. Mention that Cortez and Pizarro had been granted freedom from Alcabala payments. Discussion of 2-6 percent Alcabala payments; list of several towns freed from Alcabala payments. Document outlines a 14 percent Alcabala for other Nuevo Santander towns. Table lists Alcabala payments by towns. (L. L. Woodward, June 1989)

Palacio and Osorio's visit to Nuevo Santander to investigate Escandon's conduct, operations, state of colony. Discusses measures taken to protect colony from Indian horse thefts and murders. Discussion on Manuel de Escandon's merit and success in defending and populating settlement compared with that of his Father Joseph Escandon. Manuel Escandon given title conde de la Sierra Gorda due to inheritance and merit. Brief description of Joseph Escandon's service record including reducciones. Description of estate and lands of Escandon to be left to descendants and free of Media anata. Escandon's success at liberating Nuevo Santander from Chichimecs; establishment of 14 settlements, missions. Miguel Escandon accompanied Father on campaigns at age 16 as teniente; service record described. Total of 24 settlements established by Joseph Escandon with 1245 Spanish families. Manuel Escandon's detachment sent to Potrero de Campana to retrieve stolen horses and punish rebel Indians. (L. L. Woodward, November 1988)

Summary of testimonies about Escandon's record in completing orders to pacify and reduce Indians and settle Nuevo Santander by officers and settlers and their charges against him. Funds spent, mistreatment of Indians, assassination of 5 capitans, use of Indians to work Escandon's land, build his Palace, and increase his wealth. Real cedula ordering pacification of Nuevo Santander delayed in its completion. Activities of Escandon include use of military funds, Indians reduction, founding of 14 settlements with population count of number and families and troops in each (f.8); plus 6 more settlements founded which were not in original budget of 115,000p. Complaint of not achieving increased agricultural production in spite of having fertile land, water; availability of minerals and salt. History of Escandon's earlier military record, reopening of missions. Problems resulting from drought. Espenses of military salaries and sinodos to missionaries. Annual costs in pacification process. Cost of settling 15 families from canary islands in Texas (ff.17). Organization of troops and distribution among settlements; distribution of lands. Difficulty of defending property under Indian hostilities. Complaint that Escandon's soldiers instead of gathering Indians together killed them inhumanely when they asked for peace. Murder by capitan trasieria and soldiers of slave and silversmith not punished or investigated by Escandon; Escandon named capitans and paid them salaries of 500p. (ff.33). Alvares' attempts at populating Rio Verde, movement of people, costs, problems with hostile Indians, mosquito plague (ff.56) order not to let Laredo capitan admit Apaches even though they offered peace (ff.57). Escandon prohibited commerce; payed soldiers in goods. Mining of silver without paying royal fifth (ff.63). Escandon has made few or no reducciones since 1746. List of 9 places on coast where Escandon says he has reduced total of 1,258 Indians and gives names of ethnic groups and number baptised in each location (ff.64). Service record of Escandon since he began service in Yucatan, distinguished service in Sierra Gorda as sargento mayor, teniente until 1746 (ff.68). Provides total inventory of livestock in 20 settlements. Movement of Escandon (Villa), Reynosa, and Burgos settlers to new Parajes (nuezes, Tetillas, Encinos). Molina reinstated as capitan; Barbara Resendi's complaints against Escandon (ff.83)(ff125). Charges against fray Garcia as being hipocrite receiving double salary (ff.91) description of reason for failure of mission for Cocos in San Saba due to murder of missionaries (ff.112). Apaches do not want to be reduced, only want peace and commerce with Spanish (ff.113). Even when they offer peace, Escandon gives them motives to be insolent. Murder at Rancheria of smallpox infected and other Indians by capitan went unpunished (ff.120). Massacre of Janambres on road to Horcasitas (ff 121). Paz not punished for murder of Indians (ff.122). Guevarra's murder of reduced Indians of mission of Santander unpunished. Cordova's mistreatment of Indians in Rio Frio (ff.124). Use of Indians Sihui, janambre as work force, Indian death due to hard labor (ff.125). Attempt to reduce Pames threatening to drive them to the coast. Indians paid 4p month plus rations for corn growing and also grew their own crops (ff.131). Escandon allowed people exemption from debts in order to populate settlements. Escandon's appointing as capitans convicted murder. Escandon refused to release Sanches Borriego who was involved in riot of Coahuila to Serma. Two destructions of Pizones' church in Santa Rossa and Taumave missions. Taking of Indian lands to give to Carmelita priests for 10 years. No payment of Diezmos for farmland; Diezmos payments of hollas, Mier, and Revilla. Escandon nor captain Vasques Borrego payed Diezmos for their large cattle haciendas. Gives cost of campaign against Indians of north and Apaches who attacked Taguacanas. Defense of Escandon's choice of capitans and families to populate settlement in that it is difficult to find cultivated people like those from the capital--they must come from the provinces. Description of Tanambre November 1754 destruction of mission Ruvoroso near Escandon; only 4 escaped including missionary. Complaint of Tanambres robbing, Murdering. Escandon captured tamambre rebles and sent them to Querataro prison. Tamambres and Tonases sent to Querataro as labors, servants and for convents. Marcos Molino's case in which he worked for Hidalgo for 15 years without payment. (ff.163) use of hard labor as punishment as well as death sentence. (L. L. Woodward, November 1988)

Case of Perales accused of murder of Flores. Documentation of each stop in Perales' escort from Aguayo to the royal jail with testimonies of tenientes' receipt of prisoner at each stop. (L. L. Woodward, October 1988)