Indians (Mistreatment)

Documents conderning the arrests of Puga and Murgier for the murders of five non-hostile Indians, and the appointment of public defenders to their case. See also ff. 0167-0185 exp. 34 of this volume for further mention of these events. (A. Dean, January 1989)

Complaint by Pizones of mistreatment by fray Estrada of Hoyos mission Indians. Indians were to give labor and land to mission for 4 years in exchange for half of the production and their needs taken care of. For the last 2 weeks rations have not been supplied; missionary not meeting needs. Estrada requested to treat Indians well and return their lands as laws prohibit mistreatment of Indians. Description of mission church at Hoyos. Count of oxen, horses and mules of mission; Indians contest that there were more cattle and that they were more Mature. Request that Ramirez be responsible for management of cattle, previously mismanaged. Estrada has had harvests collected and has spent money all over; sale of almost all mission cattle by Blanco. Discussion of Indians attendance of mass, absence of idolatry. Ordovas to make journey to mission to investigate but complains of illness, distance, and dangerous Mecos which has delayed trip; told he must go despite these excuses. Puga to investigate and return land to Indians. Indians having to travel in search of food. 3 Pizones and a Pame went to Mexico City to testify that a year has passed without rations and land taken by Estrada. Descriptions of vegetable and Milpa crops grown. Testimonies of mission apames and Pizones indicate that Estrada gave corn rations the first two years and describe bloody beating by Alcaldes but directed by Estrada, and Indians given other land of lesser quality. (L. L. Woodward, September 1988)

Gonzalez Santianes defends himself against accusations of failing been a long history of Indian hostilities in the area dating long before his command. Contends that Indians in area have been reduced, but that they continually engage in robberies against missions because missionaries often renig on promises of payment for labor services, and otherwise mistreat Indians. Contends that frequency and level of raids under his administration have been exagerrated, and that all such acts have been adequately responded to with military force. (A. Tukey, July 1989)

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)

Concerns autos -trial- followed against Murgier and Puga. The documents mention Indians assassination, and misappropriation of funds as cause for Murgier and Puga's judicial trial. Five Indians in jail at Pueblo de Croix ask Calleja for their liberty. The Indians were put in jail by Murgier without reason, according to Calleja. Notification of Vidal de Lorca's death. (R. Gomez, August 1989)

Concerns Series of oficios certified by comisionad Fernandez on the consejo de guerra being carried out against Puga and Murgier, accused of killing five Indians in cold blood. Documents described Murgier as a corrupt and a tyrant who abused people taking advantage of his position (i.e. One witness testified that once he found Murgier with a woman in bed, other said that Murgier called his soldiers estupidos all the time). (M. Marroquin, March 1989)

Concerns testimonies taken from soldiers and other witnesses about the killing of five Indians in Alamitos. Autos about burial of deceased residents of Llera (M. Marroquin, March 1989)

Series of testimonies taken to soldiers and Indian witnesses in consejo de guerra raised against lieutenant Puga and captain Murgier. Witnesses give a vivid description and details of how Indians were cut in pieces and how the executioners asked themselves why they had to kill those Indians in cold blood. Some soldiers testifying under oath, say they suggested baptizing Indians first, since they had to kill them. Other suggested a less cruel way of executing them such as poisoning them. (M. Marroquin, March 1989)

Series of documents dealing with judicial proceedings in criminal court (consejo de guerra) raised against military officials Puga and Murgier. Documents deal with readings of the causa against military officials, sentencing them, and votes to impose a severe punishment upon them, such as suspending them for one year or sending them to a jail in Africa or the Filipinas. Jurors Vote upon type of sentence the defendants should get. Citation of articles and military codes made. Accusations (in the Cases readings), that military officials acted contrary to military codes (M. Marroquin, March 1989)

Series of oficios sent to the viceroy, summarizing details of trial against Murgier and Puga, Murgier for ordering a murder and Puga for executing the crime. Some details of how the killing happened is given here, such as Zamora suggesting that perhaps it would be better to just poison the Indians with some herbs so it wouldn't be that cruel. Some soldiers are put in jail under charges of being accomplices (M. Marroquin, March 1989)