Military Corruption

Several letters and oficios regarding fugitive Meca women prisoners from Hospicio de pobres; eventually some are captured; orders circulated to subdelegados to apprehend and imprison Meca fugitives who will then be sent to royal prison in Havana; among these documents are inserted unrelated letters (copies) investigation of troops' finances; this protested in another letter as offensive to hard-working, dedicated soldiers; not very rich in detail. (D. J. McClelland, may 1989)

Cedula received for removal of Herrera from post as auditor, Pinilla named as replacement (ff. 1-7); copy of cedula, giving reason for removal as Herrera's embezzlement of funds by overpaying salary (ff. 8); Herrera complains others guilty of crime and sentence of removal from office and garnishing of property unjust, asks to be left with half salary to pay for food (ff. 8); response that Herrera most guilty of crimes, all requests denied except for salary of 25 pesos/month for food (ff. 8-10); very long winded statement by Herrera complaining of injustice, lack of legal reason for castigation cited, complaint of insufficiency of 25 peso salary, request for reinstatement of half salary until case finished (ff. 10-15); king agrees to half salary request (ff. 16); fiscal urges continuance of case, no wages, Bonavia forwards king's decree granting half salary (ff. 17); Herrera notes cedula called for removal from employment, not salary, Bonavia responds half salary only for food, not Actual salary (ff. 17); licenciado Ramos supports Herreras claim to salary using legal logic (ff. 18-21); Bonavia again agrees to half salary (ff. 22); notice of law that military personnel receive third salary while imprisoned by enemy, or while Cases pending (ff. 26); request for clarification of Herrera's status, desire to give third salary by Bonavia (ff. 28-29); more longwinded defense by Herrera, request for salary (ff. 30-37); Herrera removed finally and completely from job, still receives third pay (ff. 38-42). (p. Coyle March 1990)

Letters concerning crimes committed by soldiers which include insubordination, theft, and murder. Documents accusing individuals of committing crimes. Letters written on behalf of the accused. Letters explaining sequence of events surrounding the crime. Testimonies from witnesses. Detailed physical descriptions of the accused. Series of interrogatories of defendants and witnesses. Some interrogatives include confessions. (K. Mccaston November 1989)

Documents concerning criminal offenses committed by military personnel. Crimes include insubordination, murder, desertion, and robbery. Filiaciones state the physical description, military history, and crimes committed by each defendant. Letters to viceroy from wives requesting Husband's pay while detained. Letters describing events surrounding the crime. Interrogatives of witnesses and defendants. Hospital records stating injuries received as a result of the conflict. (K. Mccaston November 1989)

Reiteration of the six questions in Vol. 181 seq. B. Between 1750 and 1751 French troops and families arrived in new Orleans presumed to fortify population of Nachitos, puente Cupe and Caudachos. The Indians in the area are presumed to like the French as they are generous with guns, bullets, etc... In endless quantities. The Spanish are uneasy about the French trading with the Indians and trespassing the boundary dividing the two territories established in 1720, the Colorado River. The Spanish view the Mississippi River as a natural boundary. Past autos and documents are consulted to determine how past governors settled the question of trespassing. Sandoval is found to have permitted illegal trading between French and Indians in Spanish territory. The French should definitely abandon any presidios built within Spanish territory and return to Nachitos, talk of war with the French if they donot do so peacefully. Aguardiente and wine trade with the French is questioned. English are found to be trading with the apachilinos and the Samases on Santa Rosa Island. Ff. 146 - 147 is a relacion that orders meeting of guerra and hacienda to resolve whether; Escolta is needed on San Pedro River to observe French activities; a mapping engineer is needed to assist governor in defining boundaries; peaceful or forceful removal of French is needed; Spanish troops should be moved to Adais presidio in case of forceful removal; 1/3 advance on pay be approved for soldiers to equip themselves with rations; French aguardiente and wine be allowed in moderation due to extreme Weather temperatures in region; all documents on this subject should be collected so as not to contradict any royal warrants concerning the French and Spanish boundaries; the governor of Texas should execute said relaciones. On ff. 150 the junta de guerra y hacienda is begun to resolve the aforementioned problems. (E. Wilson, November 1989)

Series of charges against Escandon. First charge, folio 10, that Escandon did not reduce Indians peacefully and failed to populate the colony; second charge folio 60 that Escandon did not distribute the land between people, soldiers and Indians during twenty years; third charge, folio 77, that he did not take in to account the meeting of 1748 on election of captains and treatment of Indians; fourth charge, folio 88, failure to investigate the murder of several Indians; fifth charge, folio 90, failure of Escandon to investigate and punish captain Guevara's murder of a group of Indians; sixth charge, folio 90, no investigation of other murders by Unsaga; seventh charge, folio 91, Escandon orders killing of three Indians, one a minor; eighth charge, folio 93, a citizen of Aguayo complains to to Escandon about the behaviour of a captain, Escandon punishes the complainer and when the wife of the complainer goes to look for him and she was murdered by the Indians; ninth charge, folio 95, Escandon separates Indian men from their wifes and children, and sells Indians to other cities resulting in Indian retaliation and thus starting wars with Xanambres and Apostatas. He is accused of twenty years of fraud, despotism, trials without authority, misappropriation of land; 10 charge folio 98, Escandon sends 173 Indians to Querataro; eleventh charge, folio 100, Escandon kept three Indians working for him for fifteen years; twelfth charge, folio 103, Escandon abused his power to use the death penalty and forced labor in the presidio; thirteenth charge, folio 103, he used comissions to get Indians for his own service; fourteenth charge, folio 106, he failed to protect Indian health; fifteenth charge, folio 107, he used Indians to build his house and maintain his lands; sixteenth charge, folio 108, he failed to investigate or punish two sheperds who murdered an Indian; seventeenth charge, folio 110, Escandon populated colony with dangerous criminals getting the nickname of colonia Portugal de Nueva Espana; eighteenth charge, folio 114, Escandon forgives Indians that confess crimes and puts them in esquadras militares; nineteenth charge, folio 115, Escandon intimidated new settlers he did not like and gave instructions not to accept them; twentieth charge, folio 117, he appointed a murderer from Reinosa as captain; twenty first charge, folio 119, Escandon admitted a delinquent from Coahuila; twenty second charge, folio 121, twice Escandon destroyed the church of the Pisones Indians; twenty third charge, folio 123, has taken land from Indians of Santa Rosa; twenty fourth charge, folio 125, Escandon did not build a church in Laredo for the spiritual benefit of the Spaniards and Indians; twenty fifth charge, folio 128, for a period of 14 years Escandon remained minister of Santillana village; twenty sixth charge, folio 129, Escandon did not permit the redistribution of Diezmos from labranzas y crianzas in the colony for 20 years; twenty seventh charge, folio 131, Escandon renamed places; twenty eighth charge, folio 135, Escandon became rich and did not pay diezmos; twenty ninth charge, folio 138, Escandon gave a captain more than five Leguas at border of Rio Grande, other land and did not pay any diezmo to church of Guadalaxara; thirtieth charge, folio 141, Escandon was paying salaries to ministers in places that had no ministers; thirty first charge, folio 141, Escandon did not accept Indians in his village because he did not want to give them protection; thirty second charge, folio 144, he gave instructions to captain of Laredo not to admit Apaches; thirty third charge, folio 147, Escandon did not give 100 pesos to the colonists of San Carlos; thirty fourth charge, folio 148, Escandon refused to receive the bishop from Guadalaxara; thirty fifth charge, folio 151, he became a trader, knowing gobernadores were prohibited from trade; thirty sixth, charge, folio 158, Escandon permit exploitation of mines and use of silver without paying tax; thirty seventh charge, folio 160, since the year 1746 he had not reduced or pacified any Indians; last charge folio 162, complaints from capitania general related to Escandon's procedures. The next group of folios (166-319) are the defense of Escandon. (D. Bautista, nov, 1989)

Documents concerning mismanagement of temporal and spiritual resources leveled by bishop of Guadalajara and others against Ramon, interim governor of Coahuila, and vaga, padre comisario. Also, real cedula ordering that viceroy remedy problems in aforementioned province. (J. H. Ochs, December 1987)

Documents from Parrilla Ortiz and others concerning debts incurred during expedition against Seris, construction costs of presidio of Horcasitas. Contain descriptions presidio size, materials used, etc.; followed by documents concerning rapid and untimely decay of said presidio with intent of determining guilty party or parties. (J. H. Ochs, October 1987)

Continuation Cordero's report concerning pacified mescalleros, their interaction with troops, citizens in Paso and Norte; Uranga's account of weapons, munitions distribution. Summary of report trading with Indians upheld; thefts committed by Indians of isolated rancherias, Apaches Faraones of the Sierras de Sacramento, Guadalupe, Blancas, Diablo; troop number should be increased to deter rebellion, pursue and punish thieves; Indian disunity should be encouraged, loyal Indians should participate in actions against rebels. Nava's report to Revilla charges of misconduct, illegal weapons trade by troops; Cuerno Verde only Mescallero Rancheria believed involved in thefts; account of marquez stock transactions with Indians and troop under Ugalde's command; Picax-Ande only one in Norte to petition for peace; Lipanes present only when Emmisary Bilansatliche petitioned for peace; supports Cordero's recommendations for increased vigilance; men sent to Guanajuato, Paso; organizing for punitive action against Apaches Faraones. Revilla Gigedo acknowledges receipt of Nava's report recognizing need of measures outlined to punish thieves and maintain peace. (J. Higgins. April, 1989)

Letters concerning misconduct on the part of Nunez (clerk). Not performing job well. Interrogatives of character witness that testified against Nunez. Doctors report stating that Nunez was suffering from delirium and madness. Second doctors report stating that Nunez was not ill (loco). He was accused of mistreating his wife, attempting to burn his house down, and attempted murder. (K. Mckaston, March 1990)