Military Courts

Concerns Series of documents dealing with preparation of alegatos in consejo de guerra against Puga and Murgier form Nuevo Santander. Documents consists of testimonios from the prisoners, soldier, and Indians involved in the killing of five Indian leaders executed in cold blood by Murgier's order, debate over fact that order was given verbally instead of in writing. Documents raise question of why Indians were indeed killed. Soldier on duty who left muergier to leave his post of arrest is arrested too. Arrest warrant issued for Puga and Murgier (M. Marroquin, March 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)

Series of letters sent to the viceroy dealing with selection and approval of prosecutors, jurors and defenders for Puga and Murgier trial.

Series of autos in which teniente Sota Riva, defender of teniente Puga, accused of killing five peaceful Indian leaders, makes his case arguing that his client, teniente Puga, only followed order of his Superior, captain muergier. Sota Riva also proved that witnesses against Puga lied and accused them of perjury. Therefore, responsibility for the slaying of Indians should be placed upon captain Murgier (Series of arguments and examples are cited by Sota Riva, to prove the innocence of his client). Sota Riva also brought up situation in which Murgier had put in jail soldiers under his command so he could abuse their wives. Zamora, Cadena and Galvan are accused of perjury. Sota Riva concluded Murgier was a depraved man who took advantage of his position to govern as a tyrant and commit all kinds of crimes. (M. Marroquin, March 1989)

Concerns captain Murgier defending himself from charges that he sent to execute Indians in public. Munoz accuses Murgier of killing Indians who were at peace with Spaniards in cold blood. Murgier provides his military service history in service to the crown. Murgier claims that Indians were escaping and their heads were brought to him just to prove that Indians did not escape. Puga provides his military service record (charts). (M. Marroquin, March 1989)

Series of documents dealing with refund to Murgier; prosecution of Puga and Murgier for killing Indians in cold blood; judges chosen for military court; sentencing of Puga and Murgier; Series of testimonies from soldiers implicating Puga for the killing of five Indians in cold blood; defense is made arguing that testimonies are a total fabrication from witnesses against defendants; Perez and Olazaran are punished for abuses of authority; allegation that Munoz disliked the defendants so he went ahead and prosecuted them; documents speaking of corruption of government officials; defendors Argue that prosecutors don't count good things Murgier did for provinces and Indians pacification; defense of Puga made against allegations that he killed Indians by his own choice and not under orders of Murgier (M. Marroquin, March 1989)