USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 23
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The flood of 1867-68 left a lasting impress on the physical contour of the county by the crea- tion of a new river, or rather an additional chan- nel for the San Gabriel River. Several thou- sand acres of valuable land were washed away by the San Gabriel cutting a new channel to the sea, but the damage was more than offset by the increased facilities for irrigation afforded by hav- ing two rivers instead of one.
The flood of 1884 caused considerable damage to the lower portions of the city. It swept away about fifty houses and washed away portions of several orchards and vineyards. One life was lost, that of a milkman who attempted to cross the Arroyo Seco. The flood of 1886 was similar to that of 1884, the same portion of the city was flooded, that between Alameda street and the river, several houses were washed away and two lives lost. Both of these floods occurred in Feb-
ruary. During the flood of 1889 90, the Los Angeles River cut a new channel for itself across the Laguna Rancho, emptying its waters into the San Gabriel several miles above its former out- let. The flood of February 22, 1891, was oc- casioned by a mountain storm that expended its fury among the higher ranges at the head of the San Gabriel. That river was the only one that was greatly enlarged. A family of three perons was drowned near Azusa by the over- flow of the San Gabriel.
DROUGHTS.
After the deluge, what ? Usually a drought, but no weather prophet has been able so far to predict in what order floods and droughts may come. The first record of a dry year that I find was that of 1795. The crops were reduced more than one half and people of the pueblo had to get along on short rations. In 1800 and again in 1803 there was a short rainfall. Beginning in 1807 and continuing through 1808 and 1809 there was a severe drought. The ranges were over- stocked and a slaughter of horses was ordered. At San Jose in 1807, 7,500 horses were killed. In 1808 7,200 had been slaughtered at Santa Barbara to relieve the overstocked ranchos and carry through the cattle. There was no sale for horses, so they had to perish that the cattle which were valuable for their hides and tallow might live. In the neighborhood of Santa Bar- bara a great number of horses were killed by being forced over a precipice into the ocean. In IS22-23 there was a severe drought; Governor Argüello ordered a novéna of prayers to San Antonio de Padua for rain, but the saint seems not to have been clerk of the weather that year.
The great flood of 1825 was followed by a terrible drought in 1827-28-29. During the pre- ceding years of abundant rainfall and consequent luxuriant pasturage, the cattle ranges had be- come overstocked. When the drought set in the cattle died by the thousands on the plains and ship loads of their hides were shipped away in the "hide droghers." There was another great drought in 1844 45 with the usual accompani- ment of starving horses and cattle.
The great floods of 1859 60 and 1861-62 were followed by the famine years of 1862-63 and IS63-64. The rainfall at Los Angeles for the season of 1862 63 did not exceed four inches and that for 1863-64 amounted to little more than a trace. A few showers fell in November, 1863, but not enough to start vegetation; no more fell until late in March, but these did no good. The dry feed on the ranges was exhausted and cattle were slowly dying of starvation. Herds of gaunt skeleton-like forms moved slowly over
8
128
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the plains in search of food. Here and there, singly or in small groups, poor brutes too weak to move on stood motionless with drooping heads slowly dying of starvation. It was a pitiful sight. In the long stretch of arid plain between the San Gabriel and Santa Ana Rivers there was one oasis of luxuriant green. It was the vine- yards of the Anaheim Colonists kept green by irrigation. The colony lands were surrounded by a close willow hedge and the streets closed by gates. The starving cattle and horses, frenzied by the sight of something green, would gather around the inclosure and make desperate attempts to break through. A mounted guard patrolled the outside of the barricade day and night to protect the vineyards from incursions by the starving herds. The loss of cattle was fearful. The plains were strewn with their carcasses. In marshy places and around the cienegas, where there was a vestige of green, the ground was covered with their skeletons; and the traveler for years afterward was often startled by coming suddenly on a veritable Golgotha-a place of skulls-the long horns standing out in defiant attitude as if defending the fleshless bones. It was estimated that 30,000 head of cattle died on
the Stearns Ranchos alone. The great drought of 1863-64 put an end to cattle raising as a dis- tinctive industry in Southern California. The dry year of 1876-77 almost destroyed the sheep- raising industry in Southern California. The old time sheep ranges had been greatly reduced by the subdivision of the large ranchos and the utilization of the land for cultivation. When the feed was exhausted on the ranges many of the ownersof sheep undertook to drive them to Utah, to Arizona or to New Mexico, but they left most of their flocks on the desert-dead from starvation and exhaustion. The rainfall for the dry season of 1897-98 and that of 1898-99 and 1899-1900 has been even less than that of some of the memorable famine years of the olden time. There has been but little loss of stock for want of feed and very little suffering of any kind due to these dry years. The change from cattle and sheep raising to fruit growing, the subdivision of the large ranchos into small farms, the in- creased water supply by tunneling in the mcun- tains and by the boring of artesian wells and the economical use of water in irrigation, have robbed the dreaded dry year of its old-time terrors.
129
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The following Meteorological Data compiled by the U. S. Weather Bureau for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce will be found valuable for reference. I am indebted to Mr. Frank Wiggins, the efficient Secretary of that body, for a copy of the circular brought up to September 1, 1900.
TOTAL RAINFALL AT LOS ANGELES, CAL., BY SEASONS FROM WEATHER BUREAU RECORDS.
September 1, 1877, to September 1, 1878
66
1, 1878, to
1, 1879
11.35
1, 1880, to
=
1, 1881
13.13
1, 1881, to
1, 1882
10.40
1, 1882, to
1, 1883
12.11
1, 1883, to
1, 1884, to
1, 1885.
9.12
1, 1885, to
1, 1886.
22.76
1, 1886, to
1, 1887.
13.67
1, 1887, to
=
1, 1889.
19.78
1, 1889, to
=
1, 1891.
13.33
1, 1891, to
1, 1892
11.86
1, 1892, to
1, 1893.
26.27
1, 1893, to
1, 1894.
6.74
1, 1894, to
60
1, 1895.
16.10
1, 1895, to
1, 1896.
8.54
1, 1896, to
1, 1897
16.83
1, 1897, to
1, 1898
7.13
1, 1898, to
1, 1899
5.53
1, 1899, to
1, 1900
7.90
The following table shows the actual and possible number of hours of sunshine and percentages for each month at Los Angeles, Cal., from October, 1896, to December, 1899, inclusive. The record is derived from the Weather Bureau Photographic Sunshine Recorder, which forms a portion of the Standard Equipment of Instruments at the Los Angeles Station.
Yrs.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Monthly Average.
Total number of hours of actual sunshine.
1897
209
198
261
314
216
327
344
291
246
274
262
273
....
1898
205
216
290
292
278
294 289
370
324
289
258
214
214
273
....
1896
351
312
308
Total number of hours of possible sunshine ...
1897
316
307
372
392
433
432
440
416
372 351
312
308
371
....
1898
316
307
372
392
433
432
440
416
372
351
312
308
371
. .
1899
316
307
372
392
433
432
440
416
372
351
312
308
371
....
1896
77
72
72
Percentage of sunshine
1898
65
70
78
74
64
68
83
85
81
84
92
73
....
76
....
1899
75.
85
65
74
66
67
84
78
78
73
69
70
..
. .
74
....
1896
271
226
222
332 365
354
303
294
287
226
284
....
1899
238
260
240
289
287
76
75
83
78
70
88
85
74
...
1897
66
65
70
80
50
1, 1890.
34.25
1, 1890, to
1, 1888
13.91
4€
1, 1888, to
INCHES.
20.26
1, 1879, to
1, 1880
20.34
1, 1884
38.13
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WEATHER BUREAU
Meteorological Data Prepared for Distribution by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
Los ANGELES, CAL., January, 1900.
Table showing the highest, the lowest and the average temperature, and the rainfall at Los Angeles, California, by months from July, 1877, to January 1st, 1900, inclusive. Data compiled from the records of the U. S. Weather Bureau Office at Los Angeles, by George E. Franklin, Local Forecast Official in charge. Temperature data obtained from self-registering instruments.
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Tem.
Tem.
Tem.
Tem.
Tem.
Tem.
Tem.
Tem.
Tem.
Temi.
Tem.
Tem.
Year
| Max.
| Min.
Max.
| Mean
Max.
Mean
Max.
Mean
Rainfall
Max
Min.
Mean
Max.
Min.
Mean
Rainfall
Max.
Mean
Rainfall
Max.
Min.
Mean
Min.
Rainfall
Max.
| Min.
|Mean
Mean
Max
Min.
Rainfall
Total Rainfall for each 12
months
1877
72 37 55
33
7.68
76
2.57
80
59
89
47
66
81
07
88
03
84 52 69
98 53 72
101
.00
96 42 66
93
84 36
3 44
76.30 53
6.53
17.41
1879
74 36153
80
99 42 59
.49
88.42 60 1.19
97 43 62
.24
104 50 68
.04
.00
85 52 65 T
92 52 69
91
00
. 14
67
80 38 56
8.40
18.65
1881. .
71 37 53
42
89 37|57
1.66
94 48 63
46
89 41 64
88 48.67
96 51 72
.00
100 52 71 ₸
102 50 70 T.
82 43 61
81 34
17
.27
35 55
.52
5.53
1882
74 33 50
01 77 32 51
2.66 ~8,35:56
2.66
89.40 58 1.83
86 42.64
87 50 66 T.
98 52 71
99 57 73
100.46 70 T.
88 44 63
05 81 36 58 1.82
82 35 57
.08
10.74
82 30 53 1.62
82 28 52
84 43,58
2 87 89 39 58 .15
100 40 64 2.02
100 52 71
90 52 73 T.
98 50 72
.00
104 53 74' .00
83 41 62 1.42 81 42 60 .00 80 37 56
2.56
14.14
1×81
78.34 54 3.15
81 38 56
72 37 56
12.36 80 42 59 3.54
79.47 63
98 50 68 1.39
99 52 73 T.
102 52 73|T.
92 46 67 T.
89 43 63
.30 88 39 61 1.06
76 36 53
4.64
40.15
1885
72,38 55 1.05
85.42 62
.01 89 45 63 2.00
80 49 66
.06
90 47 67 ₸
.00
01
98 50 72 .24
98 54 75
91 48 68 .00
82 41 60
.01| 85 34 57 1.18
85 37 56
.18
16.72
1887
80 33 55 .20
82 35 51
85 41 60
.24 87 40 60 2 30
92 44 64
.20
100 47 68
98 51 72
94 52 70
.00
91 49 69
93 47 66
.12
$6 39 60 .78 73 35 53
2 67
16 02
1888
71 31 50 6.03
74 39 54
.77 79,36 56
3 15
99 44 63
.11
02
94 50,69 T.
95 49 73
97 51 73
98 55 74 T.
98 44 66
.36 84 40 60 4.0] [ 79 4) 57:
6 26.
20.82
1889
71 32 52 .25 84 33 56
.92 81 44 59
6.48, 93 46 62
.. 27
.62
81 51 66
99 54 71
95 53 72
61
103 52 73 .00
.03
94 54 711 .06
99 46 68
.03 96 41 66 .13
.00
85 4 61 .00
75 33 53
1.99
12.84
80 34 56
71 33 53
8.56 82 40 58
.41
86,42 59 1.26
3.39 88 40 59
99 42 62 2.06
90 50 68
.01
95 50 68
.00
96 40 64
.33 90 41 62 4 40 81 85 54
4.18
18.72
1893
84 35 57 6.29 79 38 55
2.27 88 31 54
8.52
84.39 58
.06
90:48 66
.03
89 50 70 .00
.00
90 48 66 T.
91:46 63
.75 86 39 57
.20
88 37 58
3.65
21.96
1891
75 32 51 .94 73 35 51
19 82 35 54
.87
85 41 59
80 46 60
.20
83 46 63 T.
97.52 70
.01
99 19 69 .73
96:45 66
92 38 59
.00
75 39 54
4 62
7.51
1895
77 37 52 5.84
84 36 57
.46 84 38 56
3.77
82 41 59
.46
.19
.01
88 51 69 T.
97 48 69 T.
91 45 66
24 94 36 60 ->0 86 34 56
.78
12.55
1896
87 36 58 3.28
88 36 60 T.
89 35 58
2.97
.19
30
99 48 69 T.
92 54 71
91 54 71
.01
92 50 68 T.
90 47 65 1.30 84 37 60 1 66 84 42 59
2 12
11 80
1897
79 37 56 3.70
83 35 53
5.62 78,38 53
2 31
90 40 61
76 48 63
88.50 65 T.
96.54 72
00
97 52 70 .00
83 45 62 2.47 92 37 62 .01 89 30 : 6
05
14.28
1898.
84 31 52 1.26 85 40 58
.51 x1 36 55
98 99 41 63
80 46 60 1.75
45 50 67 T.
91 56 70
.07
96 56 74 T.
99 48 71 02
91 45 65 .09 94 41 61 T
83 34 57
.12
1899 ...
82 37 56 2 64
82 3754
0-4
90 39 57
1.81 92 42 60
76 44 60
.04
89 50.05
93 53 70
89,53 69
.01
95 51 75 T.
100 45 63 1.59 86 43 62 .90
87 37
-
- -
Average ...
77134 54 2.8979 36 55
8.01 83 38 57
2.82 87 42 60 1 14|
89 45 63
451
92 49 67 .10
93 52 71|
.02
96 53 71 .04
97150 70 .05
90 44 64 .83 86 39 60 1.25 80 36 56
3.44|
Remarks-The average temperature for the seasons, deduced from the tables, is as follows: Winter, 55; Spring, 60; Summer, 70; Autumn, 65; Annual, 62. The average season rainfall, 16.23.
The symbol T. in the rainfall column indicates a trace of precipitation.
It will be observed on examining the table that the lowest temperature recorded during the cold period of the year, or rather its calendar equivalent, was 28 degrees, and during this season, embracing sixty months, there were but six of them when the temperature fell below the freezing point of water, and then this temperature was maintained but a limited time, usually in the early morning, after which a material rise occurred. A fact to be noted in considering the table, in connection with the summer temperatures, is that during the period of greatest heat, the percentage of atmospheric moisture is very low, which so modifies the temperature that the heat is neither oppressing nor prostrating, which is well illustrated by laborers continuing work during the hottest period.
I30
33
51
74:36:52
1.45
83 40 57 5 06
97 42,63
83 50.66
.01
.00
.00
.00
03
.34
98 52 72 T.
106 51 75 T.
108 51 71 T
102 42 66,
.26 78 40 60 5 52
1886
5 32 55 7.72
81 41 50
76 37 55
2.50 80 42 59 3.29
89 44 65
92 48 69
.07
.00
.03
105,48 68
.02
109 54 74 T.
96 54 75
.00
100 52 73
.06
1891
.25
1892
81 37 57 .88 74 38 54
3.19 81 36 56
88 16 64
.06
.00
91 53 72
92 54 71
88 51 67 T. 85 54 68 T.
02
.02
.10
.03
37 59
91
8.69
.58
.00
-
-
-
--
86 45
45
81 36 57
3 93
15.24
03
87
56
00 00 8'8
00
91 43 65
14
181 37
59
88:30 55
4.70
20.86
1880.
76 30 54
70 34
1.56
13 86
.36
1883
13.37
81 36 57 |T.
1.38
9 25
83 45 63
94 46 68
96 43 63
97 55 78
.00
9% 56 73
1890
67 34 49 7.83 81 35 54
1 36 81 40 58
.661 94 42 59
22
74 47 62
.31
89 49 66
.00
.22 19
.13
88 47 64
100:47 66
103,44 63
81 38 56
.18
-
Rainfall
Mean
Rainfall
Min.
Rainfall
Min.
Rainfall
Rainfall
Min.
Rainfall
Max.
83832 | Mcan
89 14 63
85 35 56
82 40 58
1.63
10.53
21
.03
.00
89 50 66 6 95 82 43 +1 1.35 68 40 55 15.80
82 48 61
2.32
12.69
89 46 66:
02
81
13 64
1878
1199
97
82
.63
8 | Min.
89
Rainfa11
3.47
.15
33.25
90 45.68
86 52 70 T.
4.83
Min.
131
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CRIME, CRIMINALS AND VIGILANCE COMMITTEES.
RIME and its punishment is not a congenial theme to me and I would willingly pass it by; but a truthful story of the life of our locality must recount the bad as well as the good.
In its earliers years, Los Angeles was noted for turbulence and disorder. This was largely due, no doubt, to the free use of wine and aguardiente-home products for which the inhabitants found a home market. There were, however, but few capital crimes committed among its white inhabitants during the Spanish and Mexican eras of its history. The Indians, after the fall of the missions, flocked to the city and became the pariahs of its social system. These, maddened by the vile intoxicants sold them, often, in their drunken orgies, fought among themselves and killed one another; but an Indian less wascounted a small loss. "From 1819 to 1846, that is, during the entire period of Mexican domination under the Republic," says Bancroft, "there were but six murders among the whites in all California." There were no lynch- ings, no mobs unless some of the revolutionary up- risings might be called such, and but one vigilance committee.
San Francisco is credited with the origin of that form of popular tribunal known as the vigilance committee. The name "vigilance com- mittee" originated with the uprising in 1851, of the people of that city, against the criminal ele- ment; but years before there was a city of San Francisco, Los Angeles had originated a tribunal of the people, had taken criminals from the law- fully constituted authorities and had tried and executed them.
The causes which called into existence the first vigilance committee in California were similar to those that created the later ones- namely, laxity in the administration of the laws and distrust in the integrity of those chosen to administer them. During the "Decade of Rev- olutions," that is between 1830 and 1840, the
frequent change of rulers and the struggles of different factions for power engendered in the masses a disregard, not only for their rulers, but for law and order as well. Criminals escaped punishment through the law's delays. No court in California had power to pass sentence of death on a civilian until its findings had been approved by the Superior Tribunal of Mexico. In the slow and tedious processesof the different courts, a criminal stood a good show of dying of old age before his case reaclied final adjudication. The first committee of vigilance in California was organized at Los Angeles in the house of Juan Temple, April 7, 1836. It was called "Junta Defensora de La Seguridad Publica," United Defenders of the Public Security (or safety. ) Its motto, which appears in the heading of its "acta" and is there credited as a quotation from Montesquieu's Exposition of the Laws, Book 26, Chapter 23, was, "Salus populi suprema lex est," ('The safety of the people is the supreme law). There is a marked similarity between the pro- ceedings of the Junta Defensora of 1836 and the San Francisco vigilance committee of 1856; it is not probable, however, that any of the actors in the latter committee participated in the former. Although there is quite a full account of the proceedings of the Junta Defensora in the city archives, no historian heretofore except Ban- croft seems to have found it. The accounts pub- lished heretofore in our local histories are inac- curate.
The circumstances which brought about the organization of the Junta Defensora are as fol- lows: The wife of Domingo Feliz (part owner of the Los Feliz Rancho), who hore the political name of Maria del Rosario Villa, became in- fatuated with a handsome but disreputable So- noran vaquero, Gervacio Alispaz by name. She abandoned her husband and lived with Alis paz as his mistress at San Gabriel. Feliz sought to reclaim his erring wife, but was met by in- sults and abuse from her paramour, whom he
132
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
once wounded in a personal altercation. Feliz finally invoked the aid of the authorities. The woman was arrested and brought to town. A reconciliation was effected between the husband and wife. Two days later they left town for the rancho, both riding one horse. On the way they were met by Alispaz and in a personal encounter Feliz was stabbed to death by the wife's para- mour. The body was dragged into a ravine and covered with brush and leaves. Next day, March 29, the body was found and brought to the city. The murderer and the woman were arrested and imprisoned. The people were filled with horror and indignation and there were threats of sum- mary vengeance, but better counsel prevailed.
On the 30th the funeral of Feliz took place, and like that of James King of William, twenty years later, was the occasion for the renewal of the outcry for vengeance. The attitude of the people became so threatening that on the Ist of April an extraordinary session of the ayun- tamiento was held. A call was made upon the citizens to form an organization to preserve the peace. A considerable number responded and were formed into military patrols under the com- mand of Don Juan B. Leandry. The illustrious ayuntamiento resolved "that whomsoever shall disturb the public tranquillity shall be punished according to law." The excitement apparently died out, but it was only the calm that precedes the storm. The beginning of the Easter cere- monies was at hand and it was deemed a sacrilege to execute the assassin in holy week, so all further attempts at punishment were deferred until April 7-the Monday after Easter, when at dawn, by previous understanding, a number of the better class of citizens met at the house of Juan Temple, which stood on the present site of the Downey Block.
An organization was effected. Victor Prudon, a native of Breton, France, but a naturalized citizen of California, was elected president; Man- uel Arzaga, a native of California, was elected secretary, and Francisco Araujo, a retired army officer, was placed in command of the armed force. Speeches were made by Prudon, and by the military commandant and others, setting forth the necessity of their organization and justifying their actions. It was unanimously decided that both the man and woman should be shot; their guilt being evident no trial was deemed neces- sary.
An address to the authorities and the people was formulated. A copy of this is preserved in our city archives. It abounds in metaphors. It is too long for insertion here. I make a few ex- tracts: "Believing that immorality has reached such an extreme that public security is
menaced and will be lost if the dike of a soleil example is not opposed to the torrent of atrocious perfidy, we demand of you that you execute or deliver to us for immediate execution the assassin, Gervacio Alispaz, and the unfaithful Maria del Rosario Villa, his accomplice. * * * Nature trembles at sight of these venomous reptiles and the soil turns barren in its refusal to support their detestable existence. Let the infernal pair perish! It is the will of the people. We will not lay down our arms until our petition is granted and the murderers are executed. The proof of their guilt is so clear that justice needs no inves- tigation. Public vengeance demands an example and it must be given. The blood of the Alvarez, of the Patiños, of the Jenkins, is not yet cold- they, too, being the unfortunate victims of the brutal passions of their murderers. Their bloody ghosts shriek for vengeance. Their terrible voices re-echo from their graves. The afflicted widow, the forsaken orphan, the aged father, the brother in mourning, the inconsolable mother, the public-all demand speedy punishment of the guilty. We swear that outraged justice shall be avenged to-day or we shall die in the attempt. The blood of the murderers shall be shed to-day or ours will to the last drop. It will be pub- lished throughout the world that judges in Los Angeles tolerate murderers but that there are virtuous citizens who sacrifice their lives in order to preserve those of their countrymen."
"A committee will deliver to the First Consti- tutional Alcalde a copy of these resolutions, that he may decide whatever he finds most conven- ient, and one hour's time will be given him in which to do so. If in that time no answer has been received, then the judge will be responsible before God and man for what will follow. Death to the murderers!
"God and liberty. Angeles, April 7, 1836."
Fifty-five signatures are attached to this docu- ment-fourteen of these are those of naturalized foreigners and the remainder those of native Cal- ifornians. The junta was made up of the best citizens, native and foreign. An extraordinary session of the ayuntamiento was called. The members of the junta, fully armed, marched to the city hall to await the decision of the authori- ties. The petition was discussed in the council, and in the language of the archives: "This Illustrions Body decided to call said Breton Prudon to appear before it and to compel him to retire with the armed citizens so that this Illus- trious Body may deliberate at liberty."
"This was done, but he declined to appear be- fore this body, as he and the armed citizens were determined to obtain Gervacio Alispaz and Maria del Rosario Villa. The ayuntamiento decided
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
that as it had not sufficient force to compel the armed citizens to disband, they being in large numbers and composed of the best and most re- spectable men of the town, to send an answer say- ing that the judges could not accede to the demand of the armed citizens."
The members of the Junta Defensora then marched in a body to the jail and demanded the keys of the guard. These were refused. The keys were secured by force and Gervacio Alispaz taken out and shot. The following demand was then sent to the first alcalde, Manuel Requena:
"It is absolutely necessary that you deliver to this junta the key of the apartment where Maria del Rosario Villa is kept.
"God and liberty.
VICTOR PRUDON, Pres. MANUEL ARZAGA, Sec."
To this the alcalde replied: "Maria del Ro- sario Villa is incarcerated at a private dwelling, whose owner has the key, with instructions not to deliver the same to any one. The prisoner is left there at the disposition of the law only.
"'God and liberty.
MANUEL REQUENA, Alcalde."
The key was obtained. The wretched Maria was taken to the place of execution on a carréta and shot. The bodies of the guilty pair were brought back to the jail and the following com- munication sent to the alcalde:
"Junta of the Defenders of Public Safety. "To the 1st Constitutional Alcalde :-
"The dead bodies of Gervacio Alispaz and Maria del Rosario Villa are at your disposal. We also forward you the jail keys that you may de- liver them to whomsoever is on guard. In case you are in need of men to serve as guards we are all at your disposal.
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