Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/694

676 having accepted the Mexican central system, abolished the town council and appointed an encargado to serve temporarily until the new organization could be effected; and accordingly in 1839-40 juez de paz was at the head of affairs. Also in 1839 José Castro was made prefect of the first district with headquarters at San Juan, his father, Tiburcio Castro, succeeding him in 1840. Excepting the Castañares-Herrera cases, noted elsewhere in connection with the political troubles to which they contributed, the administration of justice at Monterey furnishes very little matter that is either interesting or instructive; nevertheless the criminal record with other details of municipal affairs are believed to be worth preserving. Private ranchos mentioned in the records as having MS., iii. 84; ''Id., Ben. P. y J.,'' iii. 13; ''Mont. Arch.,'' MS., ix. 30. Juez de paz David Spence and perhaps Estévan Munrás; juez auxiliar Joaquin Buelna at Pilarcitos; capt. of the port Pedro Narvaez. Simeon Castro is also named as alcalde. April 7th while the town was under martial law on account of the arrest of foreigners Diego Félix murdered his wife and her unborn child, for which crime he was shot by the governor's order within 12 hours. Vallejo, Doc., MS., ix. 108; Pinto, Apunt., MS., 45-9; Castro, Rel., MS., 57-60. July, gov, organizes and instructs a patrol force to protect the district against Ind. and other robbers. Dept. St. Pap., St. José, MS., v. 58-60. Aug.-Sept., the jurisdiction of the juez defined as extending to Rio de Soledad, including Alisal, Sauzal, Espinosa's rancho, Bolsa Nueva, all the ranchos of the Salinas, Tucho, to the Carmelo boundary. Dept. St. Pap., Mont., MS., iv. 23; ''Mont. Arch.,'' MS., ix. 26-7. Dec., owners of shops, etc. must keep a light before their doors till 10 P. M., even if the shop is closed. Id., 30-1; Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 29. Additional references for the list of town officials. ''Mont. Arch.,'' MS., i. 28; ii. 1, 3, 8, 12; iii. 2-4; v. 1; vi. 3-9, 24; vii. 40, 43, 62-6; ix. 3, 9, 25-7; xi. 12, 14; xvi. 16, 23; Dept. St. Pap., Mont., MS., ii. 21-2; iv. 82; iii. 93; vi. 10, 28, 36, 38; S. José Arch., MS., i. 46-7; ii. 50; iii. 40, 103; iv. 15, 18, 51; v. 32, 39-40; vi. 27, 38; Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 95, 162, 167; iv. 249; xiv. 2; xvii. 2, 3; Id., Ben., P. y J., iii. 30, 47-8, 79, 84, 88; vi. 37; Id., Ben., ii. 3; vi. 74, 310; St. Pap., Miss., MS., v. 40; Id., Sac., xi. 69; xii. 10; xiv. 7, 13; ''Id., Miss. & Col.,'' ii. 229, 235, 353-6; ''Leg. Rec.,'' MS., i. 348; ii. 262; iii. 22-3; Gomez, Doc., MS., 24-5, 33.