some exciting adventures to relieve the monotony of their regular duties; but these experiences growing out of national and territorial patriotism were permitted to absorb the surplus of zeal that might otherwise have been devoted to local controversies; so that the record of town affairs is somewhat tame, even when supplemented by the criminal record and items connected with the administration of justice.[1] These
- ↑ Administration of justice at Los Angeles, 1831. A man fined $5 for branding cattle out of season. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 8. 1833, Jan.-Feb., ordinances of ayunt. against carrying forbidden weapons, playing forbidden games, and selling liquor after 8 P. M. Los Ang. Arch., MS., iv. 74, 84-5, 89-90; Dept. St. Pap. Ang., MS., i. 99, 110. Also similar regulations in other months. Nov., owners of ranchos must be made to burn the carcasses of cattle slaughtered. Los Ang. Arch., MS., iv. 75. 1834. By complaint of J. A. Carrillo alcalde Perez seized some silver on the Pacífico. J. A. Aguirre, the owner, succeeded in proving the seizure illegal, and that the whole affair was a plot of Carrillo and Perez, who were to share the profits, and who were accused of other conspiracies against the wealthy Spaniard. They were condemned to pay damages for the ship's detention, and the alcaldes were reprimanded for neglect of duty. Dept. St. Pap. Ben., MS., v. 1-15, 64-7. 1835. April 8th, bando of Alcalde Alvarado containing municipal ordinances in 19 articles. Id., Ang., i. 157-60. May, Yorba writes to Capt. Guerrera that thefts of horses and cattle at the ranchos are of frequent occurrence, and the alcaldes take no energetic steps to prevent such outrages Guerra, Doc., MS., vi. 151. July, prisoners have to be transferred to S. Gabriel for want of guards and insecurity of prison in town. Los Ang. Arch., MS., i. 60-1. Oct., a military court to sit at S. Gabriel to try men who
was not the 2d alcalde but the senior regidor that took his place. Munic. receipts $739. July 17th, proposition to rent the salt-fields and tax asphaltum for municipal revenues. Feb., Capt. Juan de Dios Padilla refuses to obey a summons from the alcalde. Also reprimanded for not removing his hat in the juzgado. May, prefect proposes 2 jueces de paz at the capital and one at each mission, also at S. Pedro and Sta Ana. Ayunt. expresses regret at prefect's illness. July, 2d regidor fined $10 for misdemeanor in the case of Temple. Nov. 7th, governor's order to dissolve the ayunt; order rec'd Nov. 21st. Dec., no síndico required under the new system, but a depositario must be appointed to dispose of funds only on prefect's order.
1840. Jueces de paz Felipe Lugo and Juan B. Leandry; jueces de campo Ramon Ibarra, Juan Ramirez, Enrique Véjar, Antonio Ignacio Ávila for the environs of the town; for the ranchos Ignacio Palomares at S. José, Mariano Roldan at Los Coyotes, Bernardo Yorba at Cajon de Sta Ana, Tomás Yorba at Sta Ana, José Yorba at Sta Ana Abajo, Francisco Figueroa at Alamitos, P. Dominguez at S. Pedro, Juan Sepúlveda at Palos Verdes, Felipe Talamantes at La Ballena, Julio Verdugo at Los Verdugos. Pio Pico collector of tithes appointed July 16th, to receive 5 per cent for commission. Ranchos established for less than 5 years were exempt. Tithes might be paid in cattle and horses. Munic. receipts $567, expend. $517. Proceeds of stamped paper 1st quarter $57, 3d quarter $12. Complaints in Feb. that accounts have not been rendered, and that neither schoolmaster nor sec. of ayunt. has been paid. Feb., Lugo and Leandry complain to prefect that certain men oppose them and criticise their conduct. They are willing to resign or to answer any charges. Sept., subaltern jueces are informed that they have but 3 days in which to return answers to their superiors.
