granted them by Álvarez. 4. That he scandalously violated the capitulation at Acapulco, not only depriving the government's soldiers of their arms, but forcing them to go away almost naked. 5. That knowing, as he did, that he was not a legitimate president, he had raised an army in revolt against the authorities, causing the ruin of families and persons. 6. That he disregarded the generous overtures for peace made him, preferring his personal aggrandizement to every other consideration, and looking with indifference on the destruction of upwards of 3,000 lives, besides large amounts of property, etc.; and lastly, that he was at the head of the rebel forces which fought against the government troops at Chilpancingo.[1]
The first charge was outlawed by an amnesty decree, and should not have been revived. The prosecuting officer applied the most opprobrious epithets to the victim, and even added the slanderous accusations that Guerrero had, through Zavala and Poinsett, attempted to borrow money from the United States, pledging the territory of Texas for its repayment.[2] He accordingly moved the court to pass sentence of death on the accused, which was done. The sentence was approved on the 11th of February by Colonel Joaquin Ramirez y Sesma, the comandante general of Oajaca. Three days later, on the 14th, Guerrero was taken to Cuilapa and shot, after being compelled to listen on his knees to the sentence of the court.[3]
It is, indeed, a singular coincidence that Iturbide
- ↑ These charges were drawn up by Facio himself, and confidentially transmitted to the comandante at Oajaca. Id., 183-5.
- ↑ This charge the prisoner declared to be utterly false. Id., 150. The evidence of Francisco Fagoaga and José María Bocanegra sustained his assertion, and stamped Alaman, Facio, and other open enemies of Guerrero as unprincipled slanderers. Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 141. Ward, Mex., app., speaks of such a contract for $12,000,000. Zavala pronounces it a barefaced invention of Guerrero's enenmies. Revol. Méx., ii. 205.
- ↑ The fact was duly communicated the same day to the government. Bustamante, Voz de la Patria, iv. nos 27, 28; MIS., vi. 22-53; MS., viii. 46. This author asserts that Vice-president Bustamante was powerless to prevent the execution. Gabinete, Mex., ii. 21, following index.
