100 



TRINIDAD: THEN AND NOW 



made to get her to confess her share in the transac- 

 tion, but she persistently denied all knowledge of or 

 participation in it. This being so the magistrate 

 (assessor) who had charge of investigating the case 

 reported to Picton, and advised him to apply the 

 " question " to compel her to acknowledge her com- 

 plicity with Gonzalez and disclose where the money 

 was concealed. 



I quote the official communication sent by the 

 Notary to Picton in full, as it would not be fair to 

 give only a resume of it. 



"December the 23rd,1801 ff > 

 " In consequence of the strong suspicion his 



honour entertains of the mulatto, Luisa Calderon, a 

 domestic of Pedro Ruiz, concealing the truth relative 

 to the aforesaid robbery expressed in these proceed- 

 ings, and his honour being persuaded that she will 

 discover the truth of the matter by means of a slight 

 torture inflicted on the said Calderon ; and whereas 

 his honour is not invested with power to execute the 

 same his excellency the governor and captain-gene- 

 ral of this island must be made acquainted hereof, 

 with the summary of this process, by virtue of this 

 document, to the intent that his excellency may de- 

 termine as may appear to him justice. The usual 

 and requisite forms to be adopted and observed by 

 the notary in the cause, and in pursuance hereof his 

 honour thus decreed and ordered ; and he signed 

 hereto, which I the under-written notary attest this 

 day, the 22nd of the aforesaid month and year. 



"Before me, FRANCISCO DE CASTRO, 



" (Signed) BEGORRAT." 



