Libelos infamatorios: la indagatoria de su autoría. Injuria, deshonor y traición en Tacubaya, 1820

Abstract

This article focuses on the importance of the written speech in a case of insults in New Spain at the beginning of the 19th century. Although the cases of insults and dishonor in Latin American societies became increasingly common as the century advanced, the fact of the existing written speech had established a particular way to pursuit the legal investigations or even determine their origin, as it happened on this occasion. An anonymous letter made the insulted person denounce the possible author and instigate a judicial-military investigation, revealing to the modern researcher the persons and their social environment, their emotions, and the damage caused by the insults according to the moral imaginary developed during this period, and determined by the implied person's position in society. Oral speeches played an important role in the examined case as well, as it can be seen through the recorded testimonies of the persons revealed by the letters.

Keywords

• emotions
• honor
• letters