“MONSTROUS AND ILLEGAL PROCEEDINGS”: LAW ...

These old animosities set the stage for new clashes over Jubim’s property rights
around Salto in the early 1860s. The webs of associations between the Ribeiros, Canabarro
and their Uruguayan allies ensured that important members of Salto’s political community
would quickly become involved in the case. Agustín Sañudo, a colorado attorney in Salto,
stood at the center of Bica’s network of borderlands commercial connections. He defended
the Brazilian in numerous civil and criminal proceedings in the Salto courts as he moved
across the borderlands. 169 In much the same way, Sañudo represented Jubim in his initial
dispute over his new property. Sañudo claimed that José María Carneiro, another Brazilian,
had “violated [atropelló] . . . [Jubim’s] property rights.” 170 Following Sañudo’s initial
complaint, the matter appeared to be resolved.
Carneiro, however, intervened in 1863 in another commercial dispute between Jubim
and Manuel Moreira da Fontoura to again challenge the former’s property claims. 171 Jubim
died before the litigation could even commence. The rancher’s death touched off a much
more aggressive attempt by Ylla to seize Jubim’s lands altogether. 172 Ylla, along with
Carneiro, immediately filed a complaint again Jubim’s widow, Doña Encarnación Garces de
Jubim. In it, the men sought a substantial portion of Jubim’s former lands. With Sañudo’s
169 Sañudo also directly funneled information regarding events around Salto to Bento
Ribeiro. In an 1851 letter from José Madariaga to Gregorio Valdés, Madariaga indicated that
a “Sañudo” had supplied information to Ribeiro regarding commercial and political events in
the department, including reports on negotiations between Diego Lamas and Urquiza over
the pending invasion of the Estado Oriental. AGPC. Fondo Mantilla. Archivo Valdéz, v. 18,
José Madariaga al Señor Gregorio Valdés (May 12, 1851).
170 Asunto de José Maria Carneiro, AGN. Salto. Jefatura (1859).
171 Incidente promovido por Dr. José Maria Carneiro solicitando vista de un expediente seguio entre
Fontoura y Jubim, AGN-SJ. Salto. Letrados Civil, No. 15 (1863).
172 The case is silent as to the causes of Jubim’s death.
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