“MONSTROUS AND ILLEGAL PROCEEDINGS”: LAW ...

personal interests, Guarch’s faction could not be trusted to defend the town’s values or
control of its government. They simply were not vecinos in good standing. 10
Gomez’s allegations formed the first part of an assault on the personal reputations of
Guarch and his allies in the town. Gomez continued his challenge to Guarch’s allies by
raising questions about their commercial dealings. In early September, a broadsheet directed
to “the Public” appeared throughout the town. 11 It accused Angel Castroman, a local
merchant, of counterfeiting a number of Bolivian silver coins. The document further alleged
that Castroman had received assistance in the scheme from Miguel C. Reilly, a prominent
local businessman, attorney and personal friend of Guarch’s. Castroman immediately
brought suit against Gomez for libel. The two men appeared in Salto’s theater for a public
jury trial regarding the allegations. At the public proceeding, Gomez called upon the town’s
“honorable vecinos” to weigh the evidence that Castroman had in fact engaged in
counterfeiting monies in the town. Gomez further alleged that local officials, mainly Miguel
Reilly, had sheltered Castroman. Gomez claimed that Reilly had provoked this litigation in
order to discredit him and protect his political and commercial allies. Gomez noted that
despite Reilly’s machinations, the “independence and impartiality” of the jury system, “one
of the most beautiful conquests of our glorious independence,” would ensure he received
justice. 12 Gomez’s confidence, however, was misplaced. The jury found him guilty of libel
against Castroman. They ordered the attorney to retract his accusations and pay unspecified
damages and costs. Gomez then unsuccessfully appealed the verdict to the alcalde ordinario. 13
10 Ibid.
11 D. Angel Castroman c. D. Bernardo Gomez, acusando una publicación de este ultimo, AGN-SJ.
Salto. Penales, n. 34 (1874), 2.
12 Ibid., 22.
13 Ibid.
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