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Gov Solis jailed a soldier for drunk and disorderly conduct

Source: The Governorship of Spanish Florida #122

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In the fall of 1752 interim Governor Fulgencio Garcia de Solis jailed the soldier Antonia Regidor for disturbing the peace. Don Antonio, it appears, was unhappy in Saint Augustine, frequently attempting to forget his woes in spirituous liquors. One morning, after an all-night drinking bout in which he had not successfully drowned his sorrows, he came to the gubernatorial palace, demanding loudly to see the governor. An aide, recognizing that Regidor was too inebriated to talk coherently, told the soldier that Garcia was busy but would be glad to confer with him later. Regidor, however, refused to be put off. With vociferous “threats, word, and admonitions,” he insisted on an interview. In the meantime his noisy demonstration attracted the governor’s attention, and when he appeared, Regidor became violent. He first thrust his hand under his coat as if to reach for a pistol, and then, thinking better of such an act, began gesticulating obscenely toward the governor. AN97

Garcia never lost his self-possession. He grabbed the drunken soldier by the shoulders and tried to induce him to stop his obscene display. At the same time the governor’s aide, who had gone for help, returned with two soldiers, who promptly dragged the unfortunate Regidor to jail. Later the governor brought charges against the soldier for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. During the trial Regidor claimed, probably in truth, that he could not remember a single incident of the eventful morning, but a few months in the Saint Augustine jail gave him some time to reconstruct the events that led to his imprisonment. [Note: Testimonio 12/1/1752]

(Tepaske GSF)