Soy de Duval

  The journalistic profession has not always been a safe one in Duval County. Neither has it been boring. Newspapermen and women covering Duval County over the years have won a Pulitzer Prize and a pass to the graveyard. At least one reporter has lost his life while in pursuit of the truth of Duval County corruption. Such was the volatility of the county’s political history, especially in the 1950s. In 1952, returning World War II and Korean War veterans launched their own assault against the decidedly undemocratic Parr regime. It made for a decade-long struggle, making the 1950s tense times in Duval County. While the Duval County Facts was a newspaper of longstanding in Duval County, it had never been an activist organ. The Facts , which began publication in the 1920s and seized printing in the mid 1960s, reported information that did not make waves. It served an important function as the chronicler of the weekly affairs of the community but it shied away from the political contr...

The Flores heirs of the town tract of San Diego confirmed the acts of trustees Collins and Perez who had power to sell lots in the town. The questions as to title in San Diego were settled. While six trains a day were making stops in San Diego over the Texas-Mexican Railroad, the correspondent for the San Antonio Express leaved impression that “City in the Woods” was dull, dried up and completely without business. Moreover, San Diego had experienced no failures among its merchants; slowly, maybe, but gradually the town was improving and progressing. M. C. Spann sold stock of goods to E. N. Gray, Charles F. Stillman, Placido Benavides and Saturnino Vera. L. Levy made improvements to his premises, adding a new roof and making other repairs. Pena and Miret renamed their saloon “The True Blue.” Mr. Yzaguara painted the sign. Dr. Newton of Rio Grande City relocated to San Diego and opened an office to practice medicine. He had earned a reputation for treating yellow fever. Manuel Feuille, ...

At the end of July 1887 the Duval County Grand Jury returned 26 true bills. District court action saw 11 convictions and an acquittal. The Corpus Christi Caller did not report names of any of the parties indicted, convicted or acquitted. Capt. E. N. Gray, Julian Palacios and George Bodet were named jury commissioners to select petit and grand jury for the court’s next term. Frank Feuille was becoming a popular defense attorney. County attorney C. L. Coyner, meanwhile, took time off from his legal duties to buy and move into the Caldwell property next to Judge J. Williamson Moses’ residence. A. L. Muel and Capt. B. Miret were thinking of building new homes. Muel bought property near Sidbury Lumber and Miret built a little cottage on Plaza No. 2 on property he bought from Judge James O. Luby. L. Pena started a bakery in house opposite J. W. Shaw’s Livery Stable. On the last Saturday of July, six dances were held in San Diego and all were attended. Music as well as partners were in high ...

  POSTED BY:  CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM   MAY 5, 2014 Here is the talk given by Jose Angel Gutierrez at the dedication of the Tejano Civil rights Museum in Corpus Christi on May 4, 2014. He is competing with the birds chirping away but he is audible. Below is a photo album of the event. I did not stay to tour the museum; waiting to do that when there isn’t too much of a crowd. The museum is located in the Grande-Grossman House in Heritage Park in Corpus Christi. It will include the following exhibits: Founders Room , dedicated to those who helped make the museum possible; Heroes Room , displaying Tejano heroes who have made a difference in he civil rights of Mexican Americans; Map Room , displaying maps showing the development of Texas and south Texas over the past 300 years.; Flag Room , displaying the flags that have flown over Texas; and Art Gallery Room , displaying some of the art work associated with south Texas and he Mexican and Tejano culture.

Results of the district court session in July 1887 did not prove well for “Mexicans,” as the C orpus Christi Caller called citizens of Mexican descent. Not surprisingly, these poor “Mexicans” were also criminals so the Caller saw no need to use their names. There were 11 convictions for felony and one for aggravated assault. One “Mexican” was convicted of murder and received a 30-year sentence in the “pen.” Another one received 15 years for horse theft and forgery; one got two years for bigamy; another was sentenced to two years for cattle theft; and yet another received a two-year sentence for assault with intent to commit murder. The district attorney lost one case; have to assume it was one lucky Mexican. The Honorable John C. Russell presided over district court on July 11, 1887. Other court officers included district attorney D. McNeil Turner, sheriff L. L. Wright, county attorney C. L. Coyner and district clerk R. B. Glover. Not a “Mexican” among the lot. The empaneled grand ju...