1824. Carta de José Pessoa de Carvalho de Eça, tenente-coronel, para Estêvão Ferreira da Cruz, corregedor.

Letter from José Pessoa de Carvalho de Eça, Lieutenant-Coronel of the Militias, to Estêvão Ferreira da Cruz, a high magistrate.

The author informs the addressee about all the prisoners that he has in custody. He also informs that there are some individuals who want to testify against some prisoners that are in transit to Lisbon.

These proceedings were opened against a gang of thieves who acted in several places of the reign of Portugal, such as fairs, markets, roads and private properties. They robbed merchants, tradesmen and several persons in their homes. The defendants were also accused of beating and murdering some of their victims. Although there were several complainers, the most active one was Rodrigo José dos Santos, a goldsmith who feared that once the defendants were released, they would take revenge from their accusers.