Laredo Analysis

Laredo in the year 1904 was still in the midst of establishing itself as a proper city. The city was still vastly rural compared to the rest of the state. The first wagon and footbridge across the Rio Grande was built. This new development caused an uproar in the population demographic and brought commercialized farming to the region. The population of Laredo rose from an approximately 3,500 to 11,319; almost tripling the populace. The establishment of commercial onion growing proved to be very monumental in the local economy. This surge in population and agriculture also introduced a very structured gendered relation. The major aim of this analysis is to provide further information on how women during the early 20th century were highly subject …show more content…
Felix Marroquin, his actions give great insight into the patriarchal structure of gendered relations in Hispanic communities, especially in Laredo. The details and eyewitness accounts provided subsequent evidence to convict Mr. Marroquin. The incident occurred late Friday evening on the date of July 29th, 1904 at the Marroquin household. Mr. Marroquin was outside conversing with a Mr. Isidro Garza, who at the time was his neighbor when his wife Maria de los Angeles Marroquin steps outside to join the two men. Mr. Marroquin and his wife began to argue over finances when she begins to taunt Mr. Marroquin’s character. As the argument escalates Mr. Marroquin began to force his wife back into the home, causing Mrs. Marroquin to punch her husband in the face out of spite. Let it be known that Mr. Marroquin and his wife Maria de los Angeles Marroquin had a history of aggressive verbal exchanges and domestic abuse prior to this incident. This leads to Mr. Marroquin to seethe with rage, as he grabbed a gardening hoe and began assaulting Mrs. Marroquin in the front of their home. As Mr. Marroquin continued to beat his wife, Mr. Garza along with Pedro Marroquin, who is the defendant's brother, intervened to stop the ruthless assault. While Mrs. Marroquin did survive the attack, she did suffer extensive injuries and disfigurement of her face. Pedro Marroquin stated in his court testimony that his sister in law was unrecognizable after the …show more content…
Marroquin was arrested and placed in the county jail for 1 month to await trial. His trial date was set to take place on October 10th 1904. Amongst all the-the witnesses who were there at the scene of the crime, only the men summoned to testify. Along with the eyewitness testimonies, the selected jurors consisted of only men. The defense argued that Mars. Marroquin knowingly and willingly broke the patriarchal structure of the home by arguing with her husband and thus it should be up to the husband to punish his wife, not to a court of law. Although Mrs. Marroquin was allowed to testify against the crime committed upon her, her statement was not considered concrete evidence to the jurors. The only testimonies that were used as solid and valid evidence during the case were that of Mr. Isidro Garza and Mr. Pedro Marroquin. Although these eyewitness testimonies did prove Mr. Marroquin’s guilt, the men of the jury believed that Mr. Marroquin did, in fact, have the right to punish his wife for her disrespect. Felix Marroquin was given the minimum sentence of two years in a state penitentiary. The result of the case cements the idea of a structured gender role and cultural view of women as second-class

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Laredo Analysis

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