I have some information to give your Excellency respecting a certain
person who has uttered in my presence some words which it appears to me
come within the cognizance of your Excellency. Various causes have
hindered me from appearing before the respectable tribunal of your
Excellency and denouncing the whole matter. I trust your Excellency will
favor me so far as to take my deposition at the hands of some clerical
person. I live in the Calle Ancha, in the second room of a house which
forms the corner of the Callejon de la Plata, No. 1, and for more
particular direction, my house is so near that of Señor Don Juan Larra,
that nothing separates them but the abovementioned Callejon.
Your Excellency’s most humble servant,
MARIA BERNARDA HALLEGG, _wife of
Don Pedro Hallegg, Captain in the
Regiment of Rutiman_.
* * * * *
In the city of Barcelona, on the third day of June, one thousand eight
hundred and two, before Dr Andres Fernandez de la Cuesta, Presbyter and
Commissary appointed for this investigation, and me, the Reverend
Cayetano Tuco, Presbyter, Commissary, and Notary on this occasion, sworn
to preserve secrecy and perform faithfully our duties, appeared,
voluntarily, and made oath to declare the truth and preserve secrecy
with respect to everything which she knew and about which she might be
interrogated, a person calling herself Dona Maria Bernardo Halegg, wife
of Don Pedro Hallegg, Captain in the Regiment of Rutiman, a native of
the town of Estipona, in the province of Andalusia, of age, as she
stated, twentyfour years, and residing in the Calle de la Plata.
Questioned, if she knew or conjectured the cause of her being summoned
to appear by the Tribunal of the Holy Office.
Answered, that she supposed it to be on account of a letter which her
Confessor had written in her name to the Holy Office, in which letter
she had declared that she had some information to communicate. The
matter in question was as follows. About six months ago, Juan Picar, a
native of Lyons, in France, who visited at her house, uttered the
following heretical speeches; namely, that he did not believe in the
purity of the Most Holy Mary; that he did not believe Jesus Christ
descended to the Host after the words of consecration were uttered by
the Priest; that he did not believe in the Pope, inasmuch as he was a
man like ourselves; that those who died did not go to Hell, but to
Paradise; that he said ‘Holy Mary’ instead of ‘Most Holy Mary;’ that he
spoke ill of the Priests, declaring that he could not endure the sight
of them, and that they had ruined Spain; that the French had done well
in driving them all out of their country. The deponent stated further,
that she believed he did not attend mass on the days appointed,
although he professed to be a Christian.
She was then shown a letter beginning with ‘Barcelona, March 20th,
1802,’ and ending with ‘Don Pedro Halegg, Captain in the Regiment of
Rutiman,’ that she might examine and identify it, and declare it to have
been written by her, or by her direction in her name, and containing the
truth.
Answered, that it was the identical one which she had caused to be
written by her Father Confessor, and that she attested it for the truth;
that she had nothing to add or alter in relation to it, and that she had
not made her declarations out of malice or enmity against the
abovementioned person, nor from any counsel or instigation on the part
of any other person.
Questioned, why she had delayed to denounce these offences to the Holy
Office, thereby failing in her obligation to give notice of all such
matters immediately upon having knowledge of the same.
Answered, that she wished previously to consult her Father Confessor,
and that she obeyed upon receiving his orders.
Questioned, at what time and in what place he made the abovementioned
assertions; what persons were present; if he said them more than once,
and how many times; whether he spoke in his own language, or quoted
others who made the assertions referred to; whether he spoke in jest, in
dispute, or in a passion; whether he was accustomed to utter such words;
whether he was rebuked by any persons present, and by whom; whether,
after being rebuked, he persisted in his assertions, and whether at the
time of speaking he was in his right mind, or was insane or drunk.
Answered, that she had already specified the time, and that it happened
at her house; that there were present occasionally her husband
abovementioned; her brother-in-law, Don Martin Halegg, who resided
there, a servant named Francisca Garriga, living in the Callejon de
Santa Anna, and who went to be married at Tarragona, but her present
place of residence the deponent does not know, and another servant named
Antonia, who lives in a lane near La Trinidad Calzada, and is the
daughter of a schoolmaster in that lane; that he repeated the above
assertions many times, so often that she could not recollect the number;
that he spoke affirmatively, and seriously; that she did not think he
was accustomed to such talk, as he had not repeated it for more than two
months; that he was rebuked several times by the abovementioned persons
and the deponent, but took no heed; and that on most of these occasions
he was in his right mind, although a few times he was intoxicated.
Questioned, if she knew that any other person had said or done anything
which came within the cognizance of the Holy Office.
Answered, No.
Questioned, what was or appeared to be the age of the abovementioned
Juan Picar, also his personal appearance and condition.
Answered, that he was about fortyfour years of age, tall, thin, with a
light complexion, blue eyes, and red hair; and that he was a soldier in
the aforesaid regiment.
The above being read to her, she affirmed it to be recorded conformably
to her declaration; that she had nothing to add or alter respecting it,
as it was the truth; and that she did not utter it out of malice or ill
will against the said Juan Picar, but solely to discharge her
conscience. Secrecy was enjoined upon her, which she promised to
observe, and added her signature, which I certify.
After the declaration had been read, and before it was signed, the
deponent recollected that the abovementioned Juan Picar observed to her
husband, that a person, on dying, passed to the other world without
suffering any punishment. Also she had been informed by her
sister-in-law, Dona Rafaela Reymer, wife of a captain out of service,
named Don Joseph Reymer, who lives in the Calle de San Pablo, No. 14,
third story, that two officers of the said regiment, the one named
Martin Estinause, and the other unknown, uttered blasphemies respecting
a figure of Christ.
All which she denounces to the Holy Office in discharge of her
conscience, and under the oath of secrecy sworn by her. She added her
signature, which I certify.
MARIA BERNARDA HALLEGG.
DR ANDRES FERNANDEZ DE LA CUESTA,
_Presbyter and Commissary_,
CAYETANO TUCO, _Presbyter, Commissary,
and Notary_.
* * * * *