Crímenes coloniales: codicia y crueldad en el asesinato del señor Dongo y sus dependientes (Ciudad de México, 1789)

On the night of Friday, October 23, 1789, the cruelest crime of the entire Novo-Hispanic period was committed. Three Peninsular individuals entered armed, with the purpose of robbing the residence of the merchant Joaquin Dongo in Mexico City. After murdering him along with ten of his employees, the robbers escaped with an important loot. The speed and severity with which justice acted was unknown at the time. This article analyzes the social and cultural elements present in such an atrocious crime. Likewise, the reasons that led the authorities to apply the death penalty to the culprits.