The Day of the Legal Worker is celebrated in Cuba every June 8, to remember that in 1865 Ignacio Agramonte was received as a lawyer. Our Villa, from its foundation in 1794, solved its judicial acts in the capital, but from 1891, courts of first instance were created, dedicated to the civil and criminal causes.
The courthouse in San Antonio de los Baños was second class. In Cuba, only 17 cities had that type of court: a true privilege at that time. Apparently, although few data confirm it, there were already enough Ariguanabo Law graduates, to create a court of that rank. The emergency processes were enough in a region that included not only San Antonio de los Baños, but Güira de Melena, Alquízar, Vereda Nueva, Ceiba del Agua, Guayabal, Caimito and even near Bauta. Meanwhile, the nearby city of Bejucal had a national prison where many detainees were sent, as well as those deported to the Isle of Pines who were traveling by train to the port of Batabanó.
At the outbreak of the Ten Years' War, initiated by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in October, 1868, the political cases were considered of maximum danger and were taken to the military courts of the capital. The colonial forces and the criollos who defended the regime (volunteers) demanded blood from the authorities, and especially from the courts.
On December 24, 1869, an uprising was planned in the Villa del Ariguanabo, but it was reported, and the patriots of San Antonio, Bejucal, La Salud, and Güira de Melena were captured and taken to Havana. They were judged by the military governor, who condemned them to jail and exile; while his boss received the death penalty.
Thus, from every footprint of its women and men, including judges and courts, San Antonio de los Baños is a chapter in the history of Cuba that deserves to be honored.
