The Case of Michaela de Molina

Having read and then reread the bizarre case against Michaela de Molina in early Guatemala I must admit that I came out skeptical of the case in its entirety for several reasons. First, however, I must describe my feelings towards Molina as well as all others involved in her strange case. Molina herself did not appear, to me, to have the makings of a malicious character, much less a witch. As for the others, I frankly did not find that there was sufficient written evidence to make an assessment of them. However it was clear that Maria de la Candelaria as well as Dona Juana Gonzalez were not particularly inclined to show any favoritism towards Mullatas given their assumptions that Candelaria’s illness was the result of witchcraft practiced by Molina. Witchcraft was, of course, the accusation brought against Molina by Dr. Don Joseph de Banos. The alleged curse placed upon Candelaria was indeed dire causing her to expel blood, rags, soap, charcoal, and various other objects and fluids from her nostrils and mouth.
Delving into the details of the actual investigation, it became clear from a great deal of witness testimony that Candelaria and Molina had previously quarreled over their separate relationships with an Indian man named Pablo Vallejo. One of these altercations erupted shortly before Candelaria birthed a child. In the three months following the birth of this child, Candelaria suffered greatly from the various symptoms that I have already listed. The testimony of Candelaria and her mistress Juana Gonzalez, it became evident to me, quite quickly, that they both held negatively slanted opinions of Molina. I felt that they each suspected her as being the source of Candelaria’s symptoms (which, I should point out, are ludicrous). However, the final testimony given by Dona Rafaela Gonzalez, the niece of Juana Gonzalez, revealed an intriguing fact that the other two witnesses failed to mention, that being that shortly after learning of Candelaria’s sickness, Molina appeared at the house of Juana Gonzalez to apologize and cite that she was not responsible. Rather, the one to be held accountable for Candelaria’s ailment was an Indian woman named Teresa, who was the mother of Pablo Vallejo.
As for my thoughts on the case, I believe that it was largely a scheme plotted and carried out by Juana Gonzalez and Candelaria against Molina. Firstly, it is naturally impossible for things such as soap, charcoal, and rags to spontaneously occur in one’s stomach. Much less expel through said person’s nostrils. However, in an age in which superstition warranted a much greater deal of authority, these were believable claims in when citing witchcraft. I suspect the origins of the devious plan are rooted in the violent dispute between Molina and Candelaria over the Indian man, Pablo.