Abstract

BENITEZ BARBA, Laura. “Because I was about to be poisoned”. The case of divorce of Paulina Abbadie and Spiridion Casillas. Guadalajara, 1900-1906. Let. hist. [online]. 2016, n.14, pp.235-263. ISSN 2448-8372.

This work is part of a broader research on marriage, family and relationships in Guadalajara in late 19th century and early 20th century. For the purposes of the Testimonies section, a case study is presented where we can see matrimonial conflicts between Paulina Abbadie and physician Espiridión Casillas. In addition to suffering what today we would call “incompatibility of character,” in the year 1900 they were led to request divorce by threats of poisoning, accusations of dementia and monetary fraud, because of a mortgage which led to a lawsuit for more than six years.

Keywords : Divorce; marriage; poisoning; mental illness.