Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-08-31
RAILROAD LABORER
MURDERED At POTOS|
Mexican Stabbed by Fellow
Workman Without Warning
Tragedy Took Place on Highway Be-
tween the Village and the
Railroad

ever committed within the borders Of
Grant county was the sta bling OF
Victoriano Frientis, a Mexican sec
tion hand employed on the G. B. & @,
railroad near Potosi, by Erculano
Martinez, a fellow workman. The
murder took place near the Potosl
brewery last Thursday morning and
was witnessed by one man. Jesus
Viara. The murderer's motive may
always remain mystery. Searching
investigation has, so far. failed to re-
veal that the crime was brought about
by any personal quarrel or Ill feeling
existing between the two men.
Five Mexicans-E rculano Martinez,
Jesus Viara, Jesus Rus, Nefar
Frientis aGd his son Victoriano-
have been employed as section hands
near Potosi for several months. APP
parently they lived and worked to-
gether as peaoeably as could he ex-
pected Of workmen Of their class.
Wednesday evening four Of them
Mar inez, Viara, Rus and Victoriano
Frientis went to Potosi together and
no doubt INDUCED rather freely in
the flowing bowl. The testimony in
justice court however did not prove
that they were badly intoxicated.
Nefar Frientis did not accompany
the party to town but spent the even
ing in their box car home where he
was joined at nine q clock by Rus
who had tired Of the evenings revelry.
The other three Viara, MARTINEZ
and Victoriano Frientis started for the
car between eleven and twelve O. clock
and loitered along the way. Viara
was about two rods behind the other
two men when he saw MARTINEZ sud
denly draw a knife and drive it into
his companions breast. Frientis fell
to the ground and expired instantly
and Martinez immediately fed from
the scene.
One glance at Frientis suficed to
show Viara that the young mau was
dead beyond a doubt, and horror
stricken he ran az once to the car
where he aroused the father and Rus
and told them of the murder. They
found that in the meantime Martinez
had come to the car packed his clothes
in grip and escaped.
The three went at once to the scene
of the crime. The father was, of
course, heart broken and while he
knelt grieving over the body of his
murdered son, Rus and Viara notified
the section foreman, James Buchecker
of the crime.
Word was sent to Marshal Crestop
and the county authorities were also
notified as soon as possible. A thorough
search for the murderer was begun
Immediately.
News was brought to Potosi that
afternoon that the crew of train No
81 had seen Martinez lodging through
the brush near Rutledge. Under
sheriff Jay Harcleroa3 and Deputy
Ray Carthew procured hand car and
started in that direction at once
A gang of railroad workmen who
had also gotten glimpse of Martinez
gave them further directions and
abandoning the hand Car they started
on foot to locate the man.
A speeding machine engineered by
II 11,1o h 4
up to them very shortly and the Two
officers "caught a ride" with the
Potosi citizens who were also in search
of the murderer. Rounding a curve
they caught sight of MARTINEZ. He
was still making his way through
the brush at the side of the track.
The officers left the vehicle and ran
after the Mexican firing over his head
and calling to him to throw up his
hands. He stopped quickly and offer
ed no resistance to arrest.
He was searched thoroughly but no
weapon of any kind was found on his
preson. The later testimony of the
the only weapon he ever carried was
a clasp knife with a blade about four
inches in length. None Of his COM
panions owned knife of any descrip-
ton.
The wound IN the murdered man s
breast was about two inches in length
and was located above his heart. 1t
was apparently inflicted with a large
knife.
Martinez was hand cuffed and
brought to Lancaster where he was
lodged in the county Jail,
The pref ninary hearing in the case
was hello n the circuit court room
Saturd afternoon Justice G. w.
Burr rs presiding. The room was
Gro. ded during the trial with Lancas-