The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-06-18
MAN IS KILLED in
FEUD OF QUARRYMEN
AT WEBSTERVILLE
Joachim Perez Was Slain
by Bullet Fired by
Rafael Maria
FOUGHT DAY BEFORE
Perez Was Waiting in the Highway
for Maria When He Was Going
to Supper
FOUGHT DAY BEFORE

Joachim Perez shot and killed Raf-
fael Maria in Websterville, Monday
evening, and six hours later gave
himself up to Deputy Sheriff Leon
McAllister in Williamstown yesterday
morning, and he was turned over to
| Sheriff Tracy and lodged in Washing
ton county Jail.
Maria admitted the shooting and
readily acquesced when asked if he
,, would locate the revolver which he
had thrown away after the, shooting
of Perez. This forenoon he was TAX
en- to the scene of the murder to get
the revolver; and the weapon was
readily found in some bushes.
The shooting seems to have been
the outcome OF bad blood between the
two Spanish quarrymen, both OF
whom were comparative strangers IN
the quarry district, Perez having been
there only six weeks.
The two men had engaged in a
fight the night before the tragedy,
and Maria the smaller of the two,
was beaten, although not seriously
hurt in the encounter. One story
of the trouble is that Perez was at
tempting to rattle off a watch and
tried to sell ticket to Maria, which
Maria declined, saying that he did
not want to buy. This is said to have
led to some words between the two
men, following which Perez is said
to have slapped the younger man in
the face; and Maria, seizing stick,
struck Perez in the face and then
took to his heels. Perez was pre-
vented from pursuit by several of the
men gathered about the place.
Perez was man of great physical
strength, being nearly six feet tall
and weighing in the vicinity of 200
pounds. He is said to have had the
others in the village in wholesome
awe of his strength. One story of
his physical powers relates how he
stood off three men who got into an
alteration with him recently.
Maria is said to have feared Perez
after their encounter Sunday even
ing; and some of his friends say
that he had planned to report his
fears to the sheriff, having heard of
an alleged threat on the part of Pc
rez to drive him out of the town.
Whether that was his intention or
not, it is certain that Maria armed
himself with so calibre revolver
Monday.
: After quitting work at quarry of
E. L. Smith & Co., Monday Maria
went to his rooming place, the house
of Amcdy Rouleau at the lower end
of the main street to upper Webster
vile village and prepared to go to
supper at the boarding house of G.
Cano in the old Pittsley boarding
house at the upper end of the street,
the property now being owned by DIR.
E. H. Bailey.
In order to reach his boarding
place, Maria had to pass the house
of B. Gomez, where Perez roomed
and boarded, the Gomez place setting
back slightly from the street and at
an elevation from the road. Perez |
was in the highway when Maria ap- |
peared, accompanied by Amador
Cubas, who also was going to the
Cano boarding house. The opponents
of Sunday evening came face to face
nearly opposite the Gomez boarding
house and almost in the dooryard of
Dona Madore.
Witnesses assert that Perez extend
ed his hand as if in a token of de- !,
sire to be friends, but Maria lodged
back as Perez advanced with extend
ed hand. Mr.. Madore, who was sit
ting in his front room reading paper
looked out of side window and saw
Maria behind the wall which sup
ports the lawn of the Madore prop
erty. Maria held a revolver in his
hand and shortly afterwards started
for the road.
Realizing the imminence of a pos
sible tragedy. Mr.. Madore stepped to
his front door and called: "Don't
shoot"
Cubas says Maria warned Perez not
to approach any nearer or he would
shoot. Perez continued to advance,
Maria fired, the shot TAX
CONTINUED on mage fourl