The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-08-09
Only a Few Weeks Ago 45-Calibre
Automatic Pistol Was Taken Away
From DaPrato and He Had Secured
a 38-Calibre Weapon Recently-Bul-
let Holes Inside Store Showed Where
He Had Tried Out His Workmanship

After fondling firearms for weeks and
uttering threats of foul intent, Antonio
DaPrato, aged 20, and proprietor of the
Vermont Fruit g. Confectionery Store at
l55 North Main street, gave way to his
fiendish passion late yesterday afternoon
and killed his inoffensive clerk! Edmund
Rioux, aged 90, after which he turned
the 3s-calibre revolver on himself and
completed a double tragedy The shoot.
ing took place in DaPrato's store. There
were no witnesses; but the knowledge
of DaPrato's queer actions and the ma.
ture Of the wounds on the two bodies
leave no doubt whatever as to the main
features of the grim event
DaPrato had been broodng over his
troubles for weeks, and his uppermost
thought seemed TO be that he had been
beaten in the transaction in which. he
purchased the store from the Vanetti
estate last April, although some who
We're acquainted with the details assert
that the purchase was made according
to invoice and the price was fixed on
that as a basis. During the last few
weeks he had shown litIe interest in
the business, although he hovered about
the place night and day. He had a room
in the Quinlan rooming house just across
North Main street but during the present
week he had preferred to spend the night
lying on the floor in his store. Or he
would sit in the bootblack's chair Just
outside his door until and O'Clock in
the morning brooding over his troubles.
The demented man went to his room
Thursday for the first time since last
Saturday night and after taking a bath
left the place, telling Mrs Carrie Quin-
Ian, proprietress of the rooming house.
Just before leaving that he would pay
for his room the next night DaPrato
spent part Of yesterday forenoon lying
on the floor in the rear part of his store,
staring with wide-open eyes at the cell
ing. While he was in that position he
was pointed out by young Rioux to some
of the latter's friends who came into the
store.
Rioux Was Leaving DaPrato's Employ.
Rioux had been induced to 90 to work
yesterday only on the plea of DaPrato
that he was sick, for Rioux had finished
work last Tuesday and was planning to
go to Detroit to seek employment, his
intention being to leave last night. Da
Prato sent George LeClair, helper about
the place, TO the Rioux home, 8 Shurtleif
place, early yesterday morning TO tell
the young man to come to work. Rioux
was loath to return, as it was said that
he had been afraid of DaPrato's display
Of revolver: but after a while he con.
sented to help out for the day
Rioux had been engaged to work in
the store when Miss Lena Abbiatti re.
signed because she was afraid of her
employer, and Rioux had been employed
only two months, during which time
DaPrato had come to depend upon the
energetic, likeable young fellow who was
doing well in holding some of DaPrato's
vanishing trade. DaPrato's mental dis.
ease was undoubtedly part cause for the
decrease of business, for many who be-
came acquainted with him refused to
trade there because of their fear of the
man.
DaPrato Recently Deprived of 45-Calibre
Weapon
This fear was heightened by the free
display which DaPrato made of firearms
A little more than month ago he re.
ceived through the mail 45-calbre au-
tomato pistol, which he showed to sew
eral acquaintance. His actions then
were not at all reassuring as he talked
wildly of killing himself and also of kill
ing others. One of these acquaintance
surreptitiously secured the pistol and
turned it over to the police, and the
weapon has been in the possession of the
police department since that time.
Thus deprived of the pistol, DaPrato
secured another by purchase in local
store, the second acquisition being only
slightly less formidable than the first.
1t was a 3S-calibre revolver and an ugly
looking weapon, too Along with it he
secured a quantity Of cartridges; and
large number Of cartridges were found in
the mans pocket after the tragedy
DaPrato Had Gun Practice in His Store.
While most of DaPrato's acquaintances
were alarmed, others did not take the