The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-06-17
THE MEN HAD A
FIGHT THE DAY
BEFORE TRAGEDY
Perez, the Older and Larger
of the Two Men, Was
Waiting in the Highway
for Maria When Latter
Was Going to Supper Last
Evening-Bullet Entered
Perez Brain.

Six hours after shooting and killing
Joachim Perez in upper Webstervile
early last evening, Rafael Maria gave
himself up to Deputy Sheriff Leon Nc
Allister in Williamstown and early this
morning was turned over to Sheriff
Frank Tracy and lodged in Washington
county Jail Maria admitted the shooting
and readily acquiesced when asked if he
would locate the revolver which he had
thrown away after shooting Perez. This
forenoon he was taken to the scene of
the murder to get the revolver; and the
weapon was readily found in some
bushes.
On the return trip to the Washington
county jail to-day Sheriff Tracy stopped
off and had the man arraigned in Barre
city court on the charge of murder. Maria
waived examination and was bound over
to county court without bail, after which
he was returned TO the jail at Montpelier.
Maria was represented in the Barre court
by Attorney ]. Ward Carver, and an in
terpreter made known to the respondent
the action taken. An inquest was held
this afternoon before the Barre city
court.
outcome of bad blood between the two
Spanish quarrymen, both of whom We're
comparative strangers in the quarry dis
trict, Perez having been there only six
weeks.
The two men had engaged in fight
the night before the tragedy, and Maria
the smaller of the two, was beaten, al
though not seriously hurt in the encount
er. One story of the trouble is that Per-
es was attempting 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, fol-
lowing which Perez is said TO have
slapped the younger man in the face;
and Nara, seizing a stick, struck Perez
in the face and then took to his heels
Perez was prevented from pursuit by
several of the men gathered about the
place.
Victim Was Man of Great Strength.
Perez was man of great physical
strength, being nearly six feet tall and
weighing in thesvieinity Of 200 pounds.
He is said to haze 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 evening 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 Perez to drive him out of the
town. Whether that was his intention
or not. it is certain that Maria armed
himself with 32.calibre revolver yes
terday.
After quitting work at quarry of
+. L. Smith & Co. yesterday Maria went
to his rooming place, the house of Amedy
Rouleau at the lower end of the main
street of upper Webstervile village and
prepared to 90 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
DR.. E. H. Bailey.
Perez Was Waiting for Maza.
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 approached, accompanied by ANA
dor Cubas, who also was going to tho
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 extended
his hand as if in token of desire to be
friends. but Maria doddged back as Perez
advanced with extended hand Mr. Ma.
dore, who was sitting in his front socm
reading paper, looked out OF a side
window and saw Nara behind the wall
which supports the lawn Of the Madore
property. Nara held revolver in his
hand and shortly afterwards started for
the road
Realizing the imminence of a possible
tragedy, Mr. Madore stepped to his front
door and called; Don't shoot"
SAYS Maria Warned Perez Not to APP
proach.
Cubas says Maria warned Perez not TO
approach any nearer or he would shoot,
Perez continued to advance, whereupon
Maria fred, the shot taking effect in Per-
ez's leg In quick succession another shot
was fired and Perez's great body, with
arms extended, toppled backward and
fell on its back near an electric light pole
and just at the edge of the highway.
As Perez fell, Maria stepped past and
proceeded up the hill and soon disap.
Continued ON eighth page.)