T2xC1 - Holding all the cards | Cultural Heritage. Goverment of Catalonia.

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T2xC1 - Holding all the cards

A hot summer night in 1667, in Santa Coloma de Farners, resentment boiled within a man who had long wanted to eliminate his adversary, despite his profession in theory not allowing him to know hate. The tracks of a crime can be traced in documents where you would least expect it.

The 20th of August is the Feast of Sant Bernat (Saint Bernard), and in times past, it was the day of the town festival in Santa Coloma de Farners. Taking advantage of the lull in agricultural work after the harvest, people from surrounding villages and farmsteads would make their way to the town to visit relatives and enjoy music, revelry, and merrymaking. 

This is exactly what Joan Parés Pagès did in 1667, the owner of a farmstead that still exists in Sant Martí Sapresa, a small village about eight kilometres from Santa Coloma. That summer night, instead of returning home, Parés chose to prolong the festivities and stay at the house of some relatives, known as Can Cubias, which stood on what is now the Plaça de Farners. 
 



1. Two priests on an excursion around the outskirts of Brunyola, with houses and the village castle in the background. One of the castle’s towers still serves as a bell tower today. ACSE, Vilallonga Collection. 

2. Rectory of Sant Martí Sapresa. ACSE, Vilallonga Collection.

3. Mas Parés (Sant Martí Sapresa, municipality of Brunyola). ACSE, Vilallonga Collection.

Although the sun had set some time ago, the heat lingered despite the open windows. Finding it difficult to sleep, he decided to pass the time playing cards with the barber from Sant Hilari Sacalm, who was also staying at the house. The popular game of the time was called a sientos, and it was probably an adaptation of a game that had begun to be played in France the previous century. Its name derived from the game’s objective which was to reach one hundred points by stealing cards from the opponent.

Perhaps because the two men were so engrossed in trying to win, or perhaps because the commotion of the town festival still raged outside, they did not hear someone lean a ladder against the window of the first-floor room where they were playing. Suddenly, a shot rang out. Instantly, Joan Parés fell dead, still clutching the cards in his hand. His fellow player had no time to react.  
 




1. Plaça de Farners on a market day. The events took place in one of the houses in the background, on the left. Aulí Collection

We know there were two assassins, but only one is identified: Lo Escarrà de Sant Pau.  The name of the other is not known to us because he was from the village, and the person who recorded the crime in writing chose not to name him, to spare him a bad reputation. However, the chronicler did not hesitate for a moment to report that the culprits had acted under the instigation of the parish priest of Brunyola, the neighbouring municipality of Sant Martí Sapresa, and Santa Coloma de Farners. 

According to the chronicler, although a man of the Church, the priest had long harboured resentment against the victim due to some old legal disputes that had gone in Parés’ favour. He spoke so often of the hatred he felt that Lo Escarrà de Sant Pau and his accomplice decided to eliminate him, convinced they would receive a handsome reward for the deed. When the priest of Brunyola found himself implicated, he fled in haste to Barcelona to hide in a convent. 
 


1. Map of Santa Coloma de Farners from the 18th century. The events took place right in front of Casa Farners. ANC, Cruïlles Collection, Farners section.

2. 17th-century petronel

He feared reprisals because Parés was a Familiar of the Holy Office, which meant he was an influential and respected man. The Familiars were a type of official within the Inquisitorial organisation, present in towns throughout the country. Although their role was largely advisory, those chosen as Familiars were usually the most devout, well-behaved, and respectable men of each municipality. Of course, in some parts of Catalonia there had been cases of abuse of power by those who exploited the position for personal gain, taking advantage of the fear inspired by the Holy Office. 

The morning after the murder, Parés’ body was brought to his farmhouse. There his pregnant wife awaited him, and, shocked by the news, she went into labour. The child was a boy, and he was baptised the same day, given the name of his deceased father. 
 


Obituary of Joan Parés, lord and owner of the Parés estate of Sant Martí Sapresa.

La Selva Regional Archive

All this was recorded by Father Antoni Camps, parish priest of Sant Martí Sapresa, in the Parish Book of the Dead on 22 August 1667, the day Joan Parés Pagès’ body was laid to rest with a mass celebrated by eight priests. 

The chronicle of the murder is preserved in the La Selva Regional Archive. In Camps’ own hand, one can read the account of the events that took place while a card game was under way during the town festival of Santa Coloma de Farners. 



Photos from the La Selva Regional Archive. Author: Lorena Ruiz Pellicero

Do you want to know more details about this story?

Consult the original document on which this story is based at Arxius en Línia (Archives Online).

https://arxiusenlinia.cultura.gencat.cat/#/cercaavancada/detallunitat/ACSE160-97-T2-1

And if you want to consult it in person at the La Selva Regional Archive, ask for the document “Òbit de Joan Parés, senyor útil i propietari del mas Parés de Sant Martí Sapresa”, code ACSE160-97-T2-1. It belongs to the Vilallonga Collection (the collection code is 97).

The importance of the document

And, if you still want to delve deeper, watch this video in which Joaquim Carreras, director of the La Selva Regional Archive, explains the importance of the document chosen to tell this story.