A Dispute Over A Fence Near Vermilion

Neighbours don’t always get along. That is as true today as it was almost 100 years ago in Vermilion.

Back on June 17, 1929, two men located near the community got into a large argument over a wire fence. John Zacharuk and Karl Sarak (written as both Karl Sarak and Karol Sawak) disagreed over where the property line was, and where the wire fence should be placed.

While these types of disputes can be easily resolved with some talking and a trip to the records office to find out where the property line was, that was not the case this time.

As the two argued and tempers increased, John Zacharuk grabbed a pail and hit Karl Sarak over the head with it. He then took a club and hit him again.

The injury was serious enough that Sarak had to spend a week in the hospital to recover from his injuries.

Zacharuk was arrested by Constable D.A. Dunlop and taken to Edmonton for a hearing in front of Police Magistrate P.G. Pilkie. The magistrate decided that the situation was serious enough for Zacharuk go to trial.

He was given a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty rather than go to trial. After escaping jail time, he did himself no favours a few months later when he destroyed a saddle that belonged to Sawak. That earned him two months in prison. He also uttered threatening language to Sawak’s daughters, earning him another two months.

Interestingly enough, Zacharuk was not the only Zacharuk in trouble with the law in 1929. Nick Zacharuk was convicted of stealing two head of sheep from the property of John Kokotailo on August 29. He was sentenced to two years in prison for his crime. Don’t know if the two Zacharuks were related though.

Contact Craig at craig@canadaehx.com

Support Craig by donating at www.canadaehx.com (Click Donate)

Listen to his podcast Canadian History Ehx on all podcast platforms.