Juan Oliveras, a late-19th-century Mexican shepherd, occupies an unusual place in Old Pueblo folklore. He is seen as a "folk saint" whose death resulted from a torrid love affair.

He also is credited with stopping plans for a freeway that some say would have destroyed Barrio Viejo.

Only a well-loved saint could be worthy of such homage as votive candles, prayers and wishes delivered each night to Oliveras' shrine, El Tiradito, 420 S. Main Ave., by faithful Tucsonans. But he is not a real saint, at least not one recognized by the Catholic Church. The simple little grotto owes its existence to Oliveras' transgressions.

"He was a sinner," said Annie Laos, 74, who led the fight to have El Tiradito placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1971.

"El Tiradito is a shrine like no other shrine in the (country) ... a shrine to a bad guy," she said.

But the sins of this young shepherd, who legend says frequented Tucson in about the 1870s, were sins of the heart and therefore may deserve public absolution.

The most commonly accepted story behind El Tiradito is that of a love triangle, said Carol Cribbet-Bell, executive director of La Pilita Association, which is next to the shrine and serves to educate people about the city's early history.

Oliveras was in love with his mother-in-law, according to Cribbet-Bell.

El Tiradito, also known as the Wishing Shrine, is the lovesick shepherd's legendary burial site, she says.

"The official legend says Juan lived and worked on a sheep ranch north of Tucson with his wife and father-in-law," Cribbet-Bell said. "But Juan had become infatuated with his mother-in-law, who lived in Tucson."

One day Oliveras went into town to pay the woman a visit. His father-in-law went into town the same day and "completely and unsuspectingly surprised Juan with his wife in their adulterous love," she said.

A struggle followed. Juan fled, but was killed by his enraged, ax-wielding father-in-law, the legend goes.

The father-in-law is said to have escaped to Mexico.

Despite a plea from barrio residents, the Catholic Church refused Oliveras burial on church grounds due to the scandalous nature of his sin, Cribbet-Bell said.

Instead, he was buried on "unconsecreated ground," on the exact spot where his body was thrown by the father-in-law, giving the site its name, El Tiradito - the "little throwaway" or "castaway."

NEXT PAGE» 1, 2