Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-02-16

Daily Tir9iaiau.
Cuban Robber and Murderer.


R,L-TwrNrYrHREE PERSONS MURDERED ny HIS
HAND.
Francisco Jayier Laxo, aged twepty.thrcc years,
was conveyed to tho criminal ward of tho liosp-
tai San Juan de Dos, in Havana, to receive sur
gica assistance FOR severe sabre wound in the
breast A few days after his arrival In the hospi-
tai he became aarningly i'll, and was supposed to
be dying. priest was hastily summoned to nd.
ministar the oleds, according to the rites of the
Roman Catholic Church; but, upon feeling the
criminals pulse, tho priest declared that tho man
was under the influence OF sono strong narcotic,
and the usual remedies having been applied hy
physician, the priests opinion was fully confirmed.
On removing Lazo to another bed. n letter address
>el to his Exceency the Captain General was
found under his pillow, apparently written Just
previous to his taking tho dose of laqdanum. with
which he had intended to destroy himself. 1t may
be doubted whether tho annals OF crime bear roc
oid Of grcater atrocities having been committed
by any single individual than those confessed to
hy Francisco Javier Lazo in the following letter
To His ExcrILENcY THE CAPTAIN GESERAL:--
SENoG.-Belng about to destroy myself with
poison. | desire before die to make known to
your Excelleney the horrd crimes which have
pcrpctrated IN this island, in order that thuse',n
dlNlduals who are now in prison under suspicion
may not suffer wrongfully tor my misdeeds, and
also hnt, by making IL Iull confession. my soul
may hc somewhat relieved from the lanl Of sin
which now ghs it down.
commenced my career Of wokcdness by being
mpr,s tnci III st. 1a.o de Cuhu for robbery clrrc-
ted ia the t1wn Of Payamn. 1t was committed in
a cell, iran which made my escape to the city OF
Puerto Principe, where in company with n culurol
mna cuiied aquin, broke into n iewcler's shop
and carried ii an entire case of valuable watch
cs, &C., which was taken from me on the road 10
Las Tuuas, by Commis,nry Of Police, from whom
| made NY oseal,c. | Immediately returned and
robbed said pulicc officer
At Sanc;i Spiritos robbed n similar establish.
mcn,, and the same niS Sht and street broke into
two other houses.
then went to Trinidad, and having effected on
trance into the house Of au Epslishman On Cult
crcz street. | took therclrom about ~ 600 worth
If iewolry was arrested upon suspicion, but
escaped fom the jail, leaving in tho hands of the
authorities trunk, containing some clothes and
u pass, which obtained from the Alcadc of Sane
ii Spirt.s. under tho assumed name 81 Prudencio
Belet.
la Matanzas robbed several housea. from one'
OF which carr.d of some very valuable diamond
trnkpts but being pursued by several wa,chmcn,
] was compelled to throw the greater portion away.
| succeeded III cvndng my pursucrs, and soon re.
turned to the city again, aud pcrpctrated great
utruci,ios after which started of to Guiana jay,
where robbed n viacaino OF large sum of mon
cyl from thence removed to the villagoof Guam
abaroa where wns guilty OF frghtfnl excuses.
1t was that killed the man who was found laying
dead ut the foot of the hill called Joaquin; ] was
the murderer OF the Commissary Of Police Mar
tncz; of the Lieutenant from Jaruco, and others
whose names do net know found assassinated in
the vicinity of the village, from whence passed
over to llayannn, where, in house rented by u
jew cnllud Andrade, | murdered police officer
named ilarante and his wife. had been some
time contemplating the preparation Of this crime
inasmuch ns that Marantc was the most energet-
ic officer in tho service Of the government, and the
one who had been the most active in his endenvors
to discover my whereabouts but, as ho lived in
nn upper story, in much frcquented street. il
was difficult to get at him. However, ayailed
myself Of "a dreadful thunder storm OF wind and
rain, and, with rope ladder, crowbar. NC. Mt
midnight, proceeded to the residenceof Maranlc
and soon accomplished my purpose. killed him
and his wife, as they lay asleep in bed. The same
night and in the same street murdered an old
man fir the sake of his watch and lrifing sum
Of money found in his pockets. The next morn
ing went to look ut the boly, rs il lay stretched
out Mt the gale of the jail. where it had been
placed by the police authorities for recognition.
A few days afterwards, in Cumpanl.a street,
outside the walls early in the morning, drove my
knile htpthe heart Of young Frenchman, who
attempted to defend his property. Near to the
factory now the hospital military as also in the
vicinity Of the baracoons ! have been guilty Of
shocking murders
At place called Ojo de Aqua near Matanzas,
on the read to In Mocha, towards dark, | met u
gentleman and lady, whom ordered to stop; the
gentleman drew pistol but before he had time
to use il shot him dead with my carbnc'
dragged the Apdy into the bush and after making
use Of the ~aJian, | cut her throat to prevent dis
cuvcrv. The next day the two bodies were found
in the woods. aud fled from Matanzas because
n reward was offered by the authorities to take
me. dead alive.
At San Ahtonin | committed various excesscs.
Returning neain TO Havana, robbed several
houses among the number, that OF the captain
Of artillery. Don Jose Sober. from whom took
large sun Of money, and the merchant Fras.--
, Com, clicd in luin to fly from Havana, proceed
ell to Guanaiay. where was captured ly tho off
Ger u( the district. who caused me I" be securely
pnioncd with cords, and guarded 10y fourteen
| Spauiards, sent me to Havana; but at u stopping
place ON the way, whilst most Of my captors were
at dinner | managed unpcrccived, to get my
hands loose. and scizing machete belonging to
one ofthe party, who had carelessly left it on a
table, attempted to escape. but was speedily fol-
lowed hy the chief officer and some others. Seeing
that the former was rapidly gaining me. and
rendered furious at the prospect OF being re-'aken
suddenly turned round and run the officer
through the body with his own machete. ! was
soon overpowercd by the Others who struck me
some heavy Llows with their swords. and, half
dead from loss of blood, was conveyed to this
city, where am now laying ut the point of death,
from having swallowed dose Of poison. Fright
full as this catalogue of crimes may be, it is far
from complete But have not strength sufh-
cient to continue this letter. A fendish desire
appeared to seize hold upon me to murder as
many human creatures as years | hnd lived
Yes, the blood of twenty innocent victims
cries out to Heaven against me, and weighs down
my soul with horror.
FRANCISCO JAVIER LAZO.
| HOSPITAL DE SAN JUAN DE DIEs HAVANA,
The miserable wretch Ia n,ulatto, native OF
Cuba) recovered from the effects of the poison he
he had swallowed. and was publicly executed in
| front of the Punta Castle, acknowledging in his