Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-18
RICHMOND WHIG.

EXECUTION OF A CUBAN ROBBER AND MUIR
ERER.-EXTRAORDINAR CONFESSION TO THE
CAPTAIN-GENERAL-TW TIL Rec PERSONS
MURDERED BY HIS HAND.
Francisco Javer Lazo, aged tweny-three years, was
conveyed the criminal ward OF the Hospital San Juan
de DOS, in Havana to receive surgical assistance for
sabre wound in the breast few days after his
arrival in the hospital he became alarmingy ILL., and was
supposed to be dying. priest was hastily summoned
70 administer the 0ea according to the rites of the Ro
man Catholic Church butt upon feeling the criminals
pulse, the priest declared that the under the
influence of some strong narcotic, and the usual
dies having been applied by physician the priests opn
ion fully confirmed. On removing Lazo to another
bed letter addressed to his Excel!ency the Captain
General was found under his pillow, apparently written
Just previous TO his taking the dose of laudauum with
which he had intended 20 destroy himself Ii may be
doubted whether the annals Of crime bear record of
greater atrocities having been committed by any single
individual than those confessed TO by Francisco Jayer
Lazo in the following letter:
TO his Ercei'cHcy he Captain General
SENoR- Being about to destroy myself with poison,
desire before de to make known TO your Exccllency
the horrd crimes which have pepetrated in this island
in order that those individuals who are now in prison
under suspicion may not suffer wrongIuly for my mis-,
deeds and also that by making full confession my soul
NAV be somewhat relieved fom the load OF sin which
weighs il down.
| commenced my career of wickedness by being i'm
prisoned at St. JigO de Cuba for robbery effected in
the town Of Blyamo | confined in cell, from
which made my escape to the city OF Puerto Principe,
where, in company with colored man called joaquin
broke into jewelers. shop and carried eft entire case
Of valuable watches &c, which was taken from me on
the road Las Tuuas by Conmissiry of Police from
whom made my escape. | Immediately returned aud
robbed sIid police officer.
At Slncti Spiritas | robbed a similar establishment,
aud the night aud street broke into two other
houses.
then went to Trinidad, and, having effected entrance
into the house of Enghshman Guitercz street,
took thcrcrom about 81 900 worth Of jewclry. was
arrested upon suspicion but escaped from the JAIL eay-
ing in the hands of the authorities trunk, containing
some clothes and pass which obtained from the Al
calde OF Slnct Spus under the assumed name Of Pru-
dencio Belet
In Matanzas 1 robbed several houses, from one of
which carried Of very valuable diamond trnkets;
but being pursued by several watchmen, compelled
TO throw the greater portion away. succeeded in eva
ding my pursuer and returned to the city again,
and pcrpetrated great atrocities after which started of
to Guanaay where robbed yizcaino OF large sum OF
money; from hcrce removed TO the village Of Guiana
bacoa where guilty Of lrightul esccsses. IL
that killed the man who was found lying dead at the
foot OF the hill called joaquin was the murderer Of
the Commissiry of Police, MARTINEZ; Of the Lieut., nant
from JarucO and Others whose names ! do not know,
found asas~iunted in the vicinity Of the village from
whence passed over to Havana where in house rent
ed by Jew called AnGra3e murdered police officer
named Marautc, AMI his wife. / had been some time
contemplating the perpcraOn Of this crime, inaSmuch
that Mlrante the most energetic officer in the
vice Of the Government and the one who had been the
most active u his endeavors 10 discover my whereabouts;
but as he lived IN an upper story, in much irequened
street. t was difficult to get at him. However availed
myself of dreadful thunder of wind and rain and
with aSrope ladder crowbar Sc. at midnight proceed
ed 10 the residence Of Mayantc, and accomplished
my purpose. killed him and his wife, they lay asleep
iu bed The same night, and in the street. muir
oil M OF "A
sum OF money | found in his pockets The next morn
ing went look the body, it lay stretched
the gate of the Jail where it had been placed by the po
lice authorities for recognition.
few days afterwards in Campanilla street outside
the walls early in the morning, drove my knife into
the heart Of young Frenchman who attempted to de-
ieud his property Near 10 the factory now the hospital
mtar) also in the vicinity Of the baracOons have
been guilty Of shocking murders.
At place called Oo de Aqua, near Matarzas, on the
road to La Mocha towards dark met gentleman and
lady, whom ordered 10 Stop the gentleman drew pis
tol but before he had time 10 il shot him dead with
my carbne | dragged the body into the bu,h and az
making Of the woman cut her throat 70 prevent
discovery. The day the two bodies found in
the woods, and fled from Matanzas, because a reward
offered by the authorities 10 take me, dead alive
At San Antonio ! committed variops eIcesses, Re-
turning again 10 Havana, ! robbedrsevera houses
among the number that Of the captain Of artillery, Don
Jose Soler from whom took a large sum Of money aud
vana proceeded to Guanaa, where was captured by
the officer Of the district who caused 20 be securely
pinoned with cords, and, guarded by fourteen Span
ards, sent Havana; but at a stopping place on
the way, whilst most of my captors at dinner
l managed, uuperceyed, TO get my hands loose
aud seziug machet belonging to Of the
party who had careessly left it table attempted
to escape but speedily followed by the chief officer
and some Others. Seeing that the former rapidly
gaining me- and rendered furious at the prospect Of
being retaken suddenly turned round and the Off
Ger through the body with his mach,te. soon
overpowered by the Others who struck some heavy
blows with their swords and half dead from the loss Of
blood, conveyed TO this city where am lay
ing the point Of death, from having swallowed dose
of poison Frghtul this catalogue Of crimes may be-
it is far from complete. But have not strength suff
cieut TO continue this letter endish desire appeared
TO seize hold upon to murder many human crea-
lures as years had lived Yes the blood of twenty
three innocent victims cries out to Heaven against me-
and weighs down my soul with horror
FRANcISco JAyIER LAzo.
Hospital de San Juan de Dos. Havana.
The miserable wretch IA mulatto native Of Cuba
covered from the effects Of the poison he had swallowed
and was publicly executed in front Of the Punta Castle
acknowledging in his last moments that his cath was
but poor atonement for the lives Of the unfortunate
victims Of his murderous hands.