Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-08

The death Of Henry Iayino by suicide,
as described yesterday, recalls a fhrilling
incident In the history OF crime IN tins
city. and an example of remarkable de
tective ability with which the iil-fated
man was connected. Some years ago
Lavino kept pawn-shOp on the east SIDE
of Kearney street, near Jackson, and had
sleeping apartment in the rear OF the store,
which was occupied by his wife, child ana
himself. On the night Of the 9Th OF NO
yember, 1870, Mrs. Lavino was awakened
by hearing a noise in the room, and by a
dim light she discovered man wearing
a mask. The man was on the bed, with
one hand clutching her husbands throat,
and one knee on bis breast, while in his
right hand he held large glittering dag
ger, which he was about plunging INTO
Layino's body. She uttered a scream,
which awoke her husband, who, compre-
bending the situation in a moment, Crap
pied with the masked man. A terrible
struggle then ensued for the mastery and
possession Of the weapon. They rolled
about on the bed for a few minutes, when,
by an almost superhuman effort, Layino
seized the assassin, threw him over the
foot Of the bed on the floor, and in so do
stabbed him several times. The would be
murderer, who was the more powerful,
managed to get away, and made his escape
in company with two confederates. Dur
ing the struggle Layino had both hands
severely cut by the knife the assassin held.
Then followed long and difficult
search for the murderous gang by the de
tectiyes. Lavino had been unable to OBJ
tain glimpse Of the countenance OF his
assailant and was equally unable to de-
scribe either Of his acccmplices. On
looking carefully through the premises
for some sign or object that might afford
a clew one Of the officers picked up a
small key on the spot where the masked
man was thrown upon the floor, and which
Lavino was certain did not belong to him.
The key had recently been filed, and 100
or more workshops were visited until
locksmith was finally discovered who
recognized the key as oneg he had made.
He had some recollection of the general
appearance Of the man who purchased the
key from the fact that he subsequently re-
turned TO the shop to procure slight al
terution by filing. The detectives next as
ccrtained that some unknown person
whose appearance might correspond with
the vague description given OF The pur-
chaser Of the key had been employed in
shop in the neighborhood of Layino's
place some months previously. After
another long season Of search ana
inquiry this person was finally discovered
In some retired part Of the city, but he
exhibited no signs OF, having been wound
ed, and consequently could not have been
the same with whom Lavino engaged in
deadly conflict. Without alarming the
person to whom suspicion had been di-
rected by such an uncertain trail of evil
dcnce, his movements were closely
watched, until he was finally seen TO visit
a tenement at the city front, carrying arti.
Giles of food which he had purchased.
The detectives closed In upon tiie place,
forced an entrance, and discovered with
i'm the object Of the visitors attentions In
"a sorely wounded man, who was suffering
from number OF severe knife wounds.
On the alarm created by the descent of the
police the patient had been hurriedly Sc
crcted in cupboard and covered with a
mattress. He was recognized as DIES.
perate ruffian named Cesario Jamie, and
with his two accomplices in crime he is
now serving asentence in the State Prison.
San Francisco Bulletin.