The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-08-29
MET DEATH AT LAST.
The Body of Samuel Lavner, of Chicago.
Found Dead Under a Bridge Near Pat
erson, n. IA Man Whose Body Was q
Network of Rubber Pipes Through
Which Life Was Sustained-End of .


Found Dead Under a Bridge Near Pat
erson, n. ia Man Whose Body Was
Network of Rubber Pipes Through
Which Life Was Sustained-End of .
Remarkable Career.
PATERSON, N. j., Aug. ga myste-
Tlous tragedy took place at Little Falls
yesterday morning, which may be either a
murder or suicide. The body of a man
about twenty-five years old, and we'll
dressed, was found under the Morris Canal
bridge, and near by marks of struggle
In the road, and evidence of the body
having been dragged under the bridge.
In tree near the spot was found hanging
to the branches five chambered revolver,
and on the ground coat and Waistcoat. A
bullet-hole was discovered in the stomach
OF the man, and, when extracted, CORE
sponded exactly with the caliber of the re-
volver, one chamber of which was empty.
In the pocket of the coat was found the
following letter:
August - My name is Sam Lavner. 1
Just ran away from murders. If will dide,
please send my body to my home to Chicago
Ills, 5Sl s. Canal st to Mr. L Lapkowich.
Sam Lavner.
/ am hebrew
Please send letter to my friend to Chicago.
TO Mr. Il. Lapkowich.
The deceased had rubber tube in his
throat through which he hreathed On his
head and under his arms were found cubes
which contained the holy SCROLL The
cubes are those worn by orthodox Jews. A
theory in regard to the case is that he COM
mitted suicide, and threw the pistol away
after lie shot himself. On the other hand,
it is believed that he was pursued by some
one who wanted to take his life and that the
letter was short as it was too dark for him
to write. A pistol shot was heard at 10 80
yesterday morning by residents near the
scene of the tragedy.
CHICAGO, Aug. 22.-Samuel Lavner was
a Roumanian Jew, the story of whose es4
cape from death at the hands of the brig
ands of his country has occasioned much
wonder among the medical fraternity and
brought him great notoriety in the news
papers of this country about two years ago.
He was shot and stabbed a number of times
and his throat cut from ear to ear, severing
the windpipe lie was then hanged to
a tree where he remained two days.
When found life was not yet extinct, and
he was taken to hospital, where helay
seven years. While in this helpless condi-
ton one of his people, who claimed that his
daughter had been secretly married to Law
ner, took possession of a valuable wine-
garden belonging to him. The father-in-
law refused to give up possession of the
property, claiming that he had kept it in
repair and had held it long enough to give
him title to it. Layner came
to this country about nineteen
months ago, and exhibited himself
to medical colleges and societies, from
which he derived quite a sum of money,
which he claimed amounted to $28, 800
When he landed in this country he had
tWenty-six tubes in his body where he had
been wounded. His wife refused to come
to America, and legal proceedings were in
stituted by him at Washington for sepa-
ration. Some sort of settlement was had
by which the property was divided and
divorce granted, the father in-law being re-
auired to give bonds for $113, 900.
Lavner came to Chicago about three
months ago, and stopped with L. Lapko-
wich, 531 Canal street. nearly nine weeks.
Two weeks ago last Sunday he started for
New York to get the $4,000, he said,
which the Roumanian Consul at that city
had for him. The $2S,30O had been de-
posted in a savings bank at Erie, Pa.
The bank had failed, but Layner se-
cured all but $1,000 by compromise
with the stockholders on his journey
to New York. His friends in this city
say he wrote that he had been assaulted at
Waverly, N. T., and he had become pos
Sessed Of the idea that his father-in-law was
seeking his life, and that murderers were
pursuing him. Letters from unknown par
ties stated that he was in hospital from
this assault. but his letters said he was a
captive in the hands of his enemies. A dis
patch was received by the daughter of Mr..
Lapkowich yesterday from one f. G. New
comb, stating that Lavner had been stabbed,
but saying nothing about his death.
The lady never heard of the sender of
the dispatch, and regarded it as bogus. She
said he was perfectly sane while here, but
the remarkable nature OF his statements in
dictate insanity. Whether he had received
the large sums of money he claimed to have
received or in expectation, his friends do
not know, or whether they were the mag
inings of a disordered mind This is the
story as related by Mr.. Lapkowich's daugh-
ter from statements made by Lavner While
at her fathers house. His friends inclineto
the theory of murder by the Roumanian faith
er -iD-law OF his emisSaries. Layner wrote
that he had seen his father-n- law who had
come to New York about a week before.
Lavner was but twenty-seven years old, and
expected soon to return to Chicago, where
he believed skilIful medical attention would
lead to his entire recovery. With the pros
pect of a life Of ease and physical health
before him, his friends think he can not
have taken his own life.