The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1917-12-29
C0WARDLY AND BRUTAL CRIME
j. J. Tognoni Arrested for Bru-
tally Beating Up and Robbing
an Old Man of $7OO-Like
Crime Committed In Same
Cabin in 1884

One of the most cowardly and bru-
tally carried out robberies that has
ever occurred in Eureka took place
here Thursday morning about a
o'clock when Samuel Dennison, a
mar 65 years of age and a recent ar
rival in Eureka, was struck down as he
entered his cabin at the head of Ruby
Hill avenue by a man who had gained
entrance by force and awaited the
return of the old man to strike him
down. When Dennison unlocked the
front door of his cabin and stepped
inside he was struck over the head
with a pistol and stunned, but was
not knocked out and succeeded in
backing out of the door. His assail-
ant followed and grabbing him, kept
hitting him over the head with the
pistol and trying to knock him out.
Dennison says that when he found he
could not get away he grabbed the
man around the waist and bore in
against him to protect himself as
much as possible. telling his assailant
not to kill him. that he would give
up his money. The robber then said
to fork it over, and be pretty ID
quick about it.
Dennison says that with some silver
he had nearly $500 in his roll, and
that he gave it all up.
AS soon as the robber obtained the
money he struck out up the hill and
on to the old railroad grade back of
the cabin, going from there toward
the school house.
1t was moonlight and nearly as
light as day when they were scuffiing
outside the cabin. and Dennison says
he fully recognized his assailant as a
mar he had often seen around Eu-
reka. Although badly beaten up and
weak from the loss of blood. Denni-
o succeeded in getting down to the
Court House in about ten minutes
after he was robbed. and Weakening
Deputy Sheriff Frank Mcbride, in
formed him of the robbery and asked
him to go for a doctor. DR.. Roberts
was soon on the scene, and while his
wounds were being dressed, Dennison
described the man who had beaten
and robbed him.
His description fitted j. j. Tognoni.
and Deputy Mcbride struck out to
locate him. He found him in a room
at the Zadow Hotel in which a light
was burning when he entered the
hotel. but the light was out when en-
trance was demanded, and Tognoni
was undressed and in bed when the
proprietor of the hotel and the of
ficer entered the room. He was told
he was wanted at the Court House
and to get up and dress. The officer
made a search of the room, but was
unable to find the stolen money or a
pair of pants to match the suit he
had been wearing.
When Tognoni was confronted by
Dennison in the Sheriff's Office with
in an hour of the time of the robbery,
the latter told Deputy Mcbride he
had made no mistake, that Tognoni
was the nan who had beaten and
robbed him.
Tognoni was made to take off all
the clothing he was then wearing,
and an examination revealed blood
on one of his shoes. on one of his
stockings. and on the leg of the
drawers where it had evidently pene-
trated from the stocking. Dennison
says the missing pants will show
plenty of blood on them, as he says
his bleeding head was pressed against
them while he was endeavoring to
protect it from the blows of the
dubbed pistol.
Dennison claims to be a miner, but
says he has been gambling since
reaching here about two weeks ago.
While playing in the different saloons
he is said to have flashed his big roll
rather freely, and as he is a man
in years and was living alone
in a cabin on the outskirts of town.