Janette Lawrence (1910-1921)

Janette Lawrence (1910-1921) was a murder victim (b. 1910 Madison, Morris County, New Jersey, USA - d. October 6, 1921, Kluxen Woods, Fairview and Ridgedale Avenue, Madison, Morris County, New Jersey, USA)

Birth
Daughter of Rosetta X (1882-?) and John W. Lawrence (1882-?), she had a bother Robert Edson Lawrence (1906-1994) aka Edson Lawrence.

Murder
The murder is told in the book: Seven New Jersey Murders by Gerald Tomlinson.Her tombstone reads "Janette, 1910-1921, for of such is the kingdom of heaven". The suspect was Francis Kluxen III (1907-1971) aka Francis Kluxen, Jr. aka Francis Kluxen Sayre, aka Francis M. Sayre who was born on January 25, 1907 and was acquitted of the murder. Kluxen came from a prominent family and the state prosecutor refused to prosecute him. The townspeople had already arrested him for the murder, and he was ordered released. The state instead prosecuted Frank Jancarek who was a rose greenhouse worker. Jancarek was found "not-innocent" during the trial. Kluxen was then put on trial but the evidence was found to be circumstantial. He was found with a boy scout knife that matched the size of the murder weapon. He was seen arguing with the victim on numerous occasions, although he denied ever coming in contact with her. He was also seen by his mother washing his clothes in a bucket in the backyard after the murder, but his mother testified he was washing grape juice from the family wine making business off his clothes.

Kluxen
Kluxen was arrested in 1934 for burglary. He died on April 15, 1971 in San Francisco under the name Francis Sayre. He was married to Thelma X and had a daughter: Evelyn Cavasovich.

BUrial
Andover Cemetery, Andover, New Jersey