HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3118, 10 January 1871, Page 2

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

An occurrence unequalled in our provincial annals, and fitted to be classed amongst the worst deeds of personal violence, startled the city from its wonted equanimity yesterday afternoon. The details were at first received, even by the most credulous, with complete disbelief, but enquiry unfortunately showed that horrible as they were, they were but too true. The tragedy comprises the death of one female, and the almost miraculous escape of another—all being the act of one man, their follow-servant's violence. The scene of the affair was Mr W. Robinson’s town bouse, at the junction of Canterbury Terrace and Salisbury street. The servants in the house were Simon Cedeno, a native of Panama, aged 28, butler ; Margaret Burke and Bridget Murray, two house-maids. During the afternoon the two latter, it appears, “ chaffed ” Cedeno, who was about to be married, when he became violent, and about 4 o’clock he attacked the girl Murray with a long-bladed bread knife whilst she was up stairs. He struck at her head, but a backward movement so diverted the blow that it fell upon her face and breast, the breast bone happily preventing fatal results. The unfortunate girl, on being struck, at once fell to the ground and Cedeno doubtless thinking he had killed her, returned to the kitchen, where he fond the girl Burke. The latter, seeing the knife covered with blood, and noting Cedeno’s excited manner, evaded him and ran screaming towards the dining-mom, where were seated Mrs Robinson and Mr Campbell. Cedeno followed her, and Burke stumbling over some article of furniture, befell upon her, stabbing with the knife several times. Mr Campbell, immediately followed by Mrs Robinson, at once rushed upon Cedeno, and seized him. The aid came too late, however, for the unfortunate girl never moved a‘ter wards. Cedeno struggled with Mr Campbell a short time, but was ultimately overpowered, and the knife taken from him, Mrs Robinson receiving a wound in the hand during the struggle. With the aid of one of Mr Robinson’s grooms, named Price, Mr Campbell at once conveyed Cedeno to the Police Depfit; and in the meantime medical aid was promptly called in to the two victims of his violence. Drs. Turnbull and Prins at once attended, but in Burke’s case their services were unhappily not required, for she must, from the nature of the wounds, have died almost instantaneously. The stabs, three in number, were all in close proximity. The knife had entered under the left breast, and penetrated the heart, the force of the blows being such that although the blade of the knife was fully six inches long, a portion of the handle had also penetrated the body. Of the girl Murray, we have happily to report that although very severely cut, she is in no immediate danger, the information given at the Hospital last night being that she was progressing very favourably. The knife, on examination, proved to be a silver-handled bread knife, with a narrow blade, and a very sharp point. Cedeno will be brought up for a preliminary examination at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, this morning.