THE EXECUTION OF CEDENO.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 13, 22 April 1871, Page 3

THE EXECUTION OF CEDENO.

[LYiiiiELTON Times.] The condemned criminal, Simon Cedeno, expiated . his crime on the scaffold yesterday. This is the second execution in the province, and was the penalty of a murderous attack rarely surpassed in ferocity, or disregard of all laws human and Divine. The execution of Swales—the first man hanged in the province—from the circumstantial nature of the evidence on which the verdict of death was recorded, produced some commisseration from the public, but in the present instance not one believer in capital punishment could be round to raise a voice in the culprit's defence. Without recapitulating all the incidents of the affair, we may give a brief resume of the chief points. Simon Cedeno was a Negro with a trace of the Zamba blood in his veins and was a native of Santa Fe Bogata, the capital of New Granada in South America. He was twenty-eight years of age, slightly built, and, for a man of colour, somewhat good looking. He was breught to this province in the capacity of servant by MrW. S. Robinson from Panama about four years ago. He was generally on good terms with his fellow-servants, and apparently remained so until the 9th of January last, when he suddenly made a murderous attack with a knife on two female servants in the kitchen. After, as he thought killing the first one (Catherine Glenn) he attacked the second (Margaret Burke), followed her, when she

ran away/ and gave her three or four mortal stabs, in the drawing-room, in the presence of his mistress and a visitor. The unfortunate girl expired instantaneously, and he was secured. The girl happily recovered, and Cedeno, after the usual preliminary examination, was tried and sentenced to death at the Supreme Court, on the Bth of March.! The general impression had been that Cedeno attacked the girls in revenge for some personal affront, but nothing appeared on the evidence to show what was the real cause.of the crime, and the only defence set up by Cedeno's counsel was, that Cedeno had been overcome by a sudden uncontrollable ebullition o*-frenzy. After the preliminary investigations, Cedeno became very morose andtaciturn, and more recently he would never speak to any of the gaolers unless first addressed • Even then he rarely used more than a monosyllable to anyone. From the first he appeared to fully understand that he could not escape expiating his crime by death, and he evidently regarded it with sullen indifference. During the earlier part of his incarceration, as we understand, he did not like the mode of execution evidently in store for him, but would prefer being shot. That he had a .distaste for the scaffold as a means of execution seems to be borne 'out by the fact that on the 11th of February, whilst awaiting trial at the Supreme Court, he attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat with a piece of zinc. At 5 p.m. on the date named, he was permitted to take exercise in one of the inner yards, and, as subsequent events prove, he took advantage of the temporary absence of his gaoler to wrench a piece of zinc from the shoot of one of the water spouts, and literally tried to saw through the flesh of his throat. The zinc was not more than two or three inches in size, and before he could make a very serious wound, he was detected by Mr Beeston, the head gaoler. Dr Roiise, the surgeon of the gaol, was sent for,' and after dressing the wound pronounced it ."not dangerous." He also gave it as his opinion that no blame whatever was attachable to any of the gaol authorities. UptothistimeCedenohad been regularly watched, but as an extra means of security against suicide, a strong waistbelt was made, and his wrists were pinioned to it every night. During this time the Rev. Father Chervier, of the Christchurch Catholic Church, paid periodical visits to Cedeno, who' received his spiritual advice with increasing grace on each occasion. After sentence of death had. been passed, Father Chervier paid daily visits, until he was called away to Wellington, when the Rev, Father Tuesday evening Father'Chervier, by express permission, came south by the the s.s. Luna, and just arrived in time to minister to Cedeno in his last moments. Both reverend gentlemen remained with Cedeno up to late on Tuesday night,, and were with him again early on "Wednesday morning. Up to this time .he had continued to show increased signs of devotion and resignation, though he still remained morose and reticent. He ate well and slept well throughout, and did not appear to suffer in bodily health from the confinement. He retired to bed about nine o'clock on Tuesday night, and slept as well, or'even better, than he had done since his incarceration. He took a good breakfast yesterday morning. At a quarter past seven o'clock the Christchurch officials proceeded by special train to Lyttelton, where they arrived in about 17 minutes from the time of starting. The party comprised Dr Back (sheriff), Dr Coward, (coroner), Mr Wilcocks (registrar), Dr Nedwill, Inspector Pender, and seven policemen, the members of the press, and one or two private gentlemen who were present by special permit to make up the number required by law to be present at the execution. Lyttlelton appeared exceedingly quiet, and presented nOne of those appearances which are invariably to be found on similar occasions in England. The police were distributed around the outside of the gaol in order to prevent a repitetion of the roof scrambling, which occurred at the execution of Swales, and a few minutes before eight o'clock the other members of the Christchurch party were admitted into the gaol. The hangman shortly afterwards entered the cell of the condemned man,

and was quietly permitted to pinion his arms in-the customary manner. Shortly afterwards, in fact just at the hour of eight the procession emerged into the yard and proceeded to the scaffold. Cedeno appeared perfectly collected, but had a rather dogged, sombre expression on his features, and did not walk so upright or so lithely as was his wont. He was supported on his right , by the Rev. Father Chervier, and on the left by the Rev. Bobieaux, to whose audible prayers he regularly responded in ,a rather short manner. He was dressed in one of his own dark suits of ordinary clothing, and in addition to his arms being pinioned in the ordinary way, his wrists were strapped to the belt previously referred to. He ascended the scaffold with perfect steadiness and remained quite firm during a slight delay in adjusting the black cap, which was all but too small for use. Previous to the latter, being finally drawn over his face, he shook hands with his reverend attendants, and kissed the cross with fervor. At two minutes past eight o'clock, the the bolt was drawn, and the unfortunate man was launched into eternity Death appeared to ensue very quickly, and without any struggling. After falling, but very little .convulsive action was perceptible. There was an appearance of one or two very deep inspirations, but the hands remained open, and none of the limbs moved with more than a slight tremor. After the body had remained hanging about seventeen, minutes, Dr. Rouse examined it, and pronounced life to be extinct. The body was then cut down, placed in a shell, and the usual inquest was held.