A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN QUEBEC.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3643, 16 March 1883, Page 4

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN QUEBEC.

A despatch from East Hawkesbury says that a hired man murdered R, W. Cooke and Avife, their eldest daughter and son. Cooke Avas murdered Avith an axe in a barnyard. 3lrs Cooke and daughter Avere strangled in the Avoodshed, and the son Avas killed in bed with an axe. The other sou had a thigh broken and may recover. Fannie Cooke, coming to her brother's assistance, received several Avounds in the breast. Sho may recover. The murderer first attacked Emma Cooke in an upstairs story room, adjoining the house, strangling her "with a rope. Mrs Cooke, evidently having come to her daughter's assistance, Avas next strangled in the same way. He next attacked 3lr Cooke, who had gone to the barnyard, where he killed him Avith an axe, literally chopping his head to pieces. Then entering the house the fiend proceeded upstairs to the room occupied by George, who Avas asleep, striking him with an axe, aud inflictiug two fearful Avounds in the temple, from Avhich he shortly afterwards died. Then rushing into Willies room he struck him upon the thigh inflicting _ a dangerous Avound. Willie, although disabled, grappled .vith him, and the noise alarming his sisters, 3laggie and Fannie, brought them to his assistance. In the struggle which ensued, 3laggie secured the axe. The murderer then seized a lamp and struck Fannie Avith it, Avoundiug her seriously ou the head. He then lied down stairs. The tAVO girls going by the front stairs met him in the dimng-room armed Avith a poker, AA'ith whichhe struck at them. They clef ended themselves and closed the door on him. Maggie ran to the front door, where she haifed a passer-by, avlio summoned assistance, upon hearing the murderer had fled. He a.-as seen to cross the river, going in the direction of St. Phillip's station on the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Nothing further Avas heard of him. The house presents a most ghastly spectacle, the bodies of the four victims being laid out in it, aud the floors, Avails, and doors bespattered Avith blood. Willies Avounds are so serious as to afford but slight hopes of his recovery. The murderer is Frederick 3lann, a young Englishman lately out from London, andAvho had been but three months in their employ. The doctors testified at the inquest that" an attempt at rape had been made on Emma, Cooke, the first A-ictim supposed to have been killed, consequently the general opinion is that 31ann, in attempting a vile purpose, killed her. The CA'idence proA-ed that she died by strangulation, and it is presumed that Avhen he put the noose which caused her death around her neck he did not intend to kill her, but finding her dead, he seems to have become coiiA-inced that the only Avay of escaping detection was to do a Avay Avith the Avholc family. Fanny Cooke lies in bed sevorely Avoundcd in the head, prostrated from Aveakncss brought about by the shock. Maggie is able to sit up, and though wounded in the shoulder in the struggle, is able to converse Avith friends. William Cooke's injuries .are believed to be fatal. George Avas unconcious after the first bio ay of the axe. The murderer had been exceptionally avcll treated by the family. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of Avilful murder against 3lann. While iv Laehuto Avaiting for the train, a Protestant minister spoke to the murderer. At first he tried to ridicule his interrogator, but finally answered his questions and gave his brother's address, and requested the clergyman to Avrito to his mother, telling her of the charge against him. The Cooke family are very old settlers, .veil off, and highly respected.