THE CHRISTCIIUECH MURDER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 154, 19 January 1871, Page 7

THE CHRISTCIIUECH MURDER.

A diabolical murder was committed in Christen urcli on the 9th inst., by a coloured man named Cedeno,' a footman in the employment of the Hon. Mr. Eobinson : — The following account of the murder is givenby the" Lyttelton Times ": — " The servants in the house were Simon Cedeno, anative ofPanama, aged 28, butler ; Margaret Burke and Bridget Murray, two housemaids. During the afternoon the two latter, it appears, ' chaffed ' Cedeno, who was about to be married, when lie became violent, and about four o'clock he attacked the girl Murray with a longbladed 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 found the girl Burke. The latter, seeing the knife, covered with blood, and noting Cedcno's excited manner evaded him and ran screaming towards the dining-room, where were seated Mrs. Robinson and Mr. Campbell. Cedeno followed her, and Bui'ke stumbling over some articles of furniture, lie fell upon her, stabbing her with the knife, several times. Mr. Campbell, immediately followed by Mrs. Robinson, at once rushed upon Cedeno, and seized him. The aid came too lute, however, for the unfortunate girl never moved afterwards. Cedeno struggled with Mr. Campbell a short time, but was ultimately overpowered, and the knife taken from him, Mrs. Eobinson 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 Depot, and in the meantime medical aid was promptly called in to the two victims of his violence. Drs. Turnbull mid Prins at once attended, but in Burkes 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 almost in close proximity. ' The knife had entered under the left breast, and penetrated the heart, the force of the blow being such that although the blade of the knife was fully six inches in length, a portion, of the handle had also penetrated the body. Of the girl Murray we have happily to report that although very severly cut, she is in no immediate danger, the information given at the Hospital last night being that she was progressing favourably. The knife, on examination, proved to be a silverhandled 'bread knife, with a narrow blade, and a very sharp point."