THE CHRISTCHURCH MURDER.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 764, 17 January 1871, Page 2

THE CHRISTCHURCH MURDER.

(From the Press.) Shortly after four o'clock yesterday afternoon, Christchurch was thrown into a state of consternation by a report being spread about tliat a woman had been murdered, and another one so fearfully injured as to be not expected to recover. On hastening to inquire into the truth of the report, we found that although not literally true in its details, it was correct so far as one of the unfortunate victims was concerned; and, as to the other, although she is in no danger of losing her life, the injuries she has received prove that the attack made upon her was a most ferocious and determined one.

It appears that a colored man of the name of Simon Cedeno, who was at the employ of the Hon. Wm. Robinson, had intimated to a friend some days previously that he was about to get married. Yesterday morning, he was making arrangements for the event, when two servant girls employed by Mr Robinson, named respectively Catherine Glenn and Margaret Burke, becoming aware of the circumstances, began joking him good hutnoredly about it. They appear to have continued at various times during the day to chaff him on the subject, till at about four o'clock he seems suddenly to have become enraged, and with little warning rushed upon his helpless victims, and barbarously attacked them, with the result already described.

The attack, so far as we can gather, seems to have been made as follows : At about four o'clock iu the afternoon, the girl Catharine Glenn was in the scullery, when the man Cedeno came in and rushed upon her with a large knife, with which he succeeded in inflicting a frightful wound on the face, laying open the cheek completely up from the lower jaw to the eye. He also inflicted two abrasions on the right breast, which, however, fortunately, are but slight. The poor girl managed to get away from her would-be murderer, and ran round to the front of the house, screaming out that Cedeno was going to kill them all. Immediately upon Glenn escaping from him, the Infuriated man rushed into the kitchen, where the deceased Margaret Burke was engaged washing the floor. Mr Campbell had just then passed from the dining-room into the hall where he was standing, when he saw the girl Burke rush from the kitchen into the hall from the other end, and thence into the dining hall, pursued by prisoner. She fell close to a side table, when Cedeuo rushing on her stabbed her iu the back. Mr Campbell then caught the man's hand in which the knife was and struggled with him for possession of it, but the prisoner succeeded in inflicting two or three more stabs upon his victim, in spite of the efforts made to knife from him. Mrs Robinson, who was present, then ran forward and seized hold of the knife, in trying to secure which she was rather severely cut. A man of the name of Price, in the employ of Mr Robinson, now came up, when Mr Campbell and he succeeded in securing the prisoner, who was shortly afterwards conveyed to the lock-up. The unfortunate girl Burke died almost immediately, having received three or four deep stabs in the back, just opposite the heart. Prisoner stated afterwards that he had intended to kill Mr Robinson lirst.

Immediately on hearing of the occurrence Mr Inspector Pender, accompanied by Sergeant M'Knight and Detective Feast, hastened to the scene of the murder, and had the body of the girl Bnrke removed to the hospital. Prisoner appears to be a most determined looking follow, and a sentry has been placed on the lock-up to watch him. We h ve been informed by Dr Turnbull that no danger need be apprehended as to the girl Olenn's life, although she is dreadfully injured about the head. He is of opinio a that the other poor girl died almost instantaneously.