Lord F Cavendish and Mr Burke Assassinated – May 6th 1882

 

ON SATURDAY, Earl Spencer, after being sworn in as Lord-Lieutenant, transacted some business at Dublin Castle, and about 6 pm. rode home, attended by an aide- de-camp, to the Viceregal Lodge. The Chief Secretary and Under Secretary, who were to have dined with His Excellency, also left the Castle, the former setting out on foot at six o’clock, and the latter, who left somewhat later, riding in a hack car until he overtook Lord Frederick at the park gate, when the two walked on together. They passed along the main road and had just reached a point immediately opposite the Viceregal Lodge when they were attacked from behind by four cowardly assassins, who with daggers or bowie-knives rained a perfect shower of fearful wounds upon them with such sudden and terrible effect, that they do not appear to have had a chance of crying for help or of defending themselves. The deadly struggle only lasted a few minutes, and the murderers, leaving their dying victims on the ground, drove off towards the Island Bridge entrance and got clear away. The most astonishing and bewildering circumstance in connection with the shocking outrage is that it was per- penetrated in broad daylight in full view of a number of people who were sitting or strolling in the Park, and who, one and all, thought nothing at the moment of the struggle which was going on before their eyes, believing it to be a friendly wrestle, or at most a vulgar brawl. The mangled bodies were discovered by two gentlemen named Maguire and Foley, who, riding on tricycles, had passed them alive only six minutes before, and having ridden to the Phoenix Column, returned to find them lying in pools of blood about thirty feet apart, Mr. Burke on the path, and Lord F. Cavendish in the roadway. One of these gentlemen remained on the spot, and the other rode off on his machine to inform the police. Meanwhile, a crowd soon collected, and the people fell to comparing notes as to what they had seen of the shocking affair at a distance. The military guard arrived from the Viceregal Lodge, and the bodies were taken to Stevens’ Hospital, to await the arrival of the Coroner, some medical men having first examined them and declared life to be extinct. The subsequent examination showed the desperate and determined nature of the attack. The body of Lord F. Cavendish bore wounds in the side, the neck, and the right lung, as well as several others in the right arm, one of the bones of which was broken; that of Mr. Burke had eleven wounds in the heart, neck, breast, and throat, whilst the flesh of the left hand was much lacerated. Lord Cavendish’s features bore a placid expression, which seemed to tell of instant death, whilst Mr. Burke appears to have died in great agony. The inquest was formally opened on Sunday morning, and after the jury had viewed the remains, which were then at once removed to the Chief Secretary’s Lodge, was at once adjourned until next day, when it was resumed and concluded, the Attorney-General.

(Continued on page 464 from The Graphic May 13 1882, BNA