Sentence:  “There the cause of death was soon ascertained ; the victim of this daring outrage had been <WSD>stabbed</WSD> to death from ear to ear with a long, sharp instrument, in shape like an antique stiletto, which […] was subsequently found under the cushions of the hansom. […]” 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To pierce or to wound (somebody) with a pointed tool or weapon, especially a knife or dagger.