Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-11
MISS CUNNINGHAM.

Manv LONG wears have gone by, since the ira
gical death of this amabe, beautiful, and lll-iat,
ed lady. The storms of numerous winters, and
the sunshine of succeeding summers, have dis
sipated every track and trace from the scene OF
her murder; and up to this time, her destroyer
has been unreached by justice. Since the late
arrest of man at Cecil, Md. it seems nKeiy
that the real murderer is apprehended, ana VIII
meet the reward of his foul crime we nave
thought that brief of his vlctlm's deatn'
might not be uninteresting at this time; anu nd
wing searched the records of that period, we Sc
lect and compress the main particulars.
The murder was committed about mile anu
a half from Charleston, Cecil county, Mo- MISS
Cunningham left her fathers house on the 4tn OF
April, 1925 in company with her little sis'ei
about four years OF age, to Visit ner
living about mile distant Both were missing
until the Friday following when the melancholy
catastrophe which had befallen her was mace
known by her little sister, who had wandered
in the woods from the fatal period OF ner sister
murder until then.
The account which she gave to the person
whose house she providcntially reached, was,
s:that big ugly man had met her sister ana
self. while on their way to their grandfathefs
and after dragging her sister into the WOODS,
murdered her." The body was immediately
sought for, and found by the neighbors-tne
monster had nearly separated the young lays
head from her shoulders; four other wounds were
inflicted upon her body, one on either side OF
the breast, one on each of her sides, just below
the ribs, either of which it is said, would nave
proved fatal; but not content with the cruelty
already inflicted. he gave her several wounds IN
different parts of the body man answering
the description of the little girl, seen riding
in gig near the scene of the murder, about the
time It was committed. He did not own the gig;
but was taken up by the owner. When ne came
in SIGHT of Miss c. and her sister, rising hill,
before Them he alighted, and the owner went
on He bore off the ring of his victim, whose
marriage as stated by her agonized father, was
on the eye of cOnsummatlon.
Miss Cunningham was model OF femaie
loneliness. Even amidst the appalling effects
Of ruthless and blood-fraught murder, her
features on which the agitation OF her dying
struggles for life and honor were painted IN
fearful power, were yet almost divine. Those
who saw her on her bier, relate that nothing
could exceed the symmetry and beauty OF her
sweet face and violated form.
The horrible event of her destruction, as
NAV well be supposed, created tremendous
excitement. A reward of $500 was offered Dy
the Governor of Maryland, and hundreds Vo-
lunteered to " skirr the country round, ana
secure the mysterious and prOwing murderer
But he escaped. The deed was supposed to
have been committed by man who crossed
the Susauehanna that evening at sunset;-he
was about thirty years of age, and feet 10
inches high; thick set, with dark hair; had on a
green surtout and carried white knapsack,
filled apparently with clothes He was sup,
posed to have taken Miss C.'s black worsted
Stockings The person describing him said ne
would recognize him again.
Several arrests were made at the time
but none of the murderer. One person taken
up. was drunken fellow, on his way to visit
his father in Pennsylvania. He established
his innocence with out difficulty said they
mioht take him up as often as they pleased; thai
he never struck woman in all his lfe,--fol
he lored them too IceH
The betrothed husband of Miss Cunningham
ayoung man named Taylor met also with an
untimely end. A distressing accident, we have
been told, deprived him of existence. He was
thrown from his carriage, and almost instanta
neously killed This sad history is all that re-
mains of that unfortunate pair.
Phil. Com. INTEL.