Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-07
Mrs. Cunningham on Trial Charged with the
Murder of DIR. Burdell.

Murder OIL Dr. BurdelI.
This trial is now progressing in New York.
On Tuesday Mr.. Hall, the District Attorney, made
striking opening speech for Government, Of
which the following is an abstract
The prosecution, he said, propose to prove that
DR.. Harvey Burdell ceased to be in the first part
Of this year. We propose to prove that he was
murdered in his own house from motives of hatred
and revenge. We propose to prove that he was
was killed by some one in the house; that among
the inmates of that house was one who had GER
tain motives to do that deed that that per son was
a woman and that woman the defendant All
the circumstances 90 to show that the murder
was the deed of a woman, done from different
stand point to that which man would have
taken.
She had known him three wears; she was the
mother of his child, which never saw the light;
she was his mistress, and would be thought his
wife From her own showing, she desired no
sympathy, and she was jealous of him; she beset
him down stairs and upstairs, in his private and
his public hours Of business. The very domestics
who will go on the stand will take the roof of
that house off, and let you see their whole course
| Of conduct
The very domestics will show you how she
| hunted him. We shall call the police officers to
| show how she claimed to be his wife; we shall
show that there suits for seduction and breach
| of promise Of marriage and papers were drawn
atlher bidding for this man to sign, which none of
you would sign, but for the dreadful presentment
| he must have had upon his mind that she was his
| enemy.
She followed him to his friend Dr. Thompson,
q
| their conversation. And there came another man.
| who became the counterpart of this man below
| And she loved this man Eckel. She also had
daughters, candidates for matrimony. Whether
she was married to Burdell no, she was guilty
OF the grossest intdelity to him with Eckel He
| Burdell, with this shadow at his side, had made
up his mind to let the house to the verv respect
able lady who will be adduced before YOU
she said to her servant, 20 Hannah, who is that
lady? She is going to take the house, On this
very Friday-the very day we all dread so much
hP nrt &c eS;n
and he may not live another day. And so it fell
out.
She had obtained the key of his safe she had
stolen his pistol and it was arranged that outside
relief was impossible. The bolts of the back door
were closed, and the front door was fastened by
one OF the most wonderful locks ever invented
He came in alone. She had the pass key to his
bed room, and she alone. He opens the door and
goes In. In the dark he is supposed to have care
FULLY folded his shawl and put away his cap; his
shoes were put off; and we required to sup
pose all this was done in the dark
1t is certain, however, that all the injuries in
nlcted on that man were done in the shortest
space Of time. And it will come out that these
blows were inflicted by left handed woman; we
shall show that this woman is left handed he
domestcs Will testify to il, and she has been care
fully watched to ascertain the fact
There was the safe which she had differed with
the catch down and the body lay there with the
hands down, laid out carefully and not fallen as
If in deadly struggle with his enemy, and he
had fought like man surrounded by a host Of
enemies.
And Hell has no fury like a woman scorned -
l make no charges against any other person in
That house now. She stands alone and when
you come to look upon all the circumstances, you
VIII see that no one intruder in that house could
nave done that deed. Why who but a woman
would have laid that head to the door that
!. would scarcely swing clear of it! There was
another door, and she had the pass kew
There was fire in that room, but il would not
| do to burn clothes there. So she passed the room
OF the sleeping cook to the little room where fire
| Ind nr d.
opposite, saw a flicker of burning linen and
three persons in the street snclt the Odor of burn
| ing wooden or leather, of which there can be no
| doubt. Now II will be for her 10 disprovc these
| facts by other evidence. And when the neiphbors
came in and told her DIR. Burdell is dead What is
her conduct! TO one she replies, :. Pm so glad
| l thought he was murdered.n TO others she said
. have dreadful secret to impart to YOU am
the DOCTORS wife, And when before the coro-
| ner we find the woman wanting counsel and
Wneh al last she does come down to a warm room
with a heavy cape on her shoulders one watc hful
eye discovered little red mark corresponding to
one on the neck of the murdered man
Group the circumstances Of that week. 1t COM
mences with quarrel; it progresses with quar-
rels, and it eliminates in murder. Note the cir
| cunstances of the murder; the fifteen mortal
wounds on the body her conduct before the coro-
turned the tide of popular indignation from her
shall greatly mistake your compre hension if YOU
| do not discern the value of the facts in giving
color to the motive, and shall call upon YOU TO
say that the woman, whether wife or mistress of
the murdered man, was guilty Of the crime
| DR.. Francis; Hannah Conlan, the cook; Mrs
stansbury, the lady to whom DR.. Burdell was
about to rent his house John Burchell, the Doc
tors boy; Mary Donoho, the chambermaid, who
| had left few days before the murder; Dr. Main;
Daniel Ullman, lawyer; A. d. Baldwin do; e.
A Davis, police officer; and Cyrus C. Herring.
| the fire safe manufacturer, were then examined
for prosecution. Nothing new was ELECTED.