True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-08-12


mentS.
The telegraph has already informed our
re aders of the arrest of Mrs. Cunning
ham, Tuesday morning, on y charge of
being concerned in the production of a
child falsely purporlingt to be the offspring
of DR.. Burdell. We now have the par
ticulars in detail, which are Of so extra.
ordinary nature that we publish them
at length Pitt. Dispatch.
While Mrs. Cunningham was confined
in the Tombs on the charge Of murder
ing DR.. Burdell, she sent for Dr.. Uhl,
her family physician, to attend her. DR..
Uhl, in reply, expressed his inability or
unwillingness to attend without written
order from Mr.. Hall, the District Attor'
ney, which he obtained. On waiting up
on Mrs. Cunningham, he was asked to
prescribe for symptoms similar to those a
person might have who was in the family
way. Upon The strength of this remark,
DR.. Uhl asked her if she was enciente, TO
which she remarked, that was matter In
which she could not give any Information
at present !; but on speaking with Mrs
Foster ON The subject, the latter inumaI-
ed 10 DR.. U. that she understood thai
such was the case.
The first announcement of Mrs, Cum
ningham's pregnancy was indirectly
made by Judge Dean, in his speech be
fore the Surrogate, on the Sd of July
when he made use o! the following Ian
guage: # ii 'Oere true that in the ordi
nary CESSATION, child should be borr
to Harvey Butdell, then not only all the
ties of blood and nature, but all the die
ta,es of humanity, demanded that the
Court should lean in rav or Of that limo
cent unborn child, rather than in favor
of those who have no direct claim upon
the property. He would say nothing o.
the consequences of a decree of basterdy
in advance. With consequences we have
nothing to do.
1t was shortly after This that DR.. Uh
was sent for and waited upon her. The
Doctor, it will be borne in mind, had ut
tended Mrs. G.. before the murder, ant
believed in her entire innocence Of lhC
crime. lie was informed BY her that shC
was enciente BY Dr.. Burdell, and expect
ed about the middle of August to give
birth to a child, and desired him 10 be
come her medical altendent on that occa
sion. DR.. Uhl consented. In few
days he called again, and advised with
her about her condition. Upon pressing
some certain medical inquiries. her eva
sive answers excited very grave suSpi
cions in his mind.
In fact his faith in her innocence o
the murder became so much shaken tina
he determined to consult with his counsel
Mr.. Wheeler. BY his advice he, will
much reluctance, went 10 District AtIor'
ney Hall, about the 10th Of July, ant
communicated his suspicious. Mr.. Hal
told him that if such thing was contem
plated by Mrs. Cunningham it was
very serious felony, and referred the Doc
tor to that section of the Revised Statutes
which says:
Every person who shall fraudulenlly
produce an infant, falsely pretending 1t tt
have been born of parents whose chil(
would be entitled 10 share OF any per
sona estate, or to inherit any real estate
with the intent of inlercepting the inner.
itance of any such real estates or the dis
tribution of any such personal property
from any person lawfully entitled there.
to, shall, upon conviction, be punished
by imprisonment in Stale Prison mo-
exceeding Ten years"
The result was that DR.. Uhl placed
himself under the direction of The Dstrlc
Attorney, and continued his visits tc
Mrs. Cunningham. The District A,tor
ney advised him to go, and conceallnG
his doubts and suspicious, learn from
Mrs. Cunningham her full views and ar
rangements, Upon another intervlev
Mrs. G. admitted to him that the ap
preaching confinement was a humbug
and offered him 1000 if he would un
derlake the job of finding child and as
sistng at the "accomhment." Where
upon DR.. UhI apparently assented, an,
| returning TO the District Attorney report
ed progress.
The District Attorney then laid dow
the following plan Of action: DIR. Uf
should concocI story of a California wi,
ow" lone Of his patents) whose husban
being away had been indscreet, and wa
ready to bring forth Responsibility.
being sent for to go 10 California, sh
was anxious to beslow it upon any {
those kind ladies' who are perpetualIy az
vertiseing for "infanls 10 adopt" and we
so anxious to conceal her shame, thi
there would be no probability of her al
pealing to reclaim her child.
This child was to be taken TO SON
place in Elm street, where Mrs. Gu
ningham could procure it. Mr.. Tia
being very busy was also anxious to hu
= ry up the denoument.
When the Doctor communicated Il
. plan to Mrs. Cunningham, she express
| herself highly delighted with The arrang
ment. She was TO leign all of the pail
r of childbirth, and the forms usual
r such affairs were to be gone through.
Dr.. Uhl asked her when il would
most convenient for her to become a II,
ther. Thursday, July %, was the sho
!, est time for the "ordinary CESSATION
and so The first week in August was
!. greed upon. The District Attorney th
consulted with Washington Smith, OF t
Aims. House Governors, aud Mr.. Keilot
one of the officers of that institution, a
C was promised child at the proper III
/. He also found it necessary to find
other physician who should take char
Il