The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-02-12

fN'AeW ~ ttAo SuSuulohauCNo NouuCCtCa Wltn
the mysterious murder of DR.. BurdeiI, which
has created such an excitement in New
York. The Express says:
At the close OF the third day Of tHs in
quest, the murder Of DR.. Burdell, in his
own Office in Bond-street, remains as fear.
ful mystery as ever. Early in the day
the Coroner made new search Of the prem.
ises, and while so engaged brought to light
several more articles Of dress-principalIy
OF female wearing apparel-smeared with
blood. The testimony Of young Snodgfass
who was the first witness put upon the stand,
shows that he believed the Doctor and Mrs,
Cunningham to be man and wife; but he
never troubled himself to inquire particular
ly. He confirmed the statement previously
made that they were on bad terms; and ad-
ded that while Eckel and he frequently
| spent the evening in Mrs, Cunningham's
bed room, DR.. Burdell was never known to
do so. A servant girl of Mrs Cunningham'a,
one whom she discharged the day before the
murder, testified that there seemed to be
two parties in the house: one OF which was
the Doctor, the other comprised everybody
else, from the lady to Mr.. Snodgrass.
! The servant also testified that Mr.. Eckel,
not long since, at the breakfast table, re-.
marked that "I wouh be a good Minq 10
glue the Doctor knox, If ii could only BE-
done handy" and at the same time, she AYERS
he looked wickedly at Mrs. Cunningham,
who jestiugly rebuked him for his language:
The officers found in Mr.. Eckel's secretary
a package Of papers, much more important
| than those in the Doctors safe. Among
/ them were the agreement between the Doc
tor and the lady, in regard to the house;
strange unsigned agreement, in the Doctors
I handwriting, that in consideration of the
settlement Of certain suits, he would always
! bcfrend the lady and her family; state.
ment, dated October l6, 1856, that up to
that date he had never made will, and
that If any will should be produced, with an
anterior date, and purporting to be his, it
would be forgery. A variety Of other pa
pers were found in this package, but us
they have not yet been put in evidence the
Coroner declines to have them published.
Several hours were spent by the Coro-
.ner, the jury and the officers, on Monday,
in ransacking every portion Of the premi-
ses. The physicians in attendance on the
inquest, also, at the request OF the Coroner,
examined every part of the bodies Of Mrs.
Cunningham, Mr.. Eckel and Mrs. Snod.
gross, in order to see if they had any cut,
scratch, or other wound, that might have
beenreceived, supposing them to be con.
cerned, in the fatal affray. The report TO
the Coroner was, that no wound or blem-
i-h was found on either of their bodies -
The corpse was then re.exlmined, to see II
, the wounds could have been made with the
dagger that was found in Mrs. Cunning
hams drawer. The weapon is small, two
edged, ivory-h1ndled dirk, about ak inches
: long, in worn metal sheath. The most
careful probing and scrutiny rendered it op-
, parent that none OF the fatal stabs could
hive been made with this instrument, but
that the death knife must have been sharp
pointed two,edged digger, at least eight in.
cles by three quarters in the blade.
The testimony, us taken thus far, though
it fails to implicate any person 10 the house
: in the commission Of the murder, yet de.
monstrates the existence Of family dfama
Of no little romance and complication. The
strange relations sustained towards Mrs.
Cunningham by Mr.. Eckel and Mr.. Snod.
: grass, and the apparent il.leeling OF tho
trio to the deceased; the fnct that the man
she claimed to be her husband was never
seen in her room, and had but little inter.
course with her, while her private apart.
ments communicated with the bed-chambers
Of two other men; the merry making and
punch drinking in her bedroom, while the
Doctor was out keeping bachelors hall in
his own purlor; the conduct OF MFR. Eckef
in acting as though he were master Of the
, house; his being seen by her own daughter,
through the key hole IN the lady's bedroom,
and his having private papers of the Doc
tors in his room, attracted the attention Of
every one present at the inquest on Mon.
day, and caused no little remark.
The mystery of Ketchum's shirt has Eeeh
cleared up By young Shodgrass, who says
That he borrowed it from friend while in
the country; but the blood on it is yet un.
explained. The finding bloody dress of
Miss Augusta CuhlingHhm, and bloody
newspaper in (he stove in that voting lhdy's
room, are also strange facts, and are yet to
: be acquitted for. Mr.. Eckers absence
early Friday mofHieg is explained by wit
J ness, Mr. Smith Ely, who swears that he
had business appointment with him at
eight O'Clock precisely. The witnesses,
Mrs. G. and her family, Messrs. Eckel and
Snodgrass, exhibit the most perfect COM
posure, self.possession and coldness. None
of them had any objections to be examined
by the officers, but Mrs. C. appeared ex.
tremely anxious to preserve the papers ta.
, ken from Eckel's escritoire. .a..a g..
The house where this dfeSd deed was
} committed has since been an'objsct Of the
intensest interest. Excited erpwdk stand
constantly about the doors, and at the 9TH
er side of the street, steadily gazfng to the
second.story windows and discussing all the
details of the inquest as soon as they get
them. The house is four story and base
, ment dwelling. and entered by lofty flight
of marble steps, like most houses in Bond
J street. The hall inside is wide and commo-
J dous. The parlors are an the right hand
OF the entrance, and are elegantly furnish
ed-if anything, q trihe too gaudiiy for good
taste. There are three elarge mirrors in the
! two rooms, and the frames are very heavy
with molding and gliding, TIE second
floor consists of two large rooms, with a
pantry and dark room between them, and 4
small hall, bedroom front. The front
room was the Doctors bed room; the back
room was his sitting-room and operating Of
,ice. Both apartments were well and con-
veniently furnished, and show cultivated
taste on the part o: tile deceased. 1t is sy-
{ ident that he was sitting in his chair at the
: back entof the room when be received the
. first stab, for there is blood on the chair
and carpet. The faal struggle took
place near the door into the hall, which, as
well as the door of closat 0dinin;n0 ara