The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-11

Of Mr.. Buchanan.
rhe Bond Street Murder-Nore Ixght the
Subjcct-OhicIal B,undc>1nS.
The public excitement in relation to the mys-
terious murder of Doctor Burdell receives an
additional Impetus to-day, in the shape OF some
| very important testimony. A man Of the name
Of Farrell testidss that at about half past ten on
| The evening Of the murder he was walking
| through Bond street and sat down upon the steps
| of Burdells house 10 tie the string Of his shoe.
lie saw man wearing shawl 60 into the
house; then heard cry OF murder; then man
in his shirt sleeves came to the door from the
inside aud roughly demanded of Farrell what
| he was doing there. The mans left hand rested
| on the inside Of the door case. The witness,
| after a lengthy examination, identified Ectd as the
nan that came 10 the door, 1t was also proven
that Doctor Burdeil was in town on the twenty
| eighth Of October last-the date Of
| the alleged maTiage-and that he at
tended on that day a meeting OF the
directors of the Artisans Bank. This will not
probably appear in evidence, as the Coroner has
no power to weigh conflicting testimony. A
young woman, attendant in shop in Broadway
where canes are sold, testi6ed that lady and
gentleman came there on the fatal Friday to buy
a sword cane; the witness did not identify Mira
| Cunningham or Eckel as the persons An at
tempt to introduce testimony to show who the
person really was caused an unseemly quarrel
between Mr.. Clinton, the counsel for Mrs. Gun
| ningham Mr.. Capron and the Coroner. The last
| named officer wound up the days work 10y CON-
| hitting Mrs Cunningham TO the Tombs TO await
the action of the Grand Inquest Of the county
| The testimony of Mr.. Farrell is highly i'm
| portant In the first place it corroborates
| the evidence Of three other persons as
| 10 the time OF the murder. We have nov
| four respectable witnesses, who fix the time at
between half past tea and eleven. They all
beard the cry of murder. Two of them saw a
man answering TO the description OF Dr. Burdell
enter the house. Mr. Farrell, in addition to
this gives us an account OF the blood on the
stairway ard street door, The man who left his
work unfinished TO go down 70 the street door
deposited the marks on bis way. and there is
stain of blood on the place where Mr.. Farrell
swears that Eckcl's hand rested. This positive
evidence upsets al the theories formed upon the
supposition that the murder was done by sune
penon from without the house. 1t is, in fact,
the only direct evidence against Eckel. Why the
murderer should come down at that moment,
canBot be explained. 1t is one Of those mystic
rIous occurrences one of those apparently trivial
circumstances which often give a clue 10 crime,
however carefully it may have been planl.1
Perhaps, in his anxiety to produce the imp,.-
sion that the murderer left the house he may
have purposely stained the stairway and door
| case with the blood of the victim.
Well. then, we have some light at last After
| eleven days OF laundering on all hands, the
murder seems likely to be traced TO Its perpetra-
tors, but not through any vigilance Of the au-
thoritics having the matter in charge. The in
| vestigation commenced with Coroner who was
| both ignorant and foolish. He knew enough
however, TO hold the suspected parties in clcse
| issued by Judge Brady which resulted in closing
| the mouths OF Eckel and Mr.. Cunningham.
| Now, Mr.. Caprou interfcres and demands a
| repetition of testimony which is of no value.
| This attorney-never distinguished for his legal
acumen-inSsts upon asking a string Of ques
tons which have no bearing whatever upon the
matter in hand. The action upon the habeas cor
rus writs was most unfortunate both for the
people and the prisoners. If the latter
are innocent, they are placed in a
position where they cannot give their statements
TO the public; If they are guilty well arranged
battery of questions might have forced some-
| thing like confession. The action OF Judge
| Brady in taking the matter cut Of the hands Of
| the Coroner was altogether unparalleled in the
| history Of criminal law, and but few jurists
would dare TO take the responsibility OF inter
fering with Corooers inquest The temporary
detention Of certain parties as witnesses in case
| Of this kind is common and is often rendered
absolutely necessary 10 the proper execution OF
the duties OF the jury. Judge Brady has OBJ
tanned an unpleasant notoriety in this matter
and II will adhere TO him for the remainder of
bis days
With regard TO the lawyers, neither Mr.. Capron
nor Mr.. Clinton have any right 10 examine the
| witnesses OF 70 speak one word 10 the Jury. We
| cannot blame the last named advocate for his
zeal and devotion TO the interests Of bis clients,
but we can see no reason why Mr.. Capron has
assumed 10 conduct the investigation The
Coroner might perhaps call in magistrate TO
assist him in examining the witnesses. but Mr.
Capron is not magistrate He is simply acting
as prosecuting attorney and only impedes the
progress Of the investigation, which has been
series of blunders throughout. We advise the
Coroner TO do his own work as quickly as posi-
bic and tben leave the matter in the hands Of the