The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-08-27
From the National Police Gazette.
TILE FIFTH ACT OF THE GREAT BuRDELI.
DRAMA

AAA1 i - LII 1AS4 OE UhEAI BURUELI
DRAMA.
1t was quite obvious to the most careless
observer that there were properly five acts
to the Burdcl drama -Four of them had
already passed in the murder, the inquest,
the trial of Mrs. Cunningham, and the Sur
rogates Court. The curtain then fell sud-
dcnly, the interest Of the performance was
abruptly suspended, and the community
subslded to its ordinary pursuits and spccu-
la,ions. There was, however, evidently a
fifth act due, but it was generally doubted
whether the work could he ever completed,
at least in view of n mortal audience. The
great explanatory deaoucn,cnt seemed iuic-
iinitely postponed to that mysterious future
and other world, whicE holds within its Lo-
som SO many of the los. conclusions of this
earthly planet. When, one day last week,
lie bell Of the press sounded its notice, the
curtain was again raised, and behold the
climax and catastrophe fully disclosed
Mrs. Cunningham is still the arch heroine,
the deus e.r maching Of the occasion, and
presents herself i'll her full proportions will,
the long-lookedfor child and heir Of the
scene, who had been wandering in the
unknown spaces of conjecture and entity,
from the memorable 2Sth of October down
TO the day and hour of final delivery to
the gaze of certain detectives of the law
Never did real child, Of mortal parcntage
base born or true-born, legitimate or ileciti-
mate, stir such coil, and set in use so
many pens, so many presses, attorneys,
physicians, and the Whole crowd of specu-
lators, takers and writers, professional and
professional. One of those cases had
arisen i'll which every man takes some
kind of interest, and in regard TO which
every man has some sort Of an opinion
Especially noticeable was the sudden in
crease of the legal and medical professions
-mcmbers of which, by their own cleo
ton, and with sef-confincd diplomas, shot
up and swarmcd in every gathering, and
figured in the columns Of every journal, will,
u view TO determine the proper law and
medical practice applicable TO this cxtraor.
dinary case.
The facts are disclosed in our local re-
ports, to be found in the Police Gu=ctte, set
forth at large. BY this time they arc
known in their main outline TO all our
readers. They readily distribute themselves
for consideration under three or four con.
Ve"'ent heads. First, as to the Importance
OF the discovery or exposure ITSELF Sec
ond y, the right or wrong of DR.. Uhl's con.
duct in the part he has taken. Thirdly,
the agency Of the District Attorney in tile
matter; and lastly, the effect of all these
antecedents upon the position of Mrs. Cum
niDgham, and her involvement in crimi.
nal and punishable offence. We venture
to say, without arrogatipg to ourselves an
advantage, our contemporaries, and the
multitude of private spectators WHO have
engaged in the discussion of the matter,
tia: on no one of these points las the nail
been struck directly, nor with such preci-
sion as to drive. it home where It belongs
In regard to the first, the public, with
scarcely a dissenting voice, las, it is trie.
by this new and recent light, convicted Mrs.
Cunningham of all. that had gone before.
They haso stepped through the surrogate's
Court with rapid stride, advanced into the
Oyer and Terminer, reversed the formal
verdict, and appearing ats.l,e inquest, have
diseatangl d all its mcshes, discarded its
lindrances, and stretched tue finger of
scorn straight against the object which had
before cscaled in the cloud of witnesses
and the ground.fog which had enveloped
its proiracted sessions. This the gc- eral
sentiment las done, but it has not suffi
ciently felt that all this it has been enabled
to do by a disclosure which has been, on
some lrands, condemned as premature, un.
professionally effected, or wrong in i:s in.
ception and execution.
Tho prey las been saared, and now we
are TO consider whether it has been honestly
taken in lawful toll; for the second ques-
tiop is as. to DIR. Ubl. who undoubtedly If
lie did not fet the gin, showed wliers die
game was 10 be found, and in what place
the trap was to be planted. It i. stropcly'
alleged thai DR.. Uhl had no right, as i
professional man, to 60 ont of the chamber
with any tidipgs whatever. That was to
linn sealed apartment, and lie was by lie
llypocratic oath "by Apollo, by Escalap-