Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-08-15
THE RURDELL MURDER.
A New Phase OF the Case Mrs. Cunning
ham has q. Sham Birth,

Mrs Cunningham, her sister and DR..
Catlin, of Brooklyn, hare been arrested on
a charge of being connected in the prodac-
ton Of = ehild falsely, purpostirg to be the
offspring of DR.. .Eurdel, The arrests
were made early Tuesday morning, ard
produced no little excitement
While Mrs. Cunningham was confined
in the Tombs On the charge of numbering
DR.. Rurdell, she sent for.Dr. Uhl, her fau-
lily physician, to attend her DR.. Uhl. in
reply, expressed his inability or unwilling
Eess to attend without q written order from
Mr.. Hall, the District Attorney, which he
obtained. On waiting upon Mrs. Cunning
ham, he was asked to prescribe for symp-
toms similar TO those y person might have
who was in the fairly ray, Uper the
strength of this remark, DIR. Uni ashed Ter
if she was enctente, to which she remarked,
that was q matter in which she could not
give any information at present but on
speaking with Mrs. Foster on the subject,
the latter intimated to Dr. Z. that such was
the case
After the discharge of Messrs Cunning
ham from prison, she informed Dir. Uhl that
she was pregnant, and wished him to at
tend her during her confinement. The
doctor said he was willing to do SO, on con-
dition that other physicians might assist
him, as so much had been said of her, that
he thought such precaution advisable -
He further suggested the propriety of set
ting the fact of her pregnancy without de-
lay He said that he would be willing to
attend her professionally for that purpose,
in conjunction With two otheg physicians,
whose names he mentioned.
Size readily aeeuiesced, but from that
time tc the present avoided all further allu-
sion &c the subject This aroused the doc
tors suspicious, and he spoke Of ii to ere of
the gentlemen whom he designed to call in
to assist him, end thought it important to
hasten the examination, if the fact was as
she stated I'LL then consulted counsel,
apprising him Of tie Whole ease, atd asked
what course he ought to pursue
The latter advised carlton and delay for a
few days. when, il the matter did not an
pear right t& fay the whole matter before
the District Attorney. DR. Uhl at length
lid inform Mr.. Hall, tie District Attorney,
of the ease, made his aiiida;.it, and wished
to leave the ease in his hands.
The District Attorney, however, said it
was duty he owed the public to continue
in the case.
His friends counselling lin to t1.a same
course, he followed their advice, and placed
himself under Mr.. Halls direction Uhl
continued to call upon Mrs Cunnina Ram,
| and it was finally arranged by Mrs. c. that
! DR.. Catlin, of Brooklyn, should attend her,
~ IL \, | y
the fictitious childbirth.
Catlin privately told Uhl that lie had con-
coctod the whole scheme himself. The
District Attorney then hired room (No.
100 Elm street, in the name Of nr Mon
tasnie, ana furnished it from his own
house. Or. NJ. then gos a new born in
FAINT from Bellevue Hospital, together with
a nurse, last night, and Dr. TIL was sent
for to go. there. and assist in carrying the
scheme through.
Mrs. Cunningham was then given te M
derstand that there was woman going to
be taken sick, and that the child could be
obtained. She then minated that she
would send a lady there to lool, at the prom
ises. Subsequently a lady went there to
look at the place, who proved to be Mrs
G. in disguise. About 0 at night the same
lady called again, was asked to walk up
stairs, did so, got the child in basket and
took it away.
The detectives On fcr track Identified tcr
IN the cars as Mrs, Cunningham. She was
traced to No. 81 Bond street.
Soon after, she sent for Dir. Uhl, telling
HIM to come immediately, as she was in Ia
Dor. lie went, WAS ushcred into dark
room, and found her in bed, apparently in
great pain.
nurse was sent for from Second aven-
tie to take the child and wash and dress II.
Dr.. catlin brought in pail containing
blood, smeared the sheets, and performed
other forms peculiar to such cases.
AT this jenctqre the police came n and
arrested all the parties implicated
FURTHER rAhrIcu1ARs.
The child was represented to Mrs Gun
ningham as that Of a California widow"
who found it convenient to get rid of it as
she was about 10 meet her hosbard after
considerable more than a nine months alb
sence
The plan was yiven to Mrs. Cunning
ham, who was highly Pleased with it, and
became inpatient to. have the denoue-
ment. DR.. Uhl asked her when it would be
most convenient for her to become mother.
Thursday, July 2S, was the very shortest
time for the ordinary CESSATION" as spo-
ken of by Judge Dean, under the theory of
the marriage before the Surrogate, and so
the first week in August became the settled
time
After She birth Mrs. Cunningham ax-
claimed, Il have put my trust in God and
he has favored lne | shall now be reyeng-
ed upon my prosecutors.
Upon the arrival of the police she under
took to be very sarey, ard said the child
was her legitimate child They took it
from her after a struggle. She screaming
Don't take my dear little innocent baby,
my darling little daughter.
They persisted, however, and sent it to
Bellevue to its mother, who was anxioGslg
waiting for it.
A N@ for p4lsAvy Drinheys - fhe
crops of Harrison county this year. unless
cut short, will be very great SFe viii have
to haul to the depots ON the rail road, which
runs through the middle of tho ao};ntrxr