Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-08-21
Mrs CUNNINGHAM.

an heir to the estate OF DIR. BurdeH. Inc (
details, as given by the daily papers, are
unfit for our columns. The pretended
birth took place on Tuesday, the 4th
inst, a babe having been procured from
the Bellevue hospital, to carry out the
plot. Mrs. Cunningham played her
part exceeding well, but unfortunately
for her, DR.. Uhl, one of her physicians,
on discovering the game she was play
ing, notified District Attorney Hall of
the facts, week or two since, and all
the subsequent arrangements were made
by these gentlmen with view to finally
foil and expose the bold crime. In this
they we're successful, and Mrs. Cunning
ham has been arrested. BY this crime
she has made herself liable to ten years
imprisonment. DR.. Catlin, who conniv-
ed at and aided in the conspiracy. has
also been committed to prison, but has
turned States evidence against Mrs. Gun
ningham. DIR. Uhl, in his evidence,
says:
a took what part 1 did in the matter
solely at the earnest solicitation of Mr.
Hall, and to further the ends of justice,
and if, as l suspect, the individual who
advised Mrs. Cunningham to employ
me, undertakes to break down my evid-
ence in this case, or to assail my charac-
ter, there may be some rich develop
ments YETI
In relation to this affair, and the pro-
priety and public utility of the course OF
District Attorney Hall and DR.. Uhl, in
working out the present result, the BoS-
ton Journal has the following remarks ::
"a woman confesses to her family
physician that she is engaged in prepar.
ing a heinous fraud, and solicits his con.
nivance. He refuses at first, as become:
a man in his responsible position. Blu
afterwards he comes under the influence
of an officer whose special duty-it is Il
see that the laws are administered il
their integrity, and crime discouraged by
the infection of its legal penalties-anC
then, by that officers solicitations and di
rections, the physician consents to aid hi
r. patients criminal designs, and, through
a long and revolving series of artifce
and frauds, succeeds in helping her t
commit a felony punishable with te
o years Imprisonment. This, we believe
r. is fair statement of the material fact
= in the late affair which has brought Mr.
o Cunningham once more before the pub
=, lie.
We know the excuses which are read
in behalf of this process of showing u
guilt, and the praises even which al
"a ahG h RPGa Rs se Rck faf6d E
the scheme. They are all professedl
IL based upon the public utility of the pr,
- ceeding. But let US see-what fact hay
IL we arrived at after all +? That Mrs. CuI
, ningham has committed the felony
fraudulently producing a child with Il
" intent of its inheriting the estate of D
Burdell; and that is the only materi
" fact thus far. But the fact that she WI
- engaged in that fraud, by her own co
fession to DR.. UhI, had already been cor
- municated to the proper authorities, al
"a was just as good for pl venting iniusti
n TO DR.. BurdelPs heirs, for showing Il
49, aoimuS OF Mrs. Cunningham, or for al
IT. other purpose that we can see, as t
.m present result, wrought out by so mu
~ chicanery and filth. For it must be co
n.y. sidered in mitigation of her often:
49, whether she would have carried b
ho scheme into actual preparation, if s
:. had not been aided and abetted at eve
in step by one, at least, whom she was
customed to regard with confidence, a
t I especially if he had discharged his OBJ
he Gus duty Of earnestly dissuading a
On warning her against the attempt.
- We do not question the sincerity
5 District Attorney Hall and DR.. Uhl, /
ing We do gravely question the propriety a
vas public utility Of their course. We adm
But the 8agacity which tracks and expo
lev artful crime-but between this and t
an duplicity which develops criminal desie
on, into criminal acts, there is broad &
be tinction. The latter process may ma
der a show of promoting justice in a sin
case, but it sets bad example, hurts
isv public confidence in the ministers of
INST law, and is more in accordance with
for subtle policy of Austria, than the Q
red erous, straightforward genius of our
rec situations. Are there not actual crinir
in enough already in New York, with
. Mr.. Halls trying to make another
!. How can he press the conviction of
Cunningham, when he is virtu ally an
ms eessory before the fact? Who wan
e