Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-05-08
V'nP stut.I Murder srini-

Vhss tntdrII Murder rrini-
In tho Nv lplh Court al Oyer and Iormlner
on Monday morning. the trial Of Mr. Cunning
ham ami John !. Eclrl. for tn" murder of Dr.
Burdell, commenced. There appeared Tor th'
prosecution Attorney General Gushing aud Dis
trict Attorney Hall The counsel for Mrs. Gun.
bingham were II. L. Clinton aud Gilbert Dem,
andtar Ecke the counsel were John Graham aud
w. Il. Stafford. \ great crowd of persons filed
the court room Five hundred Juror, were sun.
mnnnd. but upward. of "A hundred. who did not
appear, were tnrd So each. The EreniHg Post
says.
A large proportion of the jurors summoned mp
peared To be afflicted with deafness, weak eyes.
lamouess and other intirmaties, upon winch they
cxpataed to the Court under oath
During these preliminary proceedings Mrs
Cunningham aud her two daughters. Helen and
Augusta, were seated behind the railing ON the
right hand of the Judge They were richly but
plainly dressed in mourning garh. Mrs. Cunning
ham wore black silk. All the three ladies wore
impenetrahle brown v"llS which were never for
"a moment removed, and sat immo.able with II
downcast air. \ lady friend of the family sat
with them.
john J. Eckcl occupied seat within the bar
behind the counsel. lie is gcnteeIly dres sed i'll
plain black suit and black cravat, and wears n
rich set of shirt studs On the little finger of
his left hand CLEANS n valuable ring. His beard
and mou STAG he are fall and dark, and be wears
a handsome brow wig or t0uPe,, He conyerses
freely and chcerfully with his counsel and other
friends around him. and apparently regards the
whole proceedings with the indifference of one
cons cious oi hi, innocence. His long imprson-
mrnt does not appear tn have worn upon him.
and no one looking upon his nlacld aud rather
proposes ing features. and mild halle eye,
well imagine him to have been guilty of the ter
rible murder with which he Stands charged. His
~. nd
smaller aud more delicately formed than was re.
presented in til" cngrayings.
At Il q1arier before one o'clock District Attor.
ney Hall said he would call up from the calendar
of the Count the indictment against Mrs. Gun
bingham for murder. They were ready to em-
pane jury aud g. ON with the trial.
Mr. CHnton-the prisoner Is ready.
Mrs. Cunningham then came forward and took
a seat by ben counsel.
Mr. Cln.ton-We will waive the reading of the
Indictment, plead not guilty, and demand u trial,
for which now ready.
Mr. Cunningham. on removing her hlack veil
disclosed a iace very pale, bat resolnte in it, ex
preston Ihelc the fuiniest possible tinge
of pink or a light carnntion on her check, which
had somewhat Of an artificial look. Her cuunte
nance h re an expression Of deep sadues-. min
gled with hulf concealed anxiety, which might be
attributed H. care for her children. She spoke II
few words in low, calm tone Ia her counsel. and
occasionally cast iuriive glance upon persons
around her.
The Jurors were then called aud examined, in
order 10 grt jury tot Try the case The first
person sworn said that he had formed and ex
pre- srd an opinion which he had not changed.--
Tie District Attorney insisted upon knowing
the OPT in, a,ld the Court su,taint d ,bc qnes
ton. fhe Juror answered that the evidence, as
nra- be- had read it, not sufficient to con
Wet Mrs. Cunningham The District Attorney
insisted that the iuror was competent. hut tn"
counsel for the defence challenged for principal
{ cnu~e. which the Cont over rued. In" juror
was then challenged for favor by the
counsel FIR tie defence, and triers
were appointed todccile upon the competency of
the juror. During the day full jury was obtain
ed and the trial of the case commenced Tuesday
m0rnlng.