Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-04-18
5flistellancous.
Coroner Connery and Mrs. Cunning
ham.


TO one OF the charges preferred against
Coroner Connery, 10y II. l.. Clinton, Esa.,
Counsel FOR Mrs. Cunningham, VIZ that lie
(COroner) caused the lady To be stripped
naked, III presence Of two men beside the
Doctor. The defence was so plansbls that
that we were almost inclined to believe the
charge exaggerated, and that the Coroner
Was more slnned against than SHINING. Mr..
Counery offered to the Governor and the
public the lady's own note, over her own sig
nature, to show that the examination of her
person WAS conducted with the utmost deli
cacy.
The following is the note said TO have been
written by Mrs. Cunningham which We cut
from our files Of the 4th Of February
This is o certify that the examination Of
my person. 10y DR.. Woodward, was conducted
in the most delicate manner. There was no
indecent exposure, and it was at my reques!
that it was done. Il. A. BuRpELL.
Feb 4th 1851"
One of our Reporters visited Mrs. Cum
ninghsm on Monday morning, when the fol-
loving dialogue occurred
Reporter-l perceive, Madam that your
Counsel has. among other sccusations, pre-
fcired u charge against Coroner Connery, 70
naked in the presence OF two other men, who
were not medical men?
Mrs. Chat is correct, sir, can US
sure YOU, sir, that ] was ordered to strip my
SELF that was stripped down TO my toes,
aud stood in perfectly nude state before
Deputy John, an officer; DR.. Woodward, and
lady, who was permitted TO remain in the
room at my special request.
Reporier--Then how do you explain the
note which you seut TO the Coroner, and
which distinctly states, not only that there
was no indecent expose, but that the exam
mation was conducted in the most delicate
manner, aud at your own reqaeSt p
Mrs. C-l never wrote any such note, sir.
Reporier--Why the note was read public
ly at the Inquest and copied by all the re-
pOrters. 1t completely cXonera,ed Coroner
ConHery from anything like indeicscy, he
even stated that the communication Was un-
solicited.
Mrs C--I repeat, sir, that never wrote
any note tO that effect. | never saw the pa
pers, indeed ] was not permitted to see them
aud consequently could not have written any.
thing Of the kind. The circumstances 10
which You alnde is probably this Ohm came
up to me in the morning with a written note
in his hand. stating that DR.. Woodward
lhuneht il very bad that the newspapers had
stated that he Or. W had, while conducting
the examination, taken improper liberties
me. | said No, certainly DR.. Woodward
tack no improper liberties with me = that il
not true, but il was neccssary t!!sL ] should
bn stripped naked then the examination was.
presume, conducted in as delicate a manner
as it we're possible to do il, but certainly 10
improper hbeitirS were taken with me-.
I ~ 1, =. I. 4 $50.
so submited, nor did | refuse a single re-
quest that was asked Of me by order of the
Coroner except 10 permit naguerriau ar
list to take llkcuessGs VI my children or 10
daguerremype the rooms which occurred
| also refused to give information concerning
my own private affairs to DR.. Woodward, al
| dl rot consider they had any thing what
ever 10 DO with the death Of DR. Burdell. or
would Give any clue which might lead to tha
discovery Of HIS murderrTs.
Reportcr--Then il understand you right,
The note icaS solicited?
Mrs. C.-Juh certainly showed me note,
and asked me 10 sign II. Thinking, as
said before, that the law permitted me to be
strppeA, | in the confusion and excitement
CONSEQUENT upon the treatment which ] had
received, signed il, scarcely knowing what
did, and believing, as | was informed, that il
would exonerate DIR. Woodward from the
charge Of taking improper liberties with me.
when ] came % myself and reflected little,
sent to the Coroner, requesting that he
would let me read what had signed, a re-
quest ,chich was peremptoriiy refused
repeat. sir, that was stripped down 10
my toes, and stood perfectly naked in the
presence Of DR.. Woodward, John Connery,
an officer, and the lady have mentioned,
and for woman Of my age, and the mother
OF 30 many children, to be SO treated, you
may imagine how l felt, but ! cannot de.
scribe it,
This is Mrs. Cunningbau's statement as to
bat oberge. AGO ~bas on this ssbjeGt We