Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-09-26
Mrs Cunningham and Her Bosus Baby.

It has been our lot to have witnessed, on SOW
eral occasions, many exciting scenes, and like
wise to have read of Others but, never before
have we either seen or read anything TO compare
with the recent farce enacted hy Mrs. Cunning
ham, in Bond street, New York. The callous
hardened lrayado, evuced 10y this Wretched Wo-
man. for time made thousands believe She was
innocent Of the murder Of DR. Harvey Burdell,
but lhis last piece Of base hypocrisy has destroy
ed all hey hopes, put every friend She had in the
world against her, and was the mcaus Of making
every haman Icing pronounce her the vilest OF
her sex IL would now be ont OF place to Give an
extend report of all that has transplred legally
and otherwise, the subject being so we'll und r.
stood X is only necessary TO state that she
she had given birth to a child, that DR.. Catln
he who bad bis sleeves rolled up, and pretend
ed TO br the accouchcur turned state = eyd dauce,
and that the greatest excitement existed amongst
the people the majority Of whom would have
lyuchcd her, had they an opportunity. The cX-
animation Of Mrs birmingham + daughters, before
Justice Dawson, was one OF the most painful
scenes ever witnessed, as il was universally be-
leyed they had nothing to do in The case. They
were literally heart broken, particularly the cid
est (Augustal who declared that She would never
enter II Bond street again. The roie this woman
has played is beyond belief She was certain
that II her marriage with Dr. Durdel could be
one third of his property; but she also knew that
if she could procure a child aud make the world
believe that il was his. she would have the re
manning two Thirds. Therefore she went to work
procured through the aid Of DR., Uhl and the Dis
trict Attorney, newborn infant and pretended
that it was hers. The remainder is known and
is so disgusting that it is not III for publication
On Monday, July l0 Justice Dawson rendered
his decision, refusing to admit Mrs. Cunningham
to bail. This was altogether unexpected, as it
was generally believed that the offence Wa8 u
bailahle one. On the following day, writ OF
ccrioraJi was granted by Judge Daily, Of the
Court of Common Pleas, to review the case OF
Mrs, Cunningham. on the charge OF attempting to
pass a counterfeit baby OF as her own, and an
heir to Dr. Burdell Her counsel waited on Jus
tice DAWSON but that iunetionary told him that
the papers had been delivered to the District At
tornoy, Whcrcupon Mr.. Stafford obtained % second
cellior15i remrnable next morning at J o'clock,
before Judge DAILY, be who granted the first writ.
For some time he considered the Importance Of
the case, and eventually decided that the offence
was sufficiently proven. He refused to interfere
with the Justices decision as 10 bail, on tho
ground chat il was Il matter OF discretion with
which it would be improper for another magi5-
trate to meddle.
It was reported in Freeman & Co.'s Office,
New York, a few minutes before the mail bags Or
the last steamer were sealed, that Mrs Cunning
however was not the case. 4 posse of police
having been sent 10 dispeTse tie crowd before the
house, gave rise 10 the rumor.
She vas not removed to the Tomb7 until
Thursday July 49, when the scene at the house
was exciting in the extreme, Miss Augusta fall
ing into hysteric fits when informed that her mo-
ther was about being conveyed to prison. Mrs.
Cunnin cham had to be carried down stairs on the
arms OF four policemen. Her daughter, Helen
entered The carriage along with her, and declared
that, no matter what might come, She would noy-
er part her mother. She might she said, be
considered bad-but Gtill She was her mother
Along the streets through which the carriage
passed, the unfortunate woman was hooted by
idle boys, useless women, and still more useless
men. Upon arriving at the Tombs, q crowd Of
some two hundred persons had assembled many
of whom used the most abusive epithets towards
her aud her pretended baby. So overcome was
the wrctched woman, that upon entering she
tainted away, and was for some time iusonsibe.
The bogus baby and the mother Of the baby,
were exhibited, for the first time on the same
day in the Museum (recently Barnums) and
continued to be exhibited up TO the latest dates
Dr.. Catlin was also confined in the Iombs, and
it was reported that be had some wonderful rev.
citations to make known, not one word Of which
was beeycd.--N Y. Cor, AA0 CAL