Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-02-06
Tup Bunpr11 Munprr.-The New York

Courier and Enquirer of Wednesday says:
"The excitement yesterday in regard to the
murder was much increased by the pubca-
ton of the evidence adduced the day preyi-
Gus. The street in front of the house wac
crowded the entire day with spectators, who,
finding they could not be admitted, were sat.
isfied TO take long gaze at the fatal spot.
The experiment on the retina of the eye was
not made, as it was deemed to be useless, the
body beieg too much decomposed. An analy-
sis of the blood found on a shirt and other
garments is being made, and the result will
probably be announced to-day
The Tribune of Wednesday says:
AS far as the inmates of DIR. Burdell's
house are concerned, the investigation of yes
terday developed no new facts to strengthen
suspicion against them. On the contrary, the
result was negatively in their favor. Two
points were proved pretty ccnclusiyelY- first,
that the murder was committed before l.
O'Clock on Friday night and, second, that
the front door of the house was about as often
left open as otherwise. One Of the neighbors
on the other side of the street also testified
that between 10 IL and IL o'clock he heard
a cry of murder, the first syllable of the word
being uttered distinctly, and the second IN a
dull manner. as if the voice were strangled.
A smell as of burning wooden cloth was also
proved to have been perceived in the street in
that vicinity. Ibis is about the sum of the
days revelations. The inquest will be con-
tinued this morning"
The conduct of Coroner Conne1y is severe.
ly censured by the New York press. The
Tribune says his course has been inefficient
and indecorous, blundering and vulgar; and
the Times says:
The most i'll. timed levity, the broadest
and coarsest popularity, a low chuckling over
the disclosure of everything throwing doubt
upon The relation Of the parties, have charac-
terised the Coroner's share Of this proceeding.
1t seems impossible for him to conceal the
personal exultation he feels over ever every
thing which convicts any of the parties of any
misconduct, or throws suspicion upon their
character. The historian Of the French Rev
olution tells us that on one occasion, when
the President Of the Tribunal was told that
an old man who had been summoned was
parRlytic and could not speak, he exclaimed
No matter, it is not his tongue. but his head
that we are alter. The joke was scarcely
more brutal, and was quite as amusing as
many by which, in this inquest, the Coroner
has provoked the laughter of the jury and
spectators"
The New York Herald gives the following
description of DR.. Burdell, whose tragic death
has caused such an intense excitement in that
city,
''Ihe testimony of the dentists and persons
who knew Harvey Burdell is, that he was a
mercenary, selfish man, with strong passions;
he was easily excited, but was not man who
would be likely to attack another. He quar-
relied with all his relatives, and had law suits
with most of them. At the time of his death
those of them living in the city were rot on
speaking terms with him. Honesty was by
no means characteristic of his dealings, and
his reputation among good men was very bad.
He was very penurious. He-was very licen-
tions man; and had great many difficulties
in consequence Of it; his name is found ON the
books at the Toombs, in the law courts, and
has been known to the head Of the police for
many years. While living in Chambers
street he was sued by disreputable woman
for non-payment of money alleged to be due
to her.
In 1885, or thereabout, Harvey Burdell was
engaged to be married to a respectable young
lady. but her father peremptorily refused to
permit the marriage; at which Burdell got
angry, struck the father and gave him black
eye. Subsequently he was engaged to be mar
ried to another young lady, an adopted daugh-
ter Of worthy lady and gentleman the day
and hour was set for the wedding, the wed.
ding party assembled, when DIR. Harvey Bur-
dell entered the room Of the old man and told
him that before he married the girl he wanted
a check for $4,000. The old gentleman told
him that if he was marrying his daughter Tor
her money, he should have neither, so the
wedding was broken up. Subsequently the
young lady married the person who was to be
groomsman on the former occasion; he re-
ceived the check for $1,000. The check on
the previous occasion was made out for Bur-
dell, and would have been given him imme-
diately after the marriage ceremony was per-
formed; and when he heard about il he is
said to have become greatly excited, and de.
clared that be would never get married.
DR.. Burdell had a very curious servant girl.
called Biddy, who was with him five years al
800 Broadway, aud two years at 81 Bond e..
during the whole Of which time he never fur
nished her with bed, or anything TO sleep
upon. He gave her a small weekly salary,
upon which she supported herself, buying her
food at the groceries. The girl could speak
four languages fiuently--the English, French,
German, and Spanish. She had great pas.
sion for studying and learning languages.
She was I'm Irish girl. and most faithful SER
want DR.. Burdell generally let his house to
persons Of bad character"