Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-05-14

TIE TRIAL OF MRs, CussIssAAN-THE Bur- |
DELL MURDER.-The trial Of Mrs. Emma Au-
gusta Cunningham was commenced on onday, |
and is nov progressing. The first day was me-
cessary to the procurement of Jury. There |
were drawn from panel Of five hundred, and
when the last juryman had been obtained the |
panel had been nearly exhausted. On Tuesday, |
| the District-Attorney proceeded to open the |
clse for the prosecution. He referred briefly to
the difficulty undsr which he apprehended the
prosecution labored, because the prisoner on
| trial was woman, and spoke OF the peculiar
relations existing between the prisoner and
DR.. Burdell her motives for the commission
of the crime, and many ether interesting pc
cuarities of the case, as he expected to prove
| them. During his speech Mrs. Cunningham
sat listening, and apparently not seriously dis
composed by any of the unfavorablo declara'
tons made concerning her. The other parties
! Immediately interest d are in attendance. The
first witness called was DR.. Francis, who des-
cribed infinitely the position and character OF
| the fifteen wounds found on tho body OF DIR.
Burdell, and also the mark OF ~ gature
around his neck. The mark when he saw the
boGy (Which was on tho morning after the
| murder) was distinct on the front and either
side, and disappeared altogether before reach
ing the pOsteriOr part of the neck. This gave
him the impression that the ligature had been
applied from behind and that the neck had been
drATn backward. 1t had been said that the
wound under the arm must have been inflicted
by left handed person. Such had been the
Doctor impression at first, but reflection b I'd
brought him to doubt the propriety OF relying
upon such an opinion. Hannah Conlan, the
Z next witness, testified to her residence IN the
house Of Mrs Cunningham, and to the circum-
stances of interest in the case, before and after
the murder, the same as when she was before
the Coronrr's Jury. While testiiying concer-
ming the unpleasant rotations existing between
DR. Burdell and Mrs. Cunningham, she added
what she said she did not recollect at that
time, and that was that after the lady who
came to hire the house had retired Mrs. Cum
ningham came to the kitchen and asked what
the lidy's business was. Hannah told her DR..
Bnrdell was going to le the house to her, when
Mrs. Cunningham said tho Doctor might not
| live to rent the house or sign the papers. Mrs.
Stansbury, J ohm j. Burchell, Mary Donahoe
J aud DR.. Mayne, testified substantially the same
as when before the Coroner's Jury.
7 On Wednesday, additional medical testi
4 ,nOny was received, bearing specially upon the
J question as to whethar the wounds in the Doc
{ tors body were inflicted by left-handed per-
S son and also with reference to their position
= and character. Drs. Woodward and Uhle
n agreed with DR.. Francis that the wounds were
inflicted by person having more than COM
c mrn knowledge Of the anatomy Of the human
: body. They were unwilling to express an Opin-
r ion as to whether the right or left hand had
= been used in inficting the wounds. 1t had
II been asserted that Mrs. Cunningham is left
i handed woman, but witnesses who said they
It were familiar with her hal failed to discover
any peculiarly Of that kind. There is but
d little evidence, thus far, differing materially
K from what was elected during the investiga tion
n before the COroner's Jury. The course pur-
sued by the defence in their cross examination
Q leads to tho impression that they W Il labor
e strenuously to gain favor for the opinion that
| th.a MN lar fad hu
IS having better knowledge OF the exact situa.
l. tiOn oi vital parts than the prisoner is supposed
,r TO possess. The popular interest in the pro.
il ceedings appear to increase as the case pro.
'e cesds, notwithstanding there is but little thai
it is new in tho evidence received.
The BuRDELL MURDER CAsE.-NRw YoRK
y, May 7, p. m,-Tha Bond street murder case
ID in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, is still thu
III most exciting topic of conversation among thu
~ =. citizens Of New York. The prosecution are I,
i close tho direct examination of witnesses thi
~. evening, and tomorrow morning the counse
i. of Mrs. Cunningham state their side of tn
~ matter to the jury. All who have carefully
read the evidence of the prosecution, freell
o., admit that the District Attorney stands bu
n little chance of securing the conviction of III
y prisoner. Coroner CDnnery was placed on tn
90 stand to day, and underwent searching cross
,s examination, at the hands of Mrs. Cunning
S hams lawyers. The worthy official admitte
that he drank brandy on tho first day OF the in
-, quest, but refused to say to what extent. II
y. Ieutd that he had ordered Mrs. Cunningham
y tn be stripped by tho Physicians, or that sn
~ mad suffered the least indignity at his hands.
~ NEW YoRK, MAY 8, 1857 .-Thero is moth
"' ing lstir to-day OF an xciting character, ex
" cept che inevitable ami eternal Burdell muir
/. Ter case. There is prospect, however, tha
-, the trial will terminate to-mOrrow-the Cour
~, md tho COunsellers showing cOmmendIbl
= they can. The proceedings to-day common
- eel with cOntin latiOn Of DR.. Roberts evi
- lsnce the object of which was to prove sue
-. IN intimacy between the deceased and tn
e. prisoner, as should be presumptive evidanc
M Of their marriage.
-, Mrs. Cnnningham's eldest son, George, re
rn peated his testimony as given before the Core
Ia ner. He slept in the attic on the night of tn
AZ murder, heard no noise, smelt nothing unusua
7 slept with his brother and Snodgrass.
Dir. VIM. D. Snodgrdss had known Mr.
Cunningham since 1Sli never saw anythn
-, Inconsistent with what he (Snodgrass) SUI
30. posed We're their relations to each other.
'I DR.. Catlin, the prisoners family physician
~ testified that three years ago Mrs. c., had il
W ddmmltOry rheumatism In the joints Of h'
~, hands, SO much so as to materially weaken HI
os arms.
up George Vail Snodgrass was next examine
w. w. and all eyes were directed towards him whG
g., ne LOOK tue Stdnus HIN testimony WAS alinO
=, lite rally the same as before tho inquest.
u ~ severe cross examination elected nothing new
- The next witness made highly importdl
40 statement-O one which breaks one Of the stron;
est links in the chain OF circumstantial pro,
against the prisoner. give it entire;
me- Dr., Daniel D. Smith, sworn.-I live nel
Oh door but one to DR.. Burdelrs On this partit
vas ular Friday afternoon, burned up lot OF oil
0h woollGn tgs that had used in making expe
IL, imentS, &c. | burned them in the third stOr
:. front room; tho fire was very low; the SINE
u was very strong that arose from their ben
" consumed; returned to my office the follow
we ing morning, and then found the smell ver
ION strong il had increased in ohensiveness du
ing the night; had to ventilate the room.
oh Miss Helen Cunningham was next put on III
nm stand, but nothing new was elected. Her e,
rnr animation was continued up to the recess.
,st After recess, Miss Augusta was put upon III
~ stand. Mr.. Clinton then announced that the
ne had closed, and the Court adjourned, with til
t -. understanding that the summing up shoul
ri commence tomorrow morning.
CLOSE OF TRIAL OF DAVID S. McKIM ron tn
mn, MURDER OF SAMUEL 7. NoRoROss.-HoLL
on DiYsBURG, May S.-Yesterdly morning, Thai
deus Banks, Esq, opened for the defenc
A.. commencing at the opening, OF the Court, OF
'no ending at ii little after 10 O'clock
at' The jury retired to deliberate upon their We
Ms dict as soon as the charge was concluded.
a., After an absence Of an hour and quartz
i,o the jury returned to the Court room which WI
~. ~ very much crowded. The foreman delivere
IIu their verdict as fUlOws
u 60 Wa find the defendant, David String
~ ~. McKim, guilty Of Murder in the First Degre
'"' in manner and form as indicted"
Mr.. HOtns, one of tho counsel for the d
mrs fence, Immediately gave notice of motion
,all arrest Of judgment; but there can be lit
an. doubt that II will be overruled.
of ne Juuse hiormed hlln OF ms conYlcto
nd anu W thc ordinary form asked MN u ne ha
NM anything 10 say why sentences OF death 3hOu