Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-05-16
Tic Trial OF Mrs. Cunningham for the
s}tIrdSfi Murder,

for killing DR.. Burdel, Is fully under way
in New York. On Tuesday morning the
court room was again thropged by an excit-
ed multitude. Mrs Cunningham, accom-
panied by one Of her daughters--the other
being ill-occupied seats near her counsel
Eckcl (who is to have a separate trial) was
also brought in under charge Of an officer
A jury having been procured on Monday,
Mr.. Hall, the district attorney opened the
case for the prosecution, Immediately after
the court assembled Oh Tuesday The fol-
lowing is the substance of his remarks
The prosecution, he said, proposes to
prove that Dir. Harvey Burdell ceased to be
in the first part OF this year. We propose
to prove that he was murdered in his own
house from motives of hatred and revenge
We propose to prove that he was killed by
some one i'll the house hat among She in
mates of that house was one who had certain
motives to do that deed; that that person
was woman, and that woman the defen-
dant All the circumstances go to show
that the murder was the deed Of woman,
done from different stand point to that
which man would have taken.
She had known him three years she was
the mother of his child, which never saw
the light; she was his mistress, and would
be thought his wife. From her own show
ing, she desired no sympathy, and she was
jealous Of him she beset him down stairs.
and up stairs, in his private and public hours
of business. -The very domestics who will
60 on the stand will take the roof Of That
house off, and let you see their whole course
OF conduct.
The very domestics will show how she
hunted him. We shall call the police Of
fcers to show how she claimed to be his
wife; We shall show that there are suits for
seduction and breach of promise Of marriage,
and papers were drawn at her bidding for
this nun to sign, which none of you would
sign, but for the dreadful presentiment he
must have had upon his mind that she was
his enemy.
She followed him to his friend Dir. Thomp-
son, where she had the domesties trained to
listen to their conversation. And there
came another man, who became the count
erpart Of this man below. And she loved
this man Eckel; she also had daughters,
candidates for matrmony And whether
she was married to Burdcll or no, she was
guilty of the grossest iufdelity to him with
flckel. lie, Burdell, with this shadow at
his side, had made up his mind to let the
house to the very respectable lady who will
be addeeed before you.
She said to her servant, "Hannah, who
is that lady ?she is going to take The house. 8"
On this very Friday--thc very day we all
dread SO much-we find her saying the doc
tor is a passionate man, and lie may not
live another day. And 50 it fell out
She had obtained the key of his safe; she
had stolen his pistol, and it was 50 arranged
that outside relief was impossible
The bolts OF the back door were closed,
and the front door was fastened by enc of
the most wonderful locks ever invented. He
came in alone. She had the pass key to his
bedroom, and she alone. lie opens the door
aad goes in. In the dark he is supposed to
have carefully folded his shawl and put away
his cap; his shoes were put of, and We
are required to suppose all this was done in
the dark.
It is certain, however, slat NJ the inju-
rieS inflicted on that man were done i'll the
shortest space Of tine. Aud it will come
out that these blows were inflicted by left
handed woman; we shall snow that this
woman is left-handcd; her domcstic5 Will
testify to it, and she has been carefully
watched to ascertain the fact
There was the safe which she had pifer-
ed with the catch down and the body lay
there with the hands down, laid out care
fully and not fallen as if in deadly strag-
sic with his enemy, and he had fought like
u man surrounded by host of enemies
'And he'll has no fury like woman scorned."
make no charges against any other per-
son in that house now. She stands alone,
and when you come to look upon all the cir
eumstances, you will see that no one intru-
der IN that house could have done that deed
! Why who but woman wouid have laid
that head SO near to the door that it wouId
scarcely swing clear of it? There was u
mother door, and she had the pass key
There was a fire in that room, but il
would not do to burn the elothcs there S.
she passed the room Of the sleeping cook tc
the little room where fire was kept burn
ing. And Dir. Parmlee, who lived opposite
saw flicker as Of burning linen, and three
persons in the street smeh the odor of burn
ing WOODEN or leather, of which there cal
be no doubt Now it will be for her to dis
prove these facts by other evidence. Ant
when the neighbors came in and told hen
Dir. Buraell is dead, what is her conduct
To one she replies, I'm so glad; thought
he was murdered" To others she said, Il
have a dreadful secret to impart to you;
am the doctors wife" And when before
the coroner we find this woman wanting
counsel, and when at last she does CONF
down to Il warm room, with a heavy cape
ON her shoulders, one watehful eye discover,
a little red mark corresponding to one OF
the neck of the murdered man
Group the circumstances Of that week. l
commences with quarrel; it progresses
with quarrels, and it eliminates in murder
Note the circumstances Of the murder; tn,
fifteen mortal wounds on che body her con
duct before the coroner; her refusal to testi
fly when she might have turned the tile O
popular indignation from her | shall great
! J. mistake your comprehension if you d,
not discern the value of the facts IN giving
a color to the motive, and | shall call upol
you to say that that woman, whether wifi
or mistress Of the murdered man, was gull
ty of the crime
Testimony was then introduced for the