New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-14


the marriage certificate, had been directed to the
peculiar appearance Of the mans whiskers which
then led him to think that they were false. The
| cerrymsn's woman servant, Likewise, VIVA unable
TO identify the man who was married a. the same
| whose dead body was before her. The two ser
| vantwomen of Mrs. Cunningham testified, among
| other points, that Dr. Burdel, until last Summer,
some time preceding the alleged marriage, took his
meals in his house which she occupied in part as
have stated; but since that time, and from the date
| of the marriage. had never taken q meal 10 the
house, had refused 10 eat articles OF food and bev
erages which she had sent TO him from her table,
had not occupied the same sleeping apartments and
bad not appeared to regard or treat her as his wife.
One of these servants further testified that at pc
Rod antecedent to this an abortion had been pro-
duced upon Mrs. Cunningham and that since the
time of the alleged marriage Mrs. Cunningham and
Mr.. Eckel mot DR.. Burdel) had occupied cham.
bers communicating by a door, and that from her
observation as chsmbermaid, her opinion was that
the relations between Mrs. Cunningham and Mr..
Eckel were of an intimate or criminal character
1t further appears in evidence that Mr. Cunningham
died several years ago, and previously to his death
he had been unfortunate in business, had gone to
California, and returned without improving bis
affairs; that dying Mrs. Cunningham received
sum of ten thousand dollars from policy of insur-
ance on bis life, and that she probably was not
possessed Of other means; that since Mr.. Cunning
bans death she had lived in good style, frequentiug
watering places, brought up her family literally,
sending her daughters TO fashionable boarding
schools, and 80 forth; and had not kept boarders or
resorted to other ostensible ways of meeting the
expenses of living, Of which the interest of such
sum as the life policy Of ten thousand dollars must
have been very tiff Dg part. Her frstexperience
at clearinghouse keeping seems to have COM
menced in Bond street, where she had one boarder
and odger and one lodger, DR.. Burdell not included
Mr. Eckel is said to have been formerly butcher,
and at the time of the murder, as appears in the
evidence, he was engaged in buying from the
butchers hides and taow, and selling the same,
probably in an extensive way, as he had three
places of business. DIR. Burdell, as was proved BY
many witnesses, was peevish, passionate aud Pc
purous man. At the time Of his death be was
possessor of fortune Of about one hundred thou
sa1d dollars, made in his profession as dentist.
He was, if not married to Mrs. Cunningham,
bachelor of about forty-fve years of age AID she
between thirty-five and forty. Mr.. Eckers age is
about forty vast amount Of evidence proves
conclusiyey that DR.. Burdel, who was of a com.
municative disposition, told numerous parties that
he was not married never had been, never intended
TO be, and least of all to Mrs. Cunningham, who,
be stated, was endeavOrng to entrap or force him
into a marriage. That of her and of the people in
the house he was in fear, and that she was capsule
of Doing anything to iDjure him, and that he was
in fear Of his life from them he stated to two wit
nesses, on or about the day of his death; and
one of them, his friend and late partner, DR..
Baisdell, he requested particularly to come and
occupy the house with him on that account.
He further then stated that he had made will,
which document, by the way, has not been dis
covered and named some OF his relatives and the
bequest to them that it contained, aud that Mrs.
Cunningham would not be recipient OF his fortunes
and moreover on the very day of bis death he made
arrangements and drew lease to MIR. Stansbury,
to be signed on the following day, Saturday by
which Mr. Stansbury was to take possession of his
expressed to several parties his great qualification
at the prospect of getting rid of Mrs. Cunningham
and getting her out of the house at that time. tie
stated, in addition, that she logged him, watched
him. listened at his DOORS entered his rooms with
false keys stole the key OF his freproot safe, and
had stolen from ii note for SG00-whlch she had
given him in payment for a Judgment against
another party which he had assigned To her. Such
relations as these are very singular as between
man and wife; but the most striking EVIL
eence of all, as against the hypothesis OF
marriage between Mrs. Cunningham and DIR. Bur
dell, and in favor Of the other hypothesis OF sham
marriage between her and Mr.. Eckel, or some one
else personatipg DR.. Burdel, is found in the fact
that she commenced sui. for breach Of promise
against DR.. Burdell in August or September last
her complaint alleging that DR.. Burdell hid violated
her person.; on the 22d Of October the suit was
dropped by her instructions to her counsel, and
DR.. Burdell released from his bail-bonds; on the
2Sih OF the same month the alleged marriage 10
said TO have taken place, and yet il was elected
from the counsel of Mrs. Cunningham employed to
conduct that suit, when they were produced before
the Coiobers inquest as witness that several weeks
after the 2s,h of October she again applied to them
saving that she had then in contemplation to re-
open or recommence the sui. for breach ofpronise.
That is to say, three weeks after she alleges
that she was married to DIR. Burdell, aud pro-
duces certificate to prove il, she informs
her counsel Messrs. Thayer 4 Chatfeld
two very distinguished members Of the Bar, that
she Is about 70 she the man who then az that den-