The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-22

SECRET CRIME IN NEW YORK-MORE DEWO-
sUREs ABOUT DIR. CATN.-In another column
will be found an extraordinary statement regard
ing the antecedents of Dr. Catlin, the Brooklyn
physician, who has turned State evidence on the
Indictment against Mrs Cunningham for attempt
log to palm off as her own the child of the WO-
man Anderson, with the intent to defraud the ie-
gtimate heirs of DR.. BurdelL The significant
expression uttered by Mrs. Cunningham in rese-
renee to Catiin, that she had him under her
thumb" and bis acknowledgment Of bis guilty
participation in her recent offence by his accept
ance OF the immunites Of State witness, have
drawn upon his past career jealous and unspar-
ing research. Previous to his arrest in connoo-
ton with the charge on which Mrs. Cunningham
is now confined in the Tombs, some curious ste-
ries had been ahoat regarding him in Brooklyn
| These rumors have assumed consistency from the
voluntary statements of the parties whose
names were mentioned in connection
with them; and after an investigation
of their probabilities we do not feel ourselves
justified in Withholding them any longer from
the public If they are correct, it is important
to the interests of justice and to the safety of the
community that the facts should be fully dove
loped if untre, it is due even to this unfortunate
man that he should have an opportunity Of dis
proving the reports that are afoat concerning
him.
We are fully aware of the risk attending the
publication OF unsworn statements affecting the
reputation of individuals. There are crimes.
however, which, though in the highest degrees
demoralizing and injurious to society, cannot be
reached by the provisions of our statutes. These
offences are generally committed through the aid
of medical practitioners, and the impuuity which
their connivance affords them of course increases
the frequency of their occurrence In such cases,
the law being Intellectual, it is the duty of the
journalist to step in, in order that he may bring
the weight of public opinion to bear upon prsc-
tees which undermine the peace and happiness
of so many families
From circumstances THAT daily transpire, we
are afraid that the thrilling inciddts narrated In
another column are but the repetition of many
dreadful sufferings of the same sort to which the
SHINING daughters of Eve are subjected by the
cupidity of needy medical practitioners Tho
opportunities enjoyed by the latter, through tho
confidence reposed in them by female patients,
cannot but offer irresistible temptations to the
depraved and INSCRIPTIONS That they are but
too frequently proftted by may be inferred from
the readiness with which Mrs. Cunningham in
duced one medical man to become her csofede-
rate and the little hesitation which she felt in ad
dressing herself TO another.
Let it not be understood however, that in what
We have just stated we mean to cast any reaec-
ton on the medical profession generally. We
believe tina. amongst them is to be found more
than average amount of honesty and disintercst-
ednsss. But as their opportunities for evil are
great, and the inducements held out to them pro
portiops&e il is not surprising that there should
be found amongst them many whose virtue is NOD
proof Against temptation.