The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-08-07
THE BURDELL MYSTERY.
Another Act I'm the Tragedy--Extra
ordinary Developments.

months, was safely delivered Of a child this morn
| klS. who she would claim heir to the Burdell
estate created d good deal OF excitement through
out the city, which was increased by the announce
| ment that Mrs. Cunningham WAS under arrest for
| what cause unknown.
| The following statement of the facts In the case
which were procured at the District Attorneys
office, this morning and elsewhere, by our report
| ets, will shed some light upon the mystery and
disclose the history Of crime almost without par
| aIlel in this city.
| Dr. Uh has been in attendance with DR. Catlin
| Of Brooklyn, upon Mrs Cunningham. Dr. UhI
| had been led to believe that Mrs. C. was soon to
| bear child. She had presented all the external
appearances of one about to be a mother-ss he ex-
pressed it, growing larger and larger every week.
| But DR.. uhl remarked about month ago that "A
| yet there was no positive evidence of pregnancy
and told her that under the circumstances he
thought it his duty to make a medical examina-
| ton Mrs. Cunningham appeared very reluctant
and put the matter off from time to time Finally
she told him plainly that she not pregnant at
| ak that she had been playing game, and he Or
Uhl) must help her out with it.
DR.. Uhl. previous to that time had had conf
dcnce in the lady but this bold proposition took
him completely aback. lie Immediately consulted
counsel, and upon legal advice stated the whole
matter to District Attorney Hall. Mr. Hall told
him it was his duty to carry out the matter in or.
der to deVeope great crime, and supply the proof
for tho criminals conviction. Dr.. Uh finally con-
sented.
He told Mrs. Cunningham that he was acauaint-
cd with California widow, who was, he feared
about to be confined and ii would be necessary to
iispose of thechild altogether, the lady was go
ing on to- join her husband in California
Mrs. Cunning ham delighted. 1t was arrapg-
ed that neither party was to know anything of the
other. Tho widow" was to be confined at house
in Elm street, aud the infant to be taken thence to
No. 81 Pond street.
Mr.. Hall then impaired the matter to Dr. Do la
MoDtsgnie, and engaged him to assist in the coun-
terplot whenever the critical time should arrive
yesterday morning DR.. De la Montagnie went TO
Roll n Vna cRft al apl, 81, IL.
or DAILY selected babe of Elizabeth Anderson, \
beautiful little blue eyed girl, born on Saturday
| last. The mother kissed her baby. and consented
to part with 1t on condition that it should be well
| taken care of and returned within tweuty-four
hours.
Dr. Uhl visited Mrs Cunningham, by appoint,
ment, at halfpast three o'clock in the afternoon
and told her he prepared to carry out the thing
at once; that the California widow was about to be
confined at No 100 Elm street and she must be pre-
pared to receive the little stranger with proper
ceremonies. Then she said she would be confined
that night, II lac would produce the child by nine
o'clock. He was to come over and let her know at
quarter before nine o'clock, and she would send
woman to bring the child in basket.
No time WAS to be lost. Mr. Hall hired a room
OF arespectable lager beer seller at No. 100 Elm
street, and Immediately sent down suitable fur
nlture from his own house, including the basket
| tor the baby. DR.. uhl took possession of the pre-
| misses ana had hardly got possession when Mrs
t. was seen passing the house and eyeing it close
y.
| Policemen were judciously posted, and
| everything was arranged The greatest difficulty
WAS to procure an latter birth" DR. Montagnie I'M
mediately posted to Bellevue Hospital and succeed
ID in gotting what he wanted, as well rs the ASST.
| tance Of an intelligent Irish girl, named Mary
Regan, who to AZ nur.e to the fictitious wi
| dow. A physician was also engaged 10 lie in bed
| with night cap on, and do the groaDing for the
widow This party arrived at 100 Elm street
| just in season.
officer VIM 3. Walsh, of the Court of Sessions,
| W. r,nata1 in tbp at ut
| Speight and bikes in Bond street The physician
who was TO personate the widow" assisted by Dr.
Montagnle in certain operations necessary to give
| the child the appearance of new born babe and
| then went to bed Come private marks were
also made on the childs head with nitrate of sill
YER A messenger WAS tAon sent to 81 Bond
| street.
Shortly after Captain Speight saw Mrs. Cunning
| ham leave her house; followed her into Fourth
| Avenue car, where she WAS recognized by the con-
| ductcr and some passengers, who spoke to Captain
| Speight about her. She was disguised i'll quasi
| nuns dress. The Captain followed her into Elm
| street, until she disappeared into lager beer ss
| loon.
| He then returned TO his post. In few moments
| Dr. Uhl came out and asked the officers opposite
| whether they had seen the woman leave the house
| She had passed out quietly that they had failed
| to perceive her.
The officers next repaired to No. 81 Bond street
| where they learned that Mrs. Cunningham had
| gone out, but had not returned, and that man
| with white hat had gone ill., This was Dr. Cat
lin. of Brookiyn who was assisting hrs.C in good
| faith.
DR. Montagnie at once went to the corner Of the
| Bowery AMI Bond streets where he met Mrs. Cum
| ningham, in the nuns dreSs, with largo basket
i'll her hands, in which he had placed the baby
] She went into her house.
| 1t had been arranged between her and DR.. Uhl
that she should send in urgent haste to his house.
| Accordingly he appeared and went.
He soon came out and walked down the street
The officers then went up, by the District Attor-
| i, I,TI
were met by two women at the door, who informed
| them that Mrs Cunningham very sick aid
| could not be seen They found her in bed with the
baby by her side-one Of the nurses" giving her
4 warm drink from a dish over a lamp from time to
| time"
| Dr. Montagnie asked if that was DIR. Burdells
| baby. Mrs. Cunningham replied, certainly, whose
else could il be! The officers at length told her
| that she must be arrested; that the game was
| played out.
| She undertook to be very saucy, and said the
child was her legitimate child. They took it from
| her after struggle-she screaming, Don't take
my dear little innocent baby" my darling little
| daughter
| They persisted, however, and sent it TO Belle
| vue to its mother, who was anxiousy waiting for
| it.
They then arrested Mrs Cunningham, Ann
Burns, her sister Jane Bell, the nurse, and others
| Gov. Daily has decided to name the baby, who
performed 80 important part in the affair, jus
| tita Anderson"
| Among thost placed unuer arrest was Ut. Catlln,
alluded to above. 1t is rumored that he has boast
| ed Of having got up the device for Mrs. Cunning
ham, and that this wsman has boasted that she had
| Dr. Catln under her thumb. In this connection it
is also stated a remarkable fact that this
was the doctor who attended Mr.. Cunnin CHAM at
! his death.
The Herald, of Wednesday, says
| Mrs Cunningham remains confned at No. 81
| Bond street. The police have possession of the
| house, and will that no attempt at escape is
made by the accused Mrs Cunningham still re
mains in bed, and is to all appearance mnch afiiict-
| cd. She is laboring under strong mental excite
tnent, and is so ill $50 her medical attendant, Dr.
Smith, says that it would be unsafe to her
| from her room
Mrs Barnes is also an occupant of 81 Bond street
much against her will. She will be used as a wit
| ness, and is only detainedin custody such.
| DR.. Catlnis confined i'll the Fifteenth ward sta
| ton house, under charge of Inspector Dilks. The
| District Attorney PROPOSES to make witness Of
Catin, and use him States evidence; but Justice
Dawson Is ayerse to such a proceeding for he
thinks the accused ought 10 be held as a principal
| III the affair, and be made to suffer equally with
| Mrs. Cunningham for the offence, if any com
mitted by him.
number OF affdayits were taken at the exami-
nation before the justice. The testimony of DR..
Uhl, as given below, is highly interesting and i'm
portaut:
am physician, and shortly after Mrs Emma A.
Burdtll WAS committed to the Tombs, she sent for
me to attend her professionally sent word 10 the
District Attorney, Mr. Hall, requesting permission
to visit her; he gave me written permit to visit
her at any time; visited her and prescribed for
| her for symptoms peculiar to persons who en-
cients, and during Of those visits, asked her
the question if she in the family way she said
she had not told that to any one, and would not
that question at that time told If there was
| anything OF the kind il matter Of importance
that she should be examined by physicians in ano-
ther conversation she asked mo how We found out
that persons were in the family way; explained
the matter to her, and she said it all right, and
wien the child was born, she did not how many
dJctors were present; alter she WAS released,
tended her at No. 81 Bond street, and on several
| sla saad much XirtY nf "A