The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-10

sets UP an extraordinary theory, founded entirely
on cspjectures The burthen Of the argument is
that the act could not have been com nj, ted by
woman, for these reasons
This wound by which the carotid artery was severely
Tor MOI only even sa woman TOO shors 70 nave Hvsn
but ~ own form and position, and soe Of iss graz
Ing the cheek, show thai was struck downward aud
nearly rshs line, the thumb and forenayer OF the
hand which Srasped the dagger being sppermost-
style N which woman delivers . blow ana which
npo siSle for her succsssfuy 70 saop. The ~ fs.s
wounded man having faen the murderer completed his
work by succession Of other blows BY Two OF which he
succeeded In reaching the heart Of his vcs who pro
badly received the wounds found In his while leeb
endeavouring to protect himself These wounds In the
man TSs oprsoc ,eems 10 pe YER, ssuersy eptersned
that stabbng through his CLOTHES Ii = very easy
MISTER bss quite The contrary y the case; and thsse
blows driven vigorously and surely home through the
coat wasooat and uno erclohes, were struck by man.
The writer cannot be well informed in the
mystery of capital crimes, or he would know that
the deepest, deadiiest blows are those inflicted
by women and that a man who did his
work coolly, would have been satisfied with
cutting the artery knowing that death must
result in a few minutes. DR.. Burdell
also was not tall man, and the woman under
for the style of delivering the blow, with the
thumb and forefnger uppermost, we do not see
how it could be done by man or woman in anO-
Their way. Then, because the other wounds were
deep and effective we are told they must have
been made by the hand of man. The writer
forgets that Burdel's friend testifes that ne was
physically weak and morally coward that,
therefore, when attacked in the dead Of night he
would have laid himself open to any assailant,
with not sufficient struggle to exhaust even the
strength Of a woman. The wounds were prOba.
bly, made by a large knife or cane sword the
weight of which would add much to the pro-
pelling power. A small knife or dagger
would not make wounds an inch
in length. The wounds on the coat sleeves show
that the knife was used some twenty times or
more, and there are several cuts in the clothes,
which cuts did not reach the body. One of these
cuts is an inch and half long. These cuts show
a determination to kill but not thecool arrange
ment of man who was master of the work. l.
is mole like the spite of revengeful woman
The statement Of this writer that the body bears
external and internal marks of strangulation,"
is not verified by the report of the post mortem
When that examination took place on Wednes-
day, there were not the slightest external traces
and the report contains no allusion to internal
evidence. The position that the wound which
severed the artery was given when the victim
was near the door is correct, and has already
been taken in these columns but why may not
that blow have been given by woman, the first
assault by her eonfederates having been partially
The writer further concludes that
the murderer left the house, and gives as proof
the slight traces of blood on the staircase and
street door He fergets that three persons
touched the body which was lying in pool
Of blood, then ran down stairs and out at the
street door, some for one thing and some Tor
another and that it is Just as probable that they
left the stains which he takes for the track of the
murderers. Ii they had been 30 cautious as to
leave but little, they would have carried pru-
dence so far as to have left none at all No, once
outside the Doctors door the clue is lost 80 far
as physical evidence is concerned. Our cotem-
porary further says -
The murderer's dagger and his rope might have been
thrown into culver in'o the river destroyed s
not impossible that he may have Lad sccomplices In
The house vto fac esied his entrance and his conceal
men, but 10 not necessary 70 suppose this uuc's VIC
enter upon the questt motives which here avoided
Bat we viii =. marx that people who are planning mar
der do advertise their hatred Of their victim 70 all
their acquaintance wnoever the murderer OF Dr. Bur
dell 10, he most probably beyond reach now. The evil
der ellie ted 1si1es the accusation OF no person and
nearly all suspicious occurrences which promised 70
os into ccumssantia evidence, have eeeasaiisfactory
explained.
Now, on the night of the murder all the cul-
verts were stopped up, and the piers and slips
werefull of ice; even if the murderer had walked
q mile and half to the river, his implements
would have been found on the next morning A.
for advertising the plan Of the murder, the peo-
pie in the house, except Burdell, we're very eau
tous The evidence against Mrs. Cunningham
and Eckel is drawn partially from documents
partially from little circumstances of no great
weight separately, but quite enough to excite
strong suspicion when taken together, and chiefly
from Burdells declarations 10 his friends that The
people in the house behaved as If they desired 10
rob and plumber him. These are the suspicious
occurrences and not the slightest explanation
has been given of them. Wen called upon to
testify, yesterday Mrs Cunningham and Mr.. Elk
el both declined Now that they are in some sort
held as accomplices il is not to be expected thai
they will give evidence; but they said very lttle
when they were first before the jury and have
since had a whole week in which to prepare
statement for the public. Our Wall street CO
temporary must post himself more thoroughly
when he next attacks a subject of this kind His
theory is not sustained by the facts in the case.
The aspect of the affair has not been material
ly varied 10y the evidence Of yesterday. Mt.
Capron, formerly City Judge, who, il is said, is
engaged by the heirs of Burdell to take care
that Mrs Cunningham does not get any Of the
property, re.examined Mr.. Blaisdell and Mr..
Snodgrsss at length. Their testimony contains
nothing of material importance, although great
deal Of time was occupied in making them say
what they have said before We have never