Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-02-07
Shocking Murder In New York.

oil the murdered DOdy Oi III harvey Duruell
a we'll known dentist of that city, in his own
rooms, at No. 81, Bond street. When his SER
want boy went 10 his room at the usual hour in
the morning, he found the doctor lying dead on
the floor, covered " it'll blood flowing flom if
teen wounds he had received, In addition to
which il was evident from marks on his neck,
that he had been suilocalej by sirangulation.
On searching the house, sheet with smcars
of blood upon it,, mans shirt stained with
blood on one arm, marked "Charlcs j. ketch-
um, and towel in the same condition, were
found in a store room in the garnet. No 9th
or blood could be traced, except in the hall in
front of the room wherein the tragedy was en-
acted. Here there were marks Of blood TO the
stairway, bat all further efforts TO follow the
murderer by these means were unavaiiing.-
The death struggle appeared 10 have taken
place in the corner of the room nearest the door,
for here the walls were stained with sireaks
and spots Of blood in one place powerful
stream seems TO have struck the wall from the
jugular vein, and running down, clothed on the
floor. The police afterwards found bloody
dagger and loaded revolver 10 one of Mrs
cunningham iuo udeBOt
is said to have belonged 10 Eckel.
From post moriem examination Of the body
il appears tina, the lungs were found highly in-
laied with air, which would 90 TO show that
stranguation had been used as a means Of de-
siroyng the life of the deceased. His tongue
was also found To be proiruding some distance
from his mouth, which also proved that the de-
onaeoI ha1 hnan cufprntnd Ia ttp bnnr
found two wounds, one in the ventrcle and the
other in the aurcle. The lurgs were also
cut; also the carotid artery and first vclebra.
There were fifteen inciscd wounds upon the
body, all Of which were deep, aud appeared to
have been made with very narrow-bladed in
strument. There did not appear TO be any in
juries on the head. Around the neck there
vas a slight dscoloralion of the skin, as though
the deceased had been seized by the throat
while the murderer was plunging the knife
with fatal dexierily into the body of the victim
The testimony taken before the coroner's jn-
ry directed suspicion towards some occupants
of the house, and Mrs. Cunningham, who rent.
ed the house Of Mr.. Burdell and Mr. Ecke
and Mr.. Snodgrass, lodgers, were taken into
custody 1t appeared from the testimony that
year ago last Thanksgiving, while only q
boarder in the house, (hen kept by Mrs. Jones J
Mrs. Cunningham suffered miscarriage, and
stated to those who assisted her on the occa-
sion that the child belonged TO Dr. Burdell
Mrs. Cunningham produced TO the jury copy
Of marriage certificate showing that she wa.
duly married TO DR.. Burdell in October last
The marriage she stated was secret and was
by mutual agreement, to be kept secret ill May
next. Mrs. Cunningham had quarrelcd witt
Dr. Burdcll and hard words had passed in ref
erence TO papers Of his which he accused hc
of stealing. These papers were notes, which
as she explains it, she had made at his reques
by way Of offset to judgment against a broth
err Of his which the doctor had purchased bu
which he desired 10 have sand in her name
To this charge she replied as she states by
reproaches for his moi having fulfilled prom
Use Of marriage which he had made her, an,
Tor his having improper women in the house
which latter charge denied. The reasun h
gave for not fulfilling his promise Of marriage
but the servants testified that hard words ha,
since passed on the same subject. DIR. Burdel
had written agreement with Mrs. Cunning
ham to give up the house on the first of Ma
next. The very day before his death he ex
pressed some anxiety about the safety Of ihi
paper, evincing an alarm lest il he continue
10 keep it in the house it might also be purlor
ed from him.
DR.. Burdell was also jealous Of Mr.. EckeI
the lodger, and il would seem with some res
son as the woman herself teslifes that he wer
with her To her bedroom on the evening belor
the murder was discovered, and passed som
time there before going 10 his own room. D
Burdell was about forty years old, and ha1 bee
/, previously married and divorced. Mrs. Gun
bingham is widow Of about the same age an
has interesting grown up daughters living wit
her DR.. Burdel was worth about $50 ,OO(
which he had made in his business, was direc
!, or in bank and a man Of considerable not,
He was born in Jefferson or Herkimer count,
i New York, but had lived in New York eli
since he was twelve years old, and for mar
years carried on the dentistry with his broth,
John, who died in 1851. The two brothe
published an elaborate work on their art
1888.