Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-02-14
:
The RurGelI Murder In FsW York.

A-9sS'1' <'tAi III AS ONf foOll, NC WIS dssallGi
by murderers, who, failing to strangle him
with cord. dispatched him with a knife,
and left him with his head toward the door
toward which he had evidently strained for
an escape-dead, and weltering in his blood.
The body was completely dressed, as if the
deceased had just come in, and the fact that
nothing was taken from the person, proves
etia1 the crime was not perpetrated by rob-
bers, or for she purposes of Immediate gain.
What, then, was it done for? and who had
any motive to put the unfortunate man to
death? Who was in the house? Seven people
and from the testimony taken, it is fair to
presume that among them laid the crime.
These seven persons were the lady Of the
house, Mrs. Emma Cunningham, and tive
grown daughters, Helen and Augusta 8
Mr.. Eekel, who seems to have been the
paramom of Mrs. c., Mr.. snodggasa, 8
mere boy Of aineteen, who seems to have
been the lover Of Miss Helen; the servant
Hannah, and the Hon. Daniel Ullmsn,
whom we mention last, as he merely occa-
sionally occupied a room on the third floor,
and was not properly one Of the family.
Now, who is Mrs. Cunningham? A wo-
man, to say the least, Of very questionable
reputation, Who succeeded in ingratia,ing
herself with pr. Bndell and in obtainin 2
from him lease Of his house al very easy
rate. Soon after her domestieation on his
premises, however, she .akes into her fauily
l Mr.. Eckes. aot.een whom and herself, a,
once an lntiaA2cy Of at unin!stakeahle char
aeter grows uY. Their sleeping rooms con-
ueet aud the lsay neVeg permits either CT
her daughters 10 be hss might companion
The Doctor notices this state Of things, aud
not only at ence changes his demeanor to-
wards the lady, but with,lraws from her Ia
bic, and takes his meals at the Metropolitan
hotel. lie is not only jealous Of Eckel, but
he is afraid Of him. Nay. he expresses bis
fear OF both, to two or three persons, and
GA no pretence will be taste food or touch
drink in the house Under this state Of
things, he has frequent casual disputes and
quarrels with Mrs. Cunning ham, and among
other things, accuses her Of plundering hi:
safe Of valuable papers, to w.t. an evidence
of debt against herself, Of several hundred
dollars. AZ ne is free in making this charge
against her, she commences suit against him
laying her damages at $40, 900, but this
dispute is compromised without going into
Court, and the Doctor gives her bond
guaranteeing the house to her till the follow
ing June, and binding himself no. to injure
or interfere witt, her again. This is the
state Of things in the house. No. 81 Bond
street, on the afternoon Of Friday, the seth
Of January.
at five o'clock On that afternoon, Mrs.
! Cunningham says she saw the Doctor go ont.
She spent the evening at home, with her
two daughters, Mr.. Eeksl and Mr.. Snod-
grass.--At hali-past nine, the two daugh-
tiers retired to their rooms. or the fourth
floor; and Mr, Sno,lgrass. after goirsg to the
cellar for pitcher eli water, retired 70 his.
At ten O'Clock, Mrs. Cunningham, accom-
panied by Nj. Ecke!, VEN 70 tie Kitchen,
and ordered tie servant llaunah to bed.
Between ten and eleven. she says, she part
] ed from Ma Eckel; and. few minutes az
/ ter that, Went 10 his toor, and handed him
note, which had been left fer him that
evening. This brings matter down till near
j ~ eleven o'clock and, from that time. none
of the inmates Of 81 Bond street were dis
turhed by the slightest noise. 4 neighbor
on the opposite side ofthe street, however,
at quarter of II, heard the tramp Of feet,
and the cry Ct Murder: repeated twice,
in hslfsiihed voice. The noise seemed
he said, to come from Dr.. Burdelfs house,
and he hurried to the front window, and
looked over the way. But the noise had
ceased, and judging his ear to have been
deceived by some street ARRAY, be turned ,
and went to bed. Two other neigh bors de-
tected the smell Of burning woollen Il, inter-
walls through that rough and gusty night.
In the morniug at half-past eight o'clock,
the body was discovered by the Doctors Of
fice-boy, who at once gave the alarm to The
family. Mrs. Cunningham, on hearing the
news, weps and tore her hair, but she did
not 90 down stairs to look at the corpse
Mr.. Snodgrass went for physician. and
SIR Ullman came down stairs; but Mr.
Eckol, in answer, as it would appear, to the
note left for him the night before, had gone
out before breakfast, thing which he had
never done before Presently the Coroner
and officers came, took charge of the house,
and made thorough search On the Doc
tors body, in addition to the marks of the
i ligature, that was intended 10 strangle him,
were fifteen deeply incised wounds the last
of which had severed the carotid artery in
the neck, and in one broad gush let out his
life. The blood spirited on the wall nearly
six feet high, and must have drenched the
murdorers, for their dripping skirts tracked
them wherever they went. Marks Of blood
were found ia the adjoining closet, whore
the wretclles had washed their hands, aud
from the scene of the murder the blood was
traced up stairs to the fourth story, in sort
of store-room for dirty clothes; from thence
into vacant room IL front. There was
blood on the knob of this door, and in spots
on the floor There was here, Also a CRATE
partially burnt out, in which there
seemed to be some fragments Of burn
ed woollen, and the whole fire appeared TO
have been extinguisiled by pouring water
on it, as the mantelpiece was covered with a
thick coat of ashes. The blood on this floor
had been covered carefully with drops Of
spermaceti. From the fourth story to the
basement the dripping garments had made
their way, (probably after water) and the
basement door was stained, where the assas-
sins had either tried if it were safe, or OPEN
ed it to let one or the other temporarily out
These were the signs of the crime and
on this basis the Coroner began his investi-
cation In turn Mra CUNNINGHAM the