Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-02-06


light on Saturday, in New York city. DR.. HAIR
yey Bu1dell an eminent dentist and surgeon,
residing in Bond street, was found, about eight
o'clock in the morning, lying dead on the floor OF
his Office, in the second story of his house. He
was last seen alive late on Friday afternoon.--
When the death was first ascertained, it was
announced in the afternoon papers that he had
died suddenly from the bursting of blood YES
sell But Coroner's inquest has revealed
shocking condition of affairs. 1t seems from
the evidence, that DIR. Burdell was very wealthy,
being worth about 100000. He was bank
director, and an active man among the medical
fraternity. He owned the house he lived in,
which was large and handsome four stored
brick building, with marble steps, doorway,
window frames, etc. The interior was supcrbly
furnished. He had been divorced from his wits
The basement was occupied as kitchen and
dining room. The first floor had two recep-
ton rooms, and the second floor had the doc
tors office and bed room. The house was
kept oStensibly as boarding house by Mrs.
Cunningham, with whom boarded the Doc
tor, her two daughters and two single gentle
men. The Doctor only slept and breakfasted
there, taking his meals at the Metropolitan Hotel
1t being proved in evidence that the Doctor and
Mrs. Cunningham main tanned a suspicious con-
nection, and that they had quarreled and talked
about parting, Mrs. O. produced before the jury
n certificate of marriage with DIR. Burdell, which
was atteSted to by the officiating clergyman
When the body of the doctor was found, it was
perfectly saturated with blood, as was also the
carpet of the room, the DOORS walls, chairs, etc,
being covered with blood showing, evidently,
that desperate struggle had occurred. The
body contained fifteen deep wounds, made with
n knife eight inches long in the blade; one of
these wounds severed the carotic artery, and
must have completed the murder. The others
were stabs in various parts OF the body and cuts
upon the hands, face, etc, as though the muir
derers had cut him as he warded off the blows
or seized the door knob. Around his throat
was the mark of n cord, which must have been
drawn tightly, and the lungs We're found-to be
full of air; SO that it is clear the attempt was
first made to strangle him with rope thrown
over his head from behind, after the manner OF
the street garotte. From the appearance of the
room, he seems to have been sitting in his chair,
looking over his papers, when some one came
from behind evidently from the closet door. The
design, probably, was originally to strangle him,
and then carry out the body, and leave it some
where in the street, as though done by the ga
rotte banditti. From the room, the marks of
blood were traced up along the entry and
stairs into the fourth story, into store room
where lay a mans bloody shirt and night
shirt, and a bloody sheet From there the
blood was traced into the front room of the
same story, where, npOn the floor, the stains
had been carefully covered with Spermacetl.
\ CRATE in that room had contained fire during
the night, which had evidently been cxtinguish-
ed suddenly by pouring water upon it, as the
coal was only partially consumed. and the
mantle, &c, were covered with ashes. In this
story the murderers must have cleansed them
selves. 1t appeared in evidence that the doctor
was Jealous of one of the male boarders q Mr..
John Eckel, whom he seems to have detected in
secret with Mrs. Cunningham. On Tuesday
night Mrs. Cunningham went with this man
down into the basement, and told the servant
girl to go to bed She went The next NOR
ming Mr.. Eckel did not appear at breakfast,
tFFNSGn
the room. where the murder was committed, is
said to hav, belonged to him. Mr.. Cunningham
confessed, in her evidence the sending the
servant to bed md also admitting that Eckel
was with her. The minister who married her
could not identify Burdell as the man to whom
she was married, and said that he supposed at
the time that the person wore false whiskers-
Burdelps name was wrongly speltin theeer-
titicate.
It has boon acertaincd that on tho morning
when the murder was discovered, Mr. Eckel left
the house at an early and unusual hour andpro-
ceededto his place of business. Mrs Cunning
ham followed in carriage, and he stood talking
with her half an hour or more at the carriage
door, opposite his factory. He was seen to give
hera ron OF bills. This transpired before break
fast
The Deputy Coroner, in tho course of his iu-
vestigation, found Mr.. and Mrs Stevens residing
at No. 81 Mercer street, who were intimate
friends of DR. BurGlell. Mrs. Stevens had been
in the habit of visiting DR.. Burdcll for the pur-
pose of having her teeth fixed, and for medical
relief, for two years or more. Or. b. had fire.
qucntly spoken to her Of his affairs, and remark
ed that Mrs Cunningham desired to force him in
10 a marriage.
She also referred to Eckel, calling him Van
Dalan, as having been frequently spoken of by
the Doctor DIR. Burdell had frequently ex-
pressed himself as being afraid to remain in the
M, No. hl ,nll NJ, SS,ayons tb,t he fo,.