The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-15

Aas ~ opportunity. We observe that The lead
ing Southern papers are not gparing Of their
sensures Of N. Fay. They undoubtedly perceive
the cat in the msaltub, and mel the rot for which
il lee In vait.
The Murder 81 Dscssr Burdell-The Inquest
Over.
II is finished. The inquest in the matter Of
the death OF Harvey Burden is over. After
fourteen days of investigation the evidence has
been completed, the Coroner has summed up,
the jury has rendered its verdict Mrs. Gun
ningham, Mr.. Eckel and Mr.. Snodgrass are held
as having been implicated in the murder. They
will now be held in custody to await the action
of the Grand Jury.
The evidence of yesterday was important in
one or two particulars. Madame Alviset, who
keeps q shop for the sale of cutlery in Broadway
testified that at or about the day of the murder
she sold to Mr.. Snoagrass q dagger. She pro-
duced fellow to the weapon, and it appears
that the wounds were made with such an instru-
ment. Mr.. Snodgrass swore positively that he
bought no dagger, but be was positively identi-
fed by the saleswoman. Immediately after che
had given her testimony he was committed to
prison.
The Coroner also received dispatches prev
ing that the man Evans, who had threatened
Dr. Burdell's life, is now in the Maryland peni-
tertiary. The Coroner's summing up is espe-
cially msddy where he attempted to analyse the
evidence and explain his theory Of the crime,
which was that Of majority of the public
and the journ2ls-that the murder was COM
Kitted by some persons within the house. He
succeeded, however, in giving to the jury the
points Of the testimony, and the verdict is in
accordance with the sentim, tot the community.
A great deal has been written about the phi
losopby but the real point of the matter has
never been touched. Without entering into the
question as to the guilt or the innocence of the
parties accused a very valuable moral is to be
deduced from the revelations in regard to GER
tain class OF New York society, which have been
given by this investigation. We have had
house unrOofed before our eyes. We have seen
a woman and her daughters absolutely becoming
brigands OF society. The mother was At the
same time the mistress Of two men-each of
whom had another mistress-al the women oc-
cupying semi-respectable positiens-haf way
between heaven and earth. The resident mis-
tress visits in the Fifth avenue-gives soiree
dansane without cent in her pockets o strict
member OF the church and has ''clergynan's
son. as cnoGl'er prCient to her daughters in or
der to give an odor Of sanctity to her establish
ment These parties visit each others sleeping
apartments-live on the Mormon principle
generally, and have "nice time"
of it. until one fine morning the person
who finds the funds to carry on the revel
ry is found with his carotid artery severed,
and three wounds piercing his heart. A
direct personal benefit is to accrue TO the parties
who have been sheltered in his house, and the
public voice accuses them of " the deep damna-
ton Of his taking off,
What picture Of metropolitan life does this
case present! The initiated are fun well aware
that we Lave many women in our midst who live
splendidly by forced levies from wealthy bache-
lors, and whose hold upon fat bank &C
count has the tenacity Of death itself The
victims bleed, and bleed, and bleed, and say
nothing. The victimizer holds up her head in
the drawing room-has the best box at the Opera
the finest sables on the promenade-the softest
cushion in the fashionable church. She is oftener
in society than society imagines, for her
work is done secretly, and she enjoys almost
entire immunity Generally the victim is tracta-
bic; when he rebels-well, We have seen how
insurrectioniss are treated in Bond street. IL is
he thirst for gold-the desire TO outshine your
neishbor-to astonish people with your magniH-
cence, that leads to such crimes as the murder Of
Doctor Burdell. Moreover, it teaches the Oft re-
peated lesson to the youth Of this community
Beware Of strange women-their feet lead down
to the pit; their steps take hold on hell"
Suppose some Of our fashionable preachers
give US a powerful eztempore sermon to-day on
the above text