The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-08-15
Mrs. Cuuninghnm..Al Ways one 81
sem.


A correspondent of the Boston Journal
gives below few incidents Of the early life
of the famous Mrs. Cunningham:
The recent Developments in regard to
Mrs. Cunningham remove all occasion for
tender treatment when speaking of her case.
When she was on trial for her life, all felt
that the presumptions Of innocence were
her right, and all such were accorded to her.
Much was known of her personal history
much that was black and damning; but all
this did not prove that she killed DIR. Bur
dell, and no one felt that it would be fair to
attempt TO crush her for the past, or to
prejudice the special case which was then
on trial.
But now there has been brought home to
her ono Of the most deliberate, high handed
and consummate frauds that was ever at-
tempted to be passed off on the world. Not
only does she claim her dover in the estate
Of Harvey Burdell, but on behalf OF an I'M
born child she demands the balance of the
estate after her dover has been paid. As
the veil is rent from this bad, bold, but tai
ented woman, ii may not be without
moral to trace her career for the past few
years.
She came from bad stock, and with her
She has, from her school girl days, been in
bad repute, and it was the common SAYING
in Brooklyn, where she was raised, that Il
the theory OF the Bible was true, that the
iniquisies Of the fathers descended on the
"children to the third and fourth genera
tions," it would take at least forty genera
tions to get the Hampstead blood out OF the
children. A smart, bold, good looking girl,
she attracted the attention OF MIR. Gun.
bingham, Of Brooklyn. lilo was of an ex-
cellent family. His father was leading
man in the church of the Rev. DR.. Spring,
then of the cold brick" church, and 90 re.
manned until the day Of his death. His sis
tiers were distinguished for every grace and
every virtue, elegant and attractive and nj
Gus,
But, as is often the case, the son sweryed
from the good way Of his father and was a
heayiness to his mother. lie became fasci.
mated with Emma Hampstead, and he lived
with her for u number Of years. His fami-
ly felt the foul Disgrace, and mourned over
the conduct Of o son and brother. lie was
then in business and Was making money!
His trade was distiller. But il the fami-
| ly felt the disgrace Of his unlawful connec.
ton with this woman, deeper disgrace was
in store for them. They we're Mortified to
know that this woman with whom Cunning
ham had lived for six years, had actually be-
come his wife, and that she was actually
Mrs. mma A. Cunningham. Then began
\ his real troubles. He failed in business soon
after his marriage, and in about five years
after he died very suddenly, and not with
/ out suspicion of foul play. He was attended
/ by DR.. Catlin, of Brooklyn. And when
Mrs. Cunningham urged DR.. Uhl to aid her
il her fraud, she saidto him that DR.. Catlin
would assist her "as she had him in her pow
cr.''
Aud, since the death Of her husband, she
has been genteel woman OF the town, keep.
4 Ing house Of some reputs for cleyerness
and taking in such boarders - she chose
The character Of the late DR.. Burdell was
no better than her own. He knew the woman
I well, and had her in his house bscsuse he
knew her. And the summers she passed q,
the Springs and Newport with the grown up
daughters, INDUCING in the luxury and dis.
sipation Of those celebrated places, and both
Mrs. Cunningham and her daughters poor
with no visible means Of support, tells it,
own tale.