Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-08-20
talk with Mrs. Burdell [ told him tha

had devised this plan to her when she
was in the Tombs that they had made
up their minds that they wanted another
physician tc help carry out the plan, and
that they had resolved upon me; there
was certain individual who advised
them to employ me, although he had nc
reason to think would perjure myself in
that manner.
| felt it to be great personal insult to
me, and acted accordingly after repeat
ed interviews with her, it was finally
arranged that she must be confined about
the first or second week in August +; il
was decided that it should come off on
Monday OF Tuesday of this week, and /
was to furnish the desired babe had,
in the meantime, been in daily intercourse
with Mr.. Hall, and had kept him inform
ed of all the plans, and l informed him
of this final decision. He assumed the
whole management of the thing, and on
Monday morning about 1 o'clock we
went with DR.. Montague, his brother-in-
law, and looked for suitable rooms in
which the mother who was to be provid-
ed by Mr.. Hall, could be confined Mr..
Hall furnished the room from his own
house, and DR.. Montague went up to Bel
levue Hospital, and secured new born
infant, the placenta, or afterbirth, and a
nurse. | went to see Mrs Burdell in the
evening, and it was arranged that she
should be immedi lately taken sick, | in
forming her that California widow was
Just about to be confined of child which
she wished to get rid of, and expected to
give birth to it that night she said that
she would send a lady to the house, the
number of which / gave her, for the
child (; she said she would not tell me the
name of the lady, as she did not wish it
known. She was to send the lady to the
house in Elm street after the child imme
diately after l left the house if the child
was born before nine o'clock, then this
lady was to come up for the child Mrs.
Cunningham was to send for DR.. Catlin !;
she was to be sick with labor pains
through the entire night and in the mean
time was to be sent for for consultation,
and the child was to be born about twelve
or one O'Clock if, however, the child of
the California widow should not be born
until eleven or twelve o'clock, then this
lady was to go about eleven O'Clock to
Elm street and remain all night at the
house, and in the morning bring the
child in broad day light in market bas-
ks sFe any MFs ad net yh aboa
the matter, such as bringing in bundles
at so unreasonable an hour of the night.
| went back TO Elm street, and did not
leave there while on the watch, | saw
Mrs. Burdell herself pass the house, and
examine it attentively, about six O'Clock
in the evening. About eight or nine
O'clock went back to Bond street; was
let in at the front door, and met on the
stairs Miss Helen Cunningham, who said
that her mother was very sick and want
ed me to go up and relieve her | went
up and the room was very dark; the gas
was out and | could hardly find Mrs.
Cunningham's bedside | went up to
her, and she wanted to know if every
thing was all right; she called this lady
that she had spoke of, and l Immediately
recognized her as her sister, or lady
who has been for some time living in her
house as such. Mrs Cunningham asked
her whether she was ready TO go? Yes, ;
said she where is the black dress q
Mrs. Cunningham told her it was ar
ranged that she should 90 for the child
after | left the house was to stand at
the street door in Elm street and wait for
her she was to carry in her left hand a
white handkerchief, by which | was to
recognize her; in the meantime Dr.
Montague and the rest were on the watch;
| went and took up my post at the Elm
street door, and finally the lady came; l
asked her If she was the person who
wanted the basket; she made no reply,
but shook the handkerchief, and looking
at her closely | was convinced that the
lady was Mrs. Cunningham herself; she
did not speak, but went up stairs and got
the basket, and went out into the street
and home TO Bond street again. | went
home 10 twentieth street and found that
there was a call for me te go TO 81 Bond
street Immediately, as Mrs. Burdell was
very sick, and soon 10 be confined
went down Instantly and rung the bell !;
a Mr.. Wilt came TO the door, and asked
me if | was DR.. Uhl; said yes, and was
shown up stairs to Mrs. Burdell's room,
and there saw her in bed, and DR.. Cat
lin was present she was very much in
labor, apparently, and terrible labor of
the most violent description the child
was then on the floor, crying in the cor
ner of the room DIR. Catlin took out a
tin pail filled with blood, mixed it with
water, and sprinkled OF spread it over the
sheets, so as TO make bloody sheets Mrs.
Cunningham's sister pretended to wash
the child, and everything was prepared,
fls | understand, to deceive nurse, who
|nHs TO be sent for; L did nothing but
j Oh ; and DIR. Catiin desiring it. |
Dht down and found Mr.. Wilt, and sent
after the nurse. He said she was ready
to come he then went after her and soon
returned, saying that she desired to go
up stairs according to orders went up,
just TO see that everything was ready TO
have her come ; they locked up the pail
in the closet, and she then went up and
sympathized deeply with Mrs. Cunninp-