The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-05-14
THE TRIAL or MRs. CUNNINGHAM rup Tiis
EUnUELL MURDER

court room was again tl,ronycl 10y mn en-
cited multitude. Mrs. Cunningham, nc.
compancd ly one Of her daugh,crs-the
other being ill-occupicd seats near her
counsel. Eckcl (who is TO have separate
.riaD was also brought in under charge of
an officer. A jury having been procured
on Monday, Mr.. Hall, the district attorney
opened tue case for the prosecution imme.
diatclY after the court assembled on Tues
day. The following is the substance Of his
remarks-BalL San.
The prosecution, he said. propose to
prove that DIR. Harvey Burdell ceased to be
i'll the first part of this year. Wcproposc to
prove that lie was killed by some one in the
| house; that among the inmates of that
house was one who had certain motives to
do that deed; that that person was Il wo-
man, and that woman the defendant. All
the circumstances go to show that the
murder was the deed of a woman done from
different stand point to that which man
would have taken.
She had known him three years; she
was the mother of his child which never saw
the light; she was his mistress, and would
be thought his wife. From her own show
ing, she desired no sympathy, and she was
Jealous Of him she bcsct him down stairs
and up stairs, i'll his private and his public
hours of business. The very domcstics who
will go on the stands will take the roof Of
that house off, and let you sec their whole
course of conduct.
Tho very domcstics will show YOU how
she hunted him. We shall call the policc
officers 10 show how she claimed to be his
wife /; we shall show that there are suits for
seduction and breach of promise of mar
rage and papers were drawn at her bidding
for this man to sign, which none of YOU
would sign, but for the dreadful PRESENT.
ment he must have had upon his mind that
she was his enemy.
She followed him to his friend Dr. Thomp-
son, where she had the domestcs trained
TO listen TO their conversation. And there
came another man, who became the coun-
terpart of this man below. Aud she loved
this man Eckcl she also had daughters,
candidates for matrmony. And whether
She was married to Burdell or no, she was
guilty ofthc grossest infidclity to him with
Eckel. lie Burdell, with this shadow at
his side, had made up his mind to let the
house to the very respectable lady who will
be adduccd before you.
She said to her servant, "Hannah, who
is that lady !-she is going to take the
house." On this very Frilay-thc very
day we all dread so mucl-we find her
saying the doctor is a passionate man, and
he may not live another day. And so it
fell out
She had obtained the key of his safe
she had stolen his pistol, and it WAS so ar
ranged that outside relief was impossible.
The bolts of the back door were closed,
and the front door was fastened by one of
the most wonderful locks ever invented
lie came in alone. She had the pass key
to his bedroom, and she alone. lie opens
the door and goes in. In the dark lie is
supposed to have carefully folded his shawl
and put away his cap his shoes were put
oil, and we are required TO suppose all this
was done in the dark.
1t is certain, however, that all the iniu-
rlcs inflicted Oh that man were done in the
shortest space Of time. And it will como
out that these blows were inflicted by
left handed woman; we shall show that
this woman is left-handcd her domestics
will testify to it, and has been carefully
watched to ascertain the fact.
There was the safe which she had pifer-
ell with the catch down and the body lay
there with the hands down, laid out care
fully, and not fallen rs if in deadly strug-
gle. with his enemy, and he had fought like
man surrounded by host of enemies
"And He'll has no fury like woman scorned."
l make no charges against any other
person i'll that house now. Shestands alone
and when you como to look upon all the
circumstances, you will see that no one in
truder III the house could have done that
deed. Why who but woman would have
laid that head so near to the door that il
would scarcely swing clear Of it? There
was another door, and she had the pass
key.
| There was fire in that room, but it
would not do to burn the clothes there
SO she passed the room of the sleeping cook
to the little room where fire was kent
| burning. And DIR. Parmlce, who lived on.
poste, saw flicker as of burning linen, and
three persons in the street smelt the od or of
burning WOODEN or leather, of which there
can be no doubt. Now it will be for her to
disprove these facts by other evidence
And when the neighbors came in and told
her Dr. BurdeIl is dead, what is her conduct2
10 one she replies, "pm so glad thought
lie was murdered" To others she said, IL
have dreadful secret to impart to you
am the doctors wife," And when before
the coroner we find this woman wanting
counsel, and when at last she does come
down to warm room, with heavy cape
OIL her shoulders, one watchful eye discoy-
ers little red mark corresponding 10 one
on the neck of the murdered man.
Group the circumstances of that week.
1t commences with quarrel; it progresses
with quarrels, and it eliminates in murder.
| Note the circumstances of the murder the
fifteen mortal wounds on the body her
conduct before the coroner; her refusal TO
testify when she might have turned the tide
OF popular indignation from her. I shall
greatly mistake your comprehension if you
DO not discern tile value Of the facts in civ.
ing color to the motive, and 1 shall call
upon you to say that that woman, whether
| wife mist raea of tba ,,,urJo,o<l ,...