The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-03-12
NUMBER 25.
The Suspected Murderers in the Toombs.

Ihe reporter OF the Ira6un6 says
Mrs. Cunningham bears her trying
situation with remarkable fortitude, and
receives visitors with an ease and dignity
that would seem to convey the impression
that she felt conscious of her innocence.
One of the lady visitors asked why she,
woman of fell age and ripe experience.
ever consented to put herself in so equiv
local sitaatisa By keeping her marriage
to DR.. Burdell secret. She replied that
she was afraid Of the Doctor, as he had
sworn that if she divulged the marriage
before the time that he would take her
lie. The reason be did not attend the
party was because she told him If he did.
that she would there proclaim herself his
wife; and he told her if she did he would
oloW her brains out on the spot; and she
added, he certainly would have done it.
his temper was SO very violent. She SAYS
no tongue can tell how much she loved
that man, Notwithstanding she stood in
such mortal fear of her life. In all her
conversation, she maintains her perfect
innocence Of the crime laid at her door.
and SCOTS at the idea that she could have
committed it.; or that the community can
believe that she did. Why" said she.
:" 1t is not possible for them to prove any
thing against US. I was willing to tell
all l knew, but they would not believe me
nor my daughters and yet they are the
soul of truth. When asked if she had
friends to whom she could con6de her
little boys, she said she had brother
and sister, but as she had never yet gone
to them for assistance, she should not ask
it now. We understand that the poor
little fellows will be kindly cared for by a
benevolent gentleman residing in Bond
street, who was on intimate terms with
the family, and fully believes in their in
nocence.
Mr.. Eckel was very comfortable. and
seemed marvellously calm and self.pos-
sessed for man charged with the hei-
nous crime of murder. His meals are
sent IN from restaurant, and he has the
privilege OF light at night if he wishes
1t. Newspapers. segars, and other luxu-
/ rles are allowed him. He admitted that
the circumstantial evidence against the
family was rather weighty, but he assert
ed his entire innocence and his full belief
that the others now charged with the
crime would be proved innocent. This
f he said earnestly and with much emo
!, ton. In emphatic terms he denied that
he went to the door on that night, as Far
rell charges ; but said he never left the
third floor after he went up, at 81 or 10
o'clock, until he went out to his business
the next morning.
In reference to Farrell's Identification
of him. he says that his picture has been
hawked about the streets. and his person
described until he believed nine -ten.hs of
} the community would have no difficulty
in pointing him out.
J. Mr.. Eckel, IN allusion to the eagerness
with which his private character was can
vassed. said that perhaps there were few
men whose morality would stand the test
of rigid scrutiny; bat he argued that
f they were not therefore to be set down as
murderers, or capable of doing murder.
Where was his motive for committing
such crime? He never knew DR.. Bur-
dell nor Mrs. Cunningham until about the
middle Of October last, when he saw by
an advertisement that he could obtain
board at No. 81 Bond street, and called
and gave references. Subsequently he
went there again. according to agreement,
and Mrs. Cunningham, having consulted
with DR.. Burdell received him as board
[er. The frst night he ives there he over
heard dispute between Mrs. Cunning
ham and the Dr., in which the latter used
language that convinced him that he was
no gentleman, and therefore be refrained
from eultivating bis acquaintance. His
whole intercourse with him never exceeded
the usual forms of recognition when they
passed each other in the hall. The idea
that he could have personated DR.. Bur-
dell in the marriage with Mrs. Cunning
ham, In two weeks after he entered their
house, was simply absurd. And as for
numbering him for middle-aged widow,
with five children. and the chance of a
fortune of only s33, 900 at furthest, why.
it was so absurd, that were people not
) blinded by excitement and prejudice, they
would scorn the idea as preposterous.
All Of this was said in a frank, manly
way by the accused, without any bitter
ness or anger, and when our reporter bade
him adieu be felt impelled to believe that
his innocence would be established.
George Vail Snodgrass seems to have
laid aside his devil-may-care manner, and
realizes that he has got himself into a Sc
rious scrape. That he had no hand in
D the murder, nor knows anything about
it, is very generally believed He is al
together too shallow to conceal it if he was
in any way concerned in the crime. That
he purchased the dagger he most EN-.
: phatically denies, and he feels assured
IS that the woman who swore he did will
: prove to have been altogether mistaken
: in his identity. He says that when hs
e gets clear of this affair, it will be lessor
1t to him which he will certainly profit by
y Mr. Snodgrass is confined in the thir,
corridor of the male prison, above Ml
Eckel. His cheerfulness seems to hay
ldeDartad with his han;o aod b;s 1;bo..,,