Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-02-13
The BurdelI Tragedy.


details Of this horrible murder, which has
created a sensation there unequaled since
the Colt murder.
The following summary Of the circum-
stances attending the affair is given in the
New York Tribune.
1t appears that the house belonged to Dr.
Burdell, and that he used the parlors in his
business as II Dentist also the room over
the back parlor as an operating room in
which he was found decd, and the front room
communicating with it as a sleeping room.
Previous to May or June last n Mrs. Jones
acted as house keeper, at which time she
was succeeded by Mrs. Cunningham On
the strength Of u previous acquaintance
with DR.. Burdell, she obtained temporary
accommodations in the house, which led to
her remaining there as u permanent
boarder and atterward, when Mrs. Jones
was lei to take another house, she took
charge for DR.. Burdell.
While still boAr1er in the house, as we
understand the testimony. year ago last
Thanksgiving, she suffered n miscarriage,
stating to the servants in the house who
assisted her on the occasion, that the pa
ternity of the child belonged to DR.. Burdell
At the time of the murder, the inmates of
the house were this lady, who occupied the
room over that in which the Doctor was
found dead. II Mr.. John j. Eckel, who oc-
cupcd the hall room on the same floor, two
grown up daughters Of Mrs. Cunningham,
who occupied the front room, II young Mr..
Snodgrass, understood to be engaged to one
of the daughters, who occupied a room in
attic. and cook. When Mrs Cunningham
first took charge, DR. Burdell had been ac-
customed to take his meals in the house,
but by September difficulties arose between
himself and Mrs. Cunningham, and since
that time he had eaten elsewhere.
These difficulties are described by her and
others as having originated in a charge
made by him against her Of purloining n
note or notes, which note, as she explains
it, she had made ut his request, by way of
offset to a Judgment against u brother of his
which the Doctor had purchased, but which
he desired to have stand in her name. 70
this charge she replied, as she states by re-
proaches for his not having fulfilled pro-
mise of marriage which he had made her,
and for his having improper women in the
house, which latter charge he denied. The
reason he gave for not fulfilling his promise
of marriage she preferred not to state. Sub
sequently, however, according to a certif-
cate which she produced, they were married
on the 2Sth Of October last. 1t does not ap-
pear, however that the existence Of such a
marriage was made known to anybody.
Mrs Cunningham was fully identified,
by testimony, as the female party to the
marriage celebrated by the clergyman who
signed the certificate. The Identification Of
DI. Dur'ioIl a- having been the male party,
was not SO complete. The Mr.. Eckel above
mentioned as an inmate Of the house, would
seem to have become 50 about the time Of
the first misunderstanding between DR..
Burdell and Mrs. Cunningham. lie appears
| from the evidence to have been an object of
jealousy on the part Of DR.. Burdcli. Mr..
/ Snodgrass appears to have been an inmate
| in the house for some two months past.
/ The aspect Of tn, ease has been somewhat
/ changed. as the evidence has come in.
now intimated that Burdell and Mrs. Gun
ningham were never married that Eckel
and Mrs c. were ON very intimate terms,
and that Eckel personated Burdell in the
marriage ceremony, and had his name in
serted in the marriage certificate The tes-
timony taken on the ID, affords ground
/ for strong suspicion that such were the
facts The New York Express has the fol-
lowing review Of the testimony taken, and
of the latest developments in this great
tragedy
:" At the close Of the third day Of the in
quest. the murder of DR.. Burdell, in his
own Office IN Bond street, remains as fearful
n mystery as ever. Early in the day, the
coroner made new search of the premises
and while SO engaged brought to light seve
raj more articles of dress-principally Of
female wearing apparel - smeared will
blood. The testimony OF young Snodgrass
who was the first witness put upon the
stand, shows that he believed the DR.. anC
Mrs. Cunningham to be man and wife but
he never troubled himself to inquire parti
cuhrly lie confirmed the statement pre-
yiuusly made. that they were on bad terms
and added that while Eckcl and he FIRE
quently spent the evening in Mrs. Cunning
hams bedroom, DR.. Burdcll was never
known to do SO. A servant girl of Mrs
Cunningham s. one whom she discharged
the day before the murder. testified tina
there seemed to be two parties in the house
ono of which was the Doctor the othel
comprised everybody else, from the lady tC
Mr. Snodgrass.
The servant also testified that Mr.. Eckel
not long since, ut the breakfast table, re
marked that " IL 'COud be a good thing 4
gire The Doctor a knock, # IL could only b
done hdndy,' and ut the same time sh
AYERS, he looked wickedly at Mrs. Gun
ningham, who jestingly rebuked him 70
his language. The officers found in Mr.
Eckel's secretary package of papers, mucl
more important than those of the Doctor
safe. Among them were the agreemen
between the Doctor and the lady, in rcgar'
to the house: a strange unsigned agreement
in the Doctors handwriting, that in con
sideration of the settlement of certain suits
he would always beiriend the lady and he
family; statement, dated October lO, 1856
that up to that date he had never made
will, and that if any will should be produc
ed, with an anterior date, and purportin
to be his, it would be a forgery. \ variet
of other papers were found in this package
but as they have not yet been put in eyi
dencc, the Coroner declines to have theI
published.
The physicians in attendance on the in
, quest, also, at the request Of the Coroner
examined every part Of the bodies of Mrs
Cunningham Mr. Ecke, and Mr.. Snodgras.
e in order to see il they had any cut, scratch
, or other wound that might have bee
received, if they had been cor
D cerned in the fatal atlray, The report {
Coroner was, that no wound or blemish WI
V found on ei,her of their hodIes.
) The testimony, rs taken thus far, thoug
4 it fails to implcatc any person in the hou'
S in the commission Of the murder, yet d,
monstrates the existence of family dram
0 of no little romance and complication. TT
y strange relations sustained towards Mr.
Cunningham by Mr.. Eckel and Mr. Sno,
Y grass, and the apparent illieeling of IL
trio to the deceased the fact that the ma
r she claimed to be her husband was ney,
n seen in her room, and had but little inte
= course with her, while her private appar
. ments communicated with the bed chambc
- of two other men; the merry-making AZ
r. punch drinking in her bed room, while Il
doctor was out or keeping bachelors ha
- in bis own parlor, the conduct of Mr.. Eek
u IN acting as though he were mast'
of the house; his being seen by her ow
i daughter, through the keyhole, in the lady
" | L. al I,a bavin,t triv m maj