The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-08-14
Humors Of New York.


sham aoeouehment. Her arrea.-rhe New
York papers give highly diyerting account
Of the detection and exposure Of Mrs. Cum
bingham, alias Burdell as the mother of a
baby Of which the late DR.. Henry Burdcll
was to have been the putatiys father. The
Herald gives the following particular;-
Mrs. Cunningham, Us our readers are
aware, has been claiming her third share ol
the estate of DR.. Burdell. on the basis OF
the marriage which she aihrms was celebra'
ted between them by Rev. Mr.. Maryine.-
Relatives Of the murdered man have been
contesting that claim before the Surrogate
and the question OF marriage or no marriags
is still undecided.
II tho Surrogate should ever decide in IN.
yor Of the self.called widow she would be
only entitled to one third Of the estate
But Il child were born Of the alleged mar
riage. that child would Of course become
the inheritor OF the two-thirds Mrs. Gun
ningham, il seems. was determined to have
all, and fer that purpose came to the con-
clusiOn that she would have child, and
that the child should be DIR. Burdelrs.
limitations and innueudoes as to the deli
cate situation of the accused were made by
her counsel, while she was on trial for the
murder, and rumors have been bruited
about IN public that she was in the interest
ing condition in which 'ladies like 10 be who
love their lords She, II seems, favored the
mistake, and aided in the deception. so far
rs she could do so, by peculiar mode OF
dressing. Finally, not many weeks since,
she approached a physician, (Dr. Uhl) and
offered him $1,000 to aid her in carrying
out the plot. That physician waited on
District Attorney Hall, and revealed to him
the proposition that had been made. Mr..
Hall previously suspected that some such
rise would be resOrted to, and he advised
the doctor to enter into the scheme until
the game should be fully played out. Ac-
cordingly the accoucher entered completely
into the spirit OF the thing, and promised
CT due corporation in the innocen, deceit.
He was TO make the necessary arrangements
20 procure the new born infant, and get up
all the accessories to the scene. Mr.. Hall,
anxious possibly to retrieve the reputation
which he had lost in the prosecution, took
upon himself the procuring OF the infant
subject that was % represent the Burdell
heir. Among his Official OF personal ac-
quaintanccs there was, il appears, q woman
resting in Elm street, who promised to
give birth to a baby somewhat about the
appropriate time, due notice whereof was
TO be given 10 the would be-matron. Events
gradually ripened, and the youngest actress
ON record was duly introduced TO the world
yesterday evening. Officers Dilks, Hopkins,
Stats and Welsh, had been detailed to keep
a close look out on the occupants Of 81
Bond street and the latter officer had the
opportunity Of tracking Mrs. Cunningham
10 the house on Elm etreet, where the real
childbirth had taken place. Mrs. Cunning
ham, after a short stay IN the domicile come
out with basket on her arm, followed with
IN close distance Of the police shadow-and
made her way back to Bond street. Jus:
rs she was entering the basement of her
house the officer addressed her, and taking
hold Of the basket, Intercepted her as 10
its contents. She demanded Of him that he
should not take away her new born infant.
sob. Mrs. Cunningham, said the practi-
cal policeman, "the game is played out
there no use going ON with il any further.
And so 1t seemed. But the lady was deter
mined TO make another eaJrt to keep up
the Appearances of the thing, and 80 we
understand she has been going through the
afterpieee OF conyalescenee-having taken
quantity of opium to give effect to the
scene.
Mrs. Cunningham has recently refurnishcd
the house 81 Bond street. To person who
ventured 20 intimate 20 her his opinion that
she was acting rather indiscreetly IN view Of
the uncertainty Of the Surrogate's decision.
she replied "that she was about to be con.
fined in some five weeks, and was not 20
ing to give birth to child on a bare floor"
The young protender had been brought
from Bellevue hospital by DR.. De Ia Mon.
tague, who was acting in concert with Mrs.
c.. but Mt the same time was in the conf
dence Of the police aud District Attorney
DIR. Uhl WIS also present during the mock
delivery. and will, it is said, make some i'm
portant disclosures, as he also was acting
under the advice Of the authorities, although
as in the case Of DIR. De Ia Montague. Mrs.
T.. thought the matter would have been kept
n profound secret by these gentlemen.
Inspectors Dilks, Speight and Hopkins,
together with couple of officers from the
Fifteenth Ward. were admitted to the house
at the appointed hour, and on going up
stairs 10 Mrs. C.'s room they found her ly. |
ing in bed, while the little "pretendcr" was
being fondly cares-ed by the nurse.
The prisoners were all placed under ar.
rest, and an examination OF the prisoners
took place.
On Tuesday morning in the Police Court.
District Attorney Hall deposed as to the
facts within his knowledge relating to the
matter -
That shortly after the 18th Of July DR..
Uhl in a call upon him stated that he had a
OF some public importance
10 make, and desired his official advice that
DIR. Uni then stated 10 him that he had
been the family physician Of Mrs. Cunning
ham, and had been shortly before asked by
her to attend upon her confinement, stating
that she expected to be delivered Of child
By DIR. Harvey Burdell, in the course of the
month of August; that DIR. Uhl stated that
Judging from her appearance, he believed
the story, but upon n subsequent occasion
her replies To certain medical questions
aroused his suspicious as 10 the validity Of
Der story. and that therefore stating them
% her. she ADM tted that her confinement
vas all humbug, and offered him s 900 to
nd in carrying out her plans; that DR..
Burdell then stated 10 deponent (flal) that
" an honorable man he deemed such a Grim.
nal matter to he without the pale OF pro-
Ies-ional confidence, and was willing IL il
would serve the ends OF JUST e, to make an
Affidavit (; deponent then stated to the said
DR.. Uhl, that in his Official opinion his con
duct was highly commendable; that an aii-
lavit would be OF no service, for no overt
act, sufficient in Law toward crime had
been committed, and suggested to said DR..
Uhl that for purposes Of public justice lie
should listen % what Mr.. Cunningham had
further 10 say and should ostensibly lend
himself 10 her rlans TO track the proposed
crime; that the said doctor at FIRST strongly
objected. but after considering the subject
he accoded to deponent's proposal that de-