Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-04-09

parallel in the criminal records OF this
city. The extraordinary circumstances of
the affair the relations which the inmates
of the house sustained TO the victim the
long and pedaniic inquest Of the coroner (;
the subsequent trial and acquittal OF Mrs.
Cunningham for murder, and her attempt
to bring forward a false heir to the Burdel
estate, for months filed the columns OF the
public prints, and were read with absorbing
interest.
After the decision of the Surrogate,
which denied the marriage Of Mrs Cnn-
ningham to DR.. Bur,lel, and excluded her
from any share in his estate, she disappear
cd from pnblic view, and nothing has been
heard of her except an occasional Dewspa-
per paragraph, one of which annouced her
marriage to Mr.. Eckel, which that gentle
man promptly denied. Other paragraphs
have represented her as living in fine style
up town, while others have located her in
youngest daughter to q wealthy southern
planter, and others again have denied any
such marriage.
The writer is in possession of singular
and authentic history, which will throw
some light upon her recent movements aud
present position.
In November last, a young man giving
the name Of G. Frank Fitzgerald, of st.
Louis, Mo, went to the matrimonial Office
of Mrs. Jessie Willis, No. - West Add st.
in this city-an Office which was started in
the summer of 1853, and has been qui'e
extensively advertised. We copy the fol-
In Of tlxy s,-o,, &c
from the New York HeraM of January
9th:
Mas JESSIE WILLIS will give introductions to ladies and
gentleman with view to matmony her office. West 43d
st om3 TO SP.M Partes suited references required =
Genemens fees 81 ladies free. Letters from the country
must be POSTPAID with return letter stamps. N BAH
business confidential"
The house of Mrs. Willis is situated near
Fifth avenue, and is plain hut neatly fur
nished She is Spiritualist in faith, and
on her table are found Judge Edmondss
work, and several books by spiritual medi-
ums.
Mr.. Fitzgerald was understood to have
plenty of money, and was promised an in.
PRODUCTION to young widow, who was rep
resented as possessing every desirable ac-
compl'sbment and for this purpose he
made his second visit to the Office one Mon
day afternoon, but the young widow did
not make her appearance according to
agreement.
Mr.. Fitzgerald waited near half an hour
beyond the time fixed, and Mrs. Willis sew
eral times expressed her surprise that the
lady did not come, and finally said
This lady is always so prompt, fear
she will not be here to-day. If you choose
however, you can wait little longer and
if you would like 10 pass away the time
pleasantly. meanwhile, there is a widow
now in the next room, to whom | will in
troduce you, merely for passng acqlant-
ance. She is considerably older than your
self, and do not suppose you would think
of marrying her hut she is intelligent and
lively in conversation, and think you
would be pleased with her.
Very we'll replied Fitzgerald let her
come in | shall be happy 10 see her.
Mrs Willis then retired TO the room ad-
joining The parlor in the rear, which com
municated by folding doors, and led in the
widow.
Ii happened that Fitzgerald was in New
York at the time of Mrs. Cunningham's
Trial for murder, and having visited the
court several times while it was in progress,
retained distinct recollection Of the pris-
oner's features aud countenance. And
when Mrs. Willis led the woman into the
room he Instantly recognised in her the
same Mrs. Cunningham -Burdell whom he
had seen in court.
She was dressed in deep black, as she
was during her trial, aud had on a heavy
veil Of the same color, which was thrown
back over had hat. Bat her garments bore
evident marks of time. L she looked much
older than when he saw her few months
previous.
Ii was perhaps with some difficulty that
he suppressed an exclamation or look of
surprise at this sudden and unexpected ap
partition but Immediately it occurred to
him that he would fegn Ignorance, which
might enable him to learn something of her
character, and perhaps satisfy his own mind
in relation to the awful mystery connected
with her history.
Be it known that the introductions of a
matrimonial broker differ from introduc-
tions in general, that the broker gives no
names-only an obscure ejaculation, which
one might possibly think represented a
name, but which he had not understood
Such was the introduction of Mr.. Fitzger-
aid TO Mrs Cunningham, whereupon be a.
rose and bowed in his politest manner.
i am spending few weeks in New York,
madam, said he, and having seen Mrs,
WIllis'S advertisement, it occurred to me
might make some pleasant acquaintances
by calling here, am happy to see you,
and trust our acquaintance will be mutually
agreeable
Mrs. Cunningham gave Fitzgerald q
piercing look, as if to satisfy herself wheth'
er she had ever seen him before and oI
this he was perfectly conscious His self
possession, however, if shaken an instant
upon the first recognition, had fully return
ed, and be bore her scrutinizing glauees
without any exhibition of anxiety.
She replied that she regarded Mrs. Viii
lis's Office an institution Of great utility to
strangers. and remarked that there was,
in her estimation, nothing improper in the
system,
Matrimonial Offices said she, ARE very
common in Paris; people think nothing o.
n thapa Rut cnna of aur maripanS haVf