Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-11-27
THE BURDELL-CUNNINGHAMA AZ
FAIR AGAIH-

A correspondent of the Brooklyn Eagle
gives the following "reminiscences of the
Burdell-Cunningham affair
The death of Hon. A W. Bradford,
brings up again the name of Mrs. Gun
ningham. Mr. Bradford was Surrogate
when Mrs. Cunningham claims were
presented as the wife of DR.. Burdel.
Mr.. Bradford decided that her claims
were spurious. These claims were sup
ported by the oath Of Mis-. Cunningham
and the oath Of her daughter, who swore
that she was present and saw the mar
riage ceremony. That Mrs. Cunningham
was married to some one, to DIR. Burdell,
or some one pretending to be the doctor,
no one has any doubt. DIR. Marvin, then
minister to the Blocker street Dutch
Church, was the officiating clergyman.
The Surrogate decided quite as much
under the intense excitement of the hour,
created by the attempt of Mrs Cunning
ham to palm off a bogus baby, as on the
merits of the case. It can do no harm to
review the proofs of that marriage, and [
think that no candid man can doubt that
DR. Burdell and Mrs. Cunningham were
really joined in marriage by Rev DIR.
Marvin, at the time and in the manner
testified to by the daughter before the
Surrogate
The testimony of DR.. Marvin before
the Surrogate did himself and the cause
no justice He was under great excite
ment. He had never seen Eckel. He
fell into the strong current then moving
through the community-''th the marriage
was bogus Eckel had personated DR..
Burdell," so all said-so DIR. Marvin be-
lieveI, and he boggled and stammered at
the hearing, and did not give the clear,
straig htforward statement he was able to
give When he afterwards saw Eckel,
and looked on the little fellow, he knew
that he could no more have personated
DR.. Burdell than the stripping David
could have stood before Israel az the giant
son of Kish. as@ s
/ One bright Sunday afternoon DIR. Bur-
dell called on DR.. Marvin at his home in
Greenwich street He called to arrange
about marriage with Mrs. Cunningham
He was in no hurry. He sat awhile and
talked about the wedding and other mat
ters. The room was well lighted, and
the person of DR.. Burdell was plainly
seen. Leisurely DR.. Burdell went from
the room. Dr. Marvin attended him to
the door, and stood on the steps and
talked for some moments. AT the ap.
pointed time DR.. Burdell came to the
house of Dr. Marvin attended by Mrs
Cunningham and her daughter. The
marriage was celebrated. The parties
were IN no haste to depart, but sat fol
some time and had coy chat. On
leaving, it was agreed that Dr. Burdell
should call at time appointed for the
marriage certificate. On the day named
: clear afternoon, Dr. Burdell called. He
: sat in the parlor while the certificate was
} being prepared. The room was very
: light and full of sunsh:ne-Dr. Burdel
read the certificate quite leisurely-some
; alteration was needed. He pointed it out
and DR. Marvin made the corrections
after which he re-read tie certificate
folded it and put it In his pocket, sat and
chatted awhile and then went his way
He never saw the man after that till he
looked on the corpse of DIR. Burdell in
| the coffin, and he has no doubt that the
| man he married and the man he saw in
: the coffin was the same. He had three
long interviews with him at his house
sat and talked with him at each interview
[ have heard him say that he has nc
; doubt that DR.. Burd, II whom he saw in
the coffin was the man whom he MARI cd
) to Mrs Cunningham, and to whom he
; afterward gave his certificate. 3ayc
Just before the reputed marriage, Dr.
: Burdell and Mrs. Cunningham visited
: Saratoga and put up at Congress Hall
one of the daughters of Mrs G. was at
DR.. Beechers's Seminary then located at
; the Springs. Dr.. Burdell and Mrs G.
evening. He told him that he had come
up to make arrangements about the tut
ton of Mrs. Cunningham dau hter--
that he should pay all the expenses OF
her education-thath he was about to visit
Europe and wanted DR.. Beecher to have
no trouble about collecting his bills. All
the needed arrangements were made SO
that all dues could De collected IN New
York. The business done, DR.. Beecher
slyly said, II presume you intend to go
to Europe alone giving glance at Mrs.
Cunning ham, who sat by his side. The
. lady laughed so did DR.. Burdell, who
with shrug ofhis shoulders gave grunt
of affirmation. In view of these facts all
: candid minds must admit that the prob
abilities of the marriage are strong.
MOUNT VEsUvIUs IN VOLCANIC
Eruption .-NAPLEs, November a