New-York tribune., 1869-03-27
4 PRINCE or SBINDLERS.

CAREER OF THE BIGAMIST, CUNNINGHAM"
AUTHOR or THE LATEST ROGERS MURDER
SENSATION.
Perhaps tile most audacious swindler since
Cagostro Is the bgainst Wheeler, alias "Cunnnghain,'
whose latest exploit achieved while he lying IN
prison, charged with heinous crime was the foong OF
all the New.York Journals save THE TRIBUNE, with
bogus confession concerning the Rogers murder. pub
shed about two weeks ago. lie brought TO trial in
the westehester County Court Of Sessions. "Wednesday
The principal witnesses against him were Gilbert Wey
mar the father OF the Tarrytown girl whom he married
first, and Miss Eghmer, the one whom he charged with
completely IN the Rogers murder. The jury rendered
verdict Of guilty Of the crime which he stood accused
without any hesitation when the verdict had been
turned the Judge asked him what he had TO say against
the passing Of sentence upon him. Cunningham spoke
half an hour reply 10 tho question: and undertook In
yindcaton OF the second marriage. to renarrae the
story about the Rogers murder The Court stopped
him. however. before he proceeded far, and pro-
nounced sentence upon him. He was condemned
to Sing Sing for nve years Before leaving the
Courtroom. he thanked the Judge for having him SO
literally treated In allowing him as much as tho law
would allow and the jury for having acted 50 promptly
in the premises lie yesterday removed from White
Plains 20 Sing Sing Before going he ayshed his fare
wells aeconately among the White Plains officials, and
took occasion TO say that after his release be would marry
wife for every month OF his confinement He was asked
Mt Court whether he had been incarcerated for
crime refused to reply. but has iutiinhted TO MS
fellow prisoners that he had been confined the
charge a. that for which he was sentenced the
New.Jersey and Michigan. real name
"a Clinton Wheeler lie Is returned Californian, and has,
since his return adopted the name Of William Cornell Gun
nlngham He has pleasing address, IL an accomplished
liar and swndler and notorious bigamist He Is about
m wears of age In person ne above the medium size;
wears heavy mass OF light brown har with mustaches
and chin whiskers OF dery color Upon his finger mas
sye ring has become stationary from long indulgence IN
its position and proelaims It's owners wealth anu taste;
Wheeler has all the manners OF Cafofnan nnged WIN
a little wndness OF look and expression, which Often
Impression that his mind Is somewhat sstray;
but this Derered very materially with the sue
cess o certain very questionable confidence operations
which he has been engaged IN at different times within
come OF generally with satisfaction to himself and loss
10 the individuals whom he had inyegleu lhIo s con
ndence. He the only son OF n lawyer IN Buualo
n. Y, and emigrated to California IN a., Isoi
tion to be friendly with strangers to no smSli account
for subsequent events showed he acquired iund O
knowledge Oi persons anu VI i'1 rn -,
which served him ~ 4Is tnsa e r 10
Weeks i'm the Astor House and Frenchs Hotel, pursuing
his adopted profession OF swindlns to puDno within Tue
lis OF the city and In tho suburbs 40 aoS the nrs
ments is ut house Of Mr. Benson IN f9rkst Jersey
with wonderful story about California estate of
$4,000 for transfer OF which he possessed the nese
SscD S Sy an' m RFOTfsy Tsyor ne DECEASED IN Calf
forna. TO aged lady OF tho same name, VINO a n9a
FAMILY OF tho latter OF thrown into fever OF
expectation the good fortune which had suddenly De
fallen their friend aud number OF Journeys were made
i'm company with Wheeler To her present home But the
apowerfu stranger did not deliver the papers whith an
were 10 place fortune In her hands, aud suddenly d
appeared after exhausng all Efforts TO secure hh au
vance OF money! TeGa. bout SSeys tea tHe house Of
Mr. John Banta with story somewhat % %sla c., 10 'n'
upon which he expended hs Efforts tox~ ~, had beon
little girl, whose parentage was uknVmn, n1u h, ,t
adopted by Mr. Banta. aud the pleasing srager
ronerty being in this case US in rst In his posses
sion daughe OF his host attracted the attention Oh
~ msrpa@e WIch the young lady impressed with his
apparent wealth. as hastily aeeepted beoIo une Gu Gu.
aissonpeared carrying with MIN watch, considerable
amount money, and some clothing Deionglhk 10 MT
Hanta IL was asceraihed after his sudden departure
that he had also yetlmzed two neghboring farm
ers with whom he had barganed for the purchase OF land
lie apuearrd soon afterward In Morristown' where no
borrowed 500 from Mr. John Ward, u farmer with
whom he had entered into negoatlons ior ,tas sne
rcho so of his farm lie not afterward seen III that
locality lie TO have suddenly transierea . err ms
operations new Held as he appeared az t4' nc %
place that he first adopted Tie name OF re
into the neghborhood where us ,n, ma. h had mn
chased farm that locality from mrs. ~ n
the owner, who resides In tins cy he ma pau Vvv
the river for the purpose OF viewing his new
before completing the rseo ns AND
eYaninipg their stock and making arrangements TOT eA
teasys . m purchases S. guest, %"s Mr. wemer weodo
farmer. for whose daughter wheeler, ,d oL nriSIifW
proposition for marriage was made ana acSeptHu W p,S
and the pair soon united IN Weoeh Doo,e to ~
visit had expired On the day following the msrrlage
Cunningham left 10 come TO New-fork 10 eohpete nls
nnrrhse of the farm promising 10 return III short Time
To his new wife they would at once enter no o
session OF hs property Ihe owner ol tne &
Cnnniny,au, who resides IN TwentY-nrstst, ana WIN
whom IL appears the fellow had had some conyersato
reniiya ~ u purchnse did not receive call from nm
howcyer as he had taken up his course IN an eniley
ornoste direction He went up the river 70 fonghkeeP
az frn which plnce he crossed to New-PaltZ takhg
stage fron that place the Interior searching Tor oppo
inties FOR Investment. In the stage ms ieOw copan
t"'' yros ~ Miss Louisa Amegh OF NewPalL, 10 Nnou
! be nronosed marriage before their Journey wa
euded lie was accepted and he returned 10 hef ono
NJ pait, few DAYS afterward and made ner MS WHO