The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-03-04
TEEE EUSBELz MURDER.
a Terrible Myste1y Sozrsd-WHo Killed DR..
BmaeU? ?-1Ee Question Answered
after Iicclce Years HaHing.

UJCcT tCCtCC 4 cars ~ CttttfJ
The New York WoJlJ contains long &C
count Of the efforts Of Detective Jinks to
capture man named JetTerds, who was
suspected Of having committed two or three
murders. The detective ingratiatcd himself
with his victim, became his boon compan-
ion for several months, and pumped hin of
many of his secrets. The writer Of the
World article says:
Jeherds was always exceedingly hoasiful,
and did not hesitate to talk freely about his
connection with the Walton Matthew 11Tair;
and indeed on his first Introduction to Jinks
he said : why, you must Of heard Of me
Pm the fellow they had up for shooting
Walton and Matthews-my name Is Charles
Jefferds-I'm the same fellow" He evi-
IDENTIFY considered the danger past and gone,
so far as he was concerred-he had no idea
that it was even contemplated to interfere
further with him. Looking on himself as a
sort Of hero, he liked to make the most Of
the notoriety. JefIerds had frequently made
threats against the sury wing brother Of the
two Watons. On one occasion he went to
bis place, and drew pistol, and was TAX
ing steady, deadly aim which in q second
more would have added another to the list
Of murders, when his arms was struck mp.
as a senseless freak Of a drunken man At
last, after the officer had been with him
night and day for three months, and had
laid all the wires which were to produce the
final explosion. 1t was deemed best to spring
the trap. Jeiferds had bccl me so bold in
his threats towards the other Walton aad
others, and was known to be SO utterly
reckless in his attempts to carry out his
words, that il was thought best for the pub
lie safety to put him under restraint, and
not wait until he had sent another victim to
his long accout. Accordingly, Supe:intend-
ant Kennedy gave the word, and officer JEFF
ferson Juks was instructed to make proper
arrangements for quietly efiecLing the cap
ture. The gentleman then planned an eX-
cursion to and through New York with JEFF
ferds, and directed that a couple of good Of
ficers in citizens clothes should be ready at
aGriuking- house known as The Store ," IL
Houston street, at which place Jinks was ta
produce Jeflerds at certain hour, when he
was to be taken into custody and again
locked up to await the movements Of his old
friend, the District Attorney. 1t SO hap
pened that during this last afternoon of his
freedom, a few glasses Of wine having loos-
ened his tongue, Le supplied the full details
Of a drama Of which he had before given
but the mere outlines, and told the nan be
then considered his dearest friend on earlll
that it was he, Charles Jefferds, who, unas-
sisted and alone had. three years before,
killed DR.. Burdel. The story seemed so
improbable, that, when first hiuted at, the
officer had been indispOsed to believe il
but as Jetferds developed the details, n long
train of corroborating circumstances flashed
across the mind of the bearer, and when the
recital was concluded he stood convinced
ho 81, oF
among his other boasts Of crime, was con-
tinualy talking about his intimacy with
women, and here it was that he told first OF
his intimacy with the BurdelI family, and
more particularly with Mrs Cunningham
He appears to have been possessed By that
recognized impulse which always seems tc
set a boy in love with Il women older than
himself. There is no evidence to show he
was ever crminally intimate with either o.
the Cunningham girls, while his visits to tbs
room of the mother were frequent and al
ways we'll received. 1t may have happened
thus because the girls were pre-engaged ant
always occupied with lovers more to THEN
taste; but as he never spoke of either O
them in terms Of special admiration, auC
never in any way exhibited the slightes
jealousy Of any Of the many visitors to The
house who devoted themselves especially &
lilG NtuAS ltsNADSs ITO dNlNuAAOtlS 10 MIS-
Cunningham must have been merely a mat
ter of preference. lie never discovered thC
least jealousy Of any of the girls lovers, bu
be did once say of Eckel, who was an ac
knowledged ''friend" of Mrs. Cunningham
GAS for that Eckcl, he was a. :" then
after a moments thought he added: Eyes
old Eckel was a., but he didn't have
anything to do with killing old Burdell
I'll say that for him"
Jefferds stated to the detective that on
the fatal night he was visiting at the Bur.
dell house, and was in the parlor with the
young girls, and was playing the banjo for
their amusement. The banjo, be said, be
loBged to him, and not to SuGdgrass, as had
before been stated, SnodSrass being only
able to thumb it little. DIR. Burtlell came
IN and met Mrs. Cunningham, with whom
he had violent quarrel, after which he
proceeded at once to his room. Jefferas
then went to the room of Mrs Cunningham
and hearing from her the particulars Of the
quarrel, he became much incenSed against
Burdell, and volunteered to "Co up stairs
and do for the old rascal" In this promo
sition he was encouraged by Mrs Cunning
ham, and he resolved he would do il. Ac-
cordingly. drawing a two-edged, slender
dagger, which he habituaily carried. and be
ing informed by her of the exact position of
the doctors room, proceeded stealthily up
stairs The doctor was seated at his desk.
looking over his papers by single gaslight.
80 engaged was he that he did not hear the
step OF the murderer, and the first intima-
tloh ne had OF any danger was sudden
blow, struck from behind, over his sbonJder
and aimed at his heart. The blow was in
stantly repeated, and again reiterated as
rapidly as the nervous energy of the assos'
sin could WELD the knife. With sIn"1o
cry Of murder" the doomed man snra5''
from his chair and grappled with Jeffsrdso
they struggled from side to side of the room
overthrowing the chairs aud dragging the
table out OF place. the doctor striving to
seize the DIRK or to hold the murderous arm.
every blow of which was cutting ayvav b;s
hie. cat one time,' said JefFerds. "tbe old
fellow caught mo and twisted me against