Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-24
BURDEEL MURDER.
The Mystery Solved RGd Mrs
Cunningham Ex0Reratgd.

From the Washington Express.l
The New York World lays before its
readers 8 solution of One Of the most
mysterious tragedies of modern times.
The murderer OF Dr.. BuTdell is diseOv-
cred, according to his own cirCuustan-
tiaI confession, aud ali the probabilities
OF the case, to have been the same Chas.
Jefferds who afterwards killed John
Walton and John Matthews, and who
was himself murdered by fellow con-
vict at Auburn about 8 year ago. JEFF
ferds' declaration is all the more con-
vincing ia that it does not release Mrs.
Cunningham from the charge Of COM
pIicity with his crime. He, too, was
friend of that malign woman, between
whom and his mother, Mrs. Walton,
there appears to have been a close init
macy. He boasted Of the same ilicis IA
vors from Mrs. Cunningham that we're
enjoyed by her bOardeT JOnn J. Eekel,
and claims to have been, instead OF
Eckel, the instrument OF her revenge.
He alleges that he was at Dr.. Burdelf's
house, No. 81 Bond street, on the even
ing of the assassination that he was
seated in the pArl0r, and playing OF the
banjo for the amusement of the Gun
ningham girls, when DR.. BuEdell entered
the house and met Mrs. Cunningham,
with whom he he had violent quarrel.
The Doctor then proceeded to his room
In the third story, and Mrs. Cunning
ham to hers on the second Il DOT. JEFF
fsrds, to whom the d spute had been aud
ible, stole out Of the parlOr, went to Mrs.
Cunningham, and, after hearing her sc-
count of what had occurred, volunteered
to - go up stairs and DO for the old rss-
cal, - meaning DR.. Burdeil. The woman,
who cordially hated DR.. BurdeIl, and
hoped to inherit his possessions, enoOur-
aged the young despersdo's sympathetic
rage. Sac informed him OF the position
OF the Doctors room; he drew slender
tgo-edgsd dagger which he habitu-
ally carried, and started on his cow
ardly errand. The circGmstsntisl &C.
count which he gives Of what transpired,
from the moment when he glided into
Dr.. Buriell's apartment and aimed the
first blow at his heart to the msment
when he "reached under y and "fetehed"
his victim by f asl stab in the kidneys,
has a tone Of convincing verify. At
one time,n says Jefecds, " thought he'd
be too many for me but the punch in
the ribs fetched him, It was our fight
ing about the room that made the blood
fly so all about on the walls. The old
fellow was stronger than / gave him
CESOAt anu wC uAA A4AkuAE lOuRu
tussls OF it but you see | had the knife,
and l kept all the lime jabbing him with
that, and he bled great deal, and that
weakened him, l suppose (Which is
extremely probable. The asssssin's de-
seription OF the whole struggle tallies
with the appearance Of the room and OF
the wounds found on the body of Df.
Burdell after the murder while the
facts of Jsffsrds' intimacy with Mrs.
Cunningham and his character as reck-
less bravo help to corrob0rste his state
ments. Il Is said Of him that "hs habit
ually went armed, and on the slightest
proVOcation would shoot or cut whoever
chanced to provoke his wrath" BE de-
elared on one occasion that he didn't
think 80 much of killing msn-he
wculd put eny man out OF his misery for
Eve hundred dollars II be was short, and
wouldn't get caught at it either"