The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-04-17
Mystery and Crime in New York


The New York correspondent of the
Concord Statesman, in recent letter, al
ludes to some of the unsoved mysteries
of crime in that city, as follows
| notice that John Anderson, the once
noted tobacconist, has given the island of
Penikese to the cause of science Ander-
son is a very rich man, and has attained
an advanced age. He was for many years
prominent in this city where he made his
money in the tobacco trade few years
ago he retired but Notwithstanding his
great wealth he has been of an unhappy
turn of mind and has seen much trouble
He was in no small degree notorious from
his connection with the Mary Rogers
tragedy, whose mystery has never been
solved In 1889, when | was clerk in
Broadway, John Anderson kept a large
retail cigar store in the same street. 1t
was patronized by the fast Young men of
the city, many OF whom were attracted by
tine-looking girl who served behind the
counter. This girl was Mary Cecilia
Rogers. She lived with her mother, and
appeared to be Of very exemplary
character. About q year afterward the
girl was missing, and she never returned
to her customary employment. A few
days subsequently, some men who were
boating on the waters of the Hudson, near
Hoboken, saw corpse in the water. On
bringing it to land it proved to be the re-
mains of young woman who had evil
IDENTIFY died from an attempt to escape dis
grace by violence to nature. This corpse
was identified as the remains of Mary
Cecilia Rogers, the pretty cigar girl. The
police commenced an investigation, which
continued for month. but threw no light
upon the tragedy. The perpetrators of
the outrage had left no trace which could
be followed. The journals of the city
and indeed, of the whole Union, discuss
ed the matter, which subsequently became
one of the great landmarks in the history
of crime. 1t has frequently been rehearsed
and last year the narrative was republish-
ed in the Tribune for the benefit of the
present generation. The most thorough
examination of the tragedy was made by
Edgar A. Poe, whose genius was peculiar
ly adapted to the analysis Of mysterious
questions. His tale of 4unrie Roget is
based on this affair, and those of our read
ers who may have read that fascinating
narrative will remember how the authors
ted by an unknown sailor. | have no
space to review the matter as | would like
to do, but may say that passed that cigar
store daily for a long time and remember
the intense excitement connected with the
tragedy. 1t is said that this affair bore
heavily on Anderson's mind, although
there is no proof that he had any thing TO
do with it. AT any rate his increase of
wealth was not accompanied by an in
crease in mental peace, and he suisse
quently left this city for the vicinity of
Boston. He had fortune estimated at
two or three millions, and he now reap
pears suddenly as the patron of science,
which he has endowed with the island re-
ferred to.
In addition to the Mary Rogers affair
there have been several other mysterious
tragedies here which have given the crimi-
nal record of this city an unusual fascina-
ton. Among these was the Lutener mys-
terry which may be briefly stated thus:
DR.. Lutener was 4 physician and a man of
many intrigues. His office was in Broad
way. A woman was observed to enter
this office and shortly afterward to depart,
but neither her name nor appearance was
noted In short time some one entered
and was appalled, by the spectacle of DR..
Lutcner lying dead on the floor He had
been shot by this mysterious assassin,
whose name was never discovered.
Another mystery, and one which excit-
ed the public mind to a much greater de-
gree than the last mentioned, was the
Burdell affair. Dr. Burdell was a popular
dentist but was very dissolute man. He
had formed an Illicit connection with a
widow, named Cunningham, who was
determined to get hold of his estate She
was woman of unusual cunning and one
of her articles was to obtain marriage
certificate. For this purpose she went
with male accomplish, who assumed
Burdell's name, to the house of clergy
man, one evening, where the pair was
united and wedding certificate given in
which Burdell was inscribed as the BRIDE
groom. The minister was informed that
they would attend to advertising the mar
riage, and having received nice fee, he
babe the parties good night. Shortly af-
ter this Burdell was killed in his own
house under circumstances of great hor-
ror. He had evidently returned about
midnight to his room, where the gas had
been burning all the evening. and had. as
he entered, been assaulted by some one
who lay in wait for him. The assailant
had plunged n knife into his throat, and
the blood had jetted against the wall at
distance Of several feet from the place
where he fell. The first wound was fatal,
but twenty stabs were inflicted to make
sure the work of death. Burdell was
found lying in his blood the next morn
ing by the Office boy, who told Mrs Gun
ningham, whereupon she went into a
well-affected swoon. 1t is generally con-
ceded that this women did the bloody
deed, but still there is no proof of it. and
hence the mystery remains. However her
rights as a widow were denied, and the
court set aside the false certificate of mar
rage, so that she derived no benefit from
the crime. This happened sixteen years
ago, but so far from being forgotten it
has likewise obtained its enduring place
among the mysteries of crime.
The Nathan murder is a perplexing al