The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-04-12
To be Made the Subject Of a Legal
Controversy in the
Courts.
A Chicago Pauper Who Discarded a
Sister on Account Of
Her Fall,
Now Anxious to Build Himself Up on
Proceeds Of Her Lost
Virtue.

CHICAGO, Ill, April ll.-Mr. Austin A.
Caravan, the attorney who has been en-
ploved by Andrew Cunningham, of this
city, to prosecute the latters claims to the
estate of Kate Townsend, the murdered
New Orleans cyprian, was seen yesterday
In relation to Cunningham's prospects Of
success Mr.. Cunningham is not at pres
cnt In the city, but it is understood that
he firmly believes that the Townsend wo-
man was his sister She was
murdered by her alleged husband,
Troisville Sykes, few months
ago, and Sykes, who was made sole heir
to her fortune of about $3.50, 900, was &C.
quilted, He has been prevented, how
ever, from obtaining possession of the
property, By legal process, and it is now
tied up in the courts. The fact has al
ready been published that Cunningham
instituted suit 10 secure the property, as
one of the woman's nearest living rela-
tiyes, and the circumstances which in.
duced him to this course are somewhat
peculiar. The story as told by Mr.. Can
AVIAN is as follows From proofs and
other reliable information now in the
possession Of Cunningham it would seem
that he and his two brothers here have at
least good claim to the estate. Mr., Gun
bingham discovered his relationship with
the woman in 4 singular manner. At the
time Of her death lengthy reports Of the
tragedy were printed in the local press
He read the first telegraphiC report of the
homicide and, experiencing peculiar
and altogether irresistible interest in the
matter, followed the case up. His inter-
est seemed to cease after the last report
had ChrOnicled the iuterment of Kate
Townsend and the holding OF Sykes
for trial II was several weeks later
when on g Sunday forenoon he
purchased a local morning paper.
He had not been reading the paper long-7
when his eyes rested on q reprinted in- !
terview between New Orleans reporter !
and Mrs. Anna HournbOose, the woman I
who had done Kate Townsend's washing |
for twenty years In that article it was |
stated by Mrs. Houru5Oose, who lives I
on Roche5.4ue. near Palmyra street, New /
Orleans, that Kate once told her in the |
course II confidential conversation that |
she had relatives living In America, and I
that her real name was Cunningham
She continued that instead Of Kate her .
given name was Bridget, and that her
home was In Waterford, County Corr .
Ireland. Like q fash the startling Ll:e.-- +.
r4rrA w3z-lI +Ns.grr.f. --.. F--st.,r- --.r.4
and he remembered that be. GOO. had .
sister whose name w. Bridget Cunning .
ham, and that she was born AZ the home .
Of her parents, who had lived 10 Water
ford, Ireland He felt almost certain .
that the dead woman was his own sister,
but be feared to associate Ms good name I.
with that OF the dead cypriau, who had /
been the most HOtOriOu, woman o. her /
kind in the South. He did not rest the
matter, and opened a cores ondence
with friends living at New Or
leans. 1t was ascertained by him in that
manner that Kate Townsend must have
been his sister. He also remembered
that his sister Bridget had gone
Sotth twenty-threc or twenty-five years
before, and that because she gave her
self up to life OF shame he and his
brothers had broken off all communi.
cation with her, and finally lost track
Of her entirely. Since the matter has
been given to Mr.. Caravan valuable
information has been received from vari-
Gus police officials and Catholic priests
of the Crescent City The information
Is OF such a character as to leave scarce
ly doubt that Kate Townsend was
none other than Bridget Cunning
ham. Further Developments are expected
within few days also the result of the
investigation by DR. Lemonnier, Coroner
OF New Orleans. Mr.. Cunningham is a
Wldowcr forty-tWO years Of age, and lives
with his sOn-in-law, of a similar name, at
the corner of Forest avenue and Thirty
sixth streets. He has not worked for
several years, and is supported by his
children. His family consists Of two
sons and four girls, all Of whom reside in
this city. One of his brothers is labor
Ing man and lives at Madison, Wis, and
the other is believed TO be in Amsterdam,
whittier he went about five years ago.
Dir. Canayan feels confident that his
client is the rlghtful heir to the estate,
but declined to diyulge Just what other in
formation he had in his possession.
lroysyllle Sykes, better known as
"Bill' Sykes, the legatee Of Kate Town.
sends will, was her lover for years, and
was believed to have been her scduccr
lie lived with her, at her house Of m.
fame, No. 40 Basin street, and never did
any work, existing entirely off her bounty.
Ills associates were gamblers, though he
seldom PLAYED himself NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
his pretcnsions to being a knight of the
green cloth, Mr. Caravan expresses him
self as confident of his ability to prove
the relationship between the dead woman
and his client.