National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-06-27

quent plea In behalf Of "the poor boyn las
lie termed Roblnson) was irresistible Rob-
insoD, like Weeks, left town Immediately
after acquitted, and his subsequent history
is unknown, but the report that he was
murdered in Texas Is generally believed
correct.
Ghe third tragic mystery of this city was
at the time less sensational than the pre-
ceding, simply because It was not followed
by murder trial. 1t has, however, deep
ened In interest year after year until II
takes precedence Of all Others in fasclnat-
ing and perpleXing mystery The details
are as follows John Anderson, the late
millionaire tobacconist, began business In
cigar store which j well remember, as l
often passed It in my Broadway rambles.
Mary Cecilia Rogers, who was employed
behind the counter was O highly at
traotive girl, who naturally added to the
business by her polite and engaging man
ners, until at last she became known as the
"prctty cigar eirl.n Her mother, who was
n widow, depended on her earnings, and
the current OF domestic life ran on in a uni
form manner until suddenly Mary was miss
ing. She had left home one pleasant Sum
day morning (June 80, 1917 to visit a
relative, hut did not return at the prom
ised time. The next day her anxious
mother made inquiries, and learned to her
astonishment that Mary had not been to
the aforementioned place, and here all
trace Of the living cigar girl disappeared
Some days afterward a corpse was discov-
cred floating near the New Jersey shore,
and on inspection IT proved to be that Of
the missing girl. Outraged, strangled, and
cast into the riyer--but by whomS Aye,
there's the question. Where she went,who
met her, and by whom she was murdered
these points dehed all scrutiny. A
young man In naval uniform had been seen
near her former home, but no trace Of him
was ever afterward found. Anderson could
throw no light upon the matter. He pur-
sued business with great success, and left
an estate valued at $2,000,000, but his
wealth, great as 1t may be, was powerlesa
in penetrating this strange and startling
mystery.
Each OF these three mysteries afforded
material for the tale writer. The Manhattan
well murder was the basis OF Theodore s.
Fay's once popular novel, entitled "Nor-
man Leslie,n while the murder OF Helen
Jewett was utilized by Prof. Ingraham In a
similar manner, and then Poe, in his "Marie
Roget endeayors to elucidate the Mary
Rogers mystery. Theodore s. Fay, though
now forgotten, was In his day popular
literateur, and co-operated with N. p. Willis
In the publication Of the New York Mirror.
He was native Of this city, and, having
studied law, became naturally interested In
that famous murder case, Poe's tale Of
"Marie Rogetn is one Of the finest exam
Piles of his power OF unraveling o mystery
by means OF the smallest possible clew-
but, as to the correctness Of his theory,
that's a matter of opinion.
The above mentioned tragedies conferred
upon the female sex. We now come, how
ever, to those In which man was the victim.
The first was the Burdell mystery. Harvey
Burdell was q skillful dentist, of middle
age, and had acquired wealth by his prac-
tice. He owned the house No. 81 Bond
street, and occupied the front room In the
second story as his Office, but boarded else
where. On the 3lst Of January, 1857, he
was found murdered In that room, his
corpse being wounded In twenty places. 1t
was evident that hard struggle had taken
place before he fell, and 1t was also evident
that his assailant had awaited his arrival
and surprised him by q sudden attack with
a keen-edgod weapon, Jets Of blood had
stained the wall and the floor was covered
In similar manner. The furniture was IN
confusion, and other conditions showed
that struggle had taken place. All this
time the blinds were open aud the gas was
burning, but no one In the street heard any
noise, Inside the house We're Mrs. Cunning
ham (the woman who hired 1t of Burdelll
aud young man named Eckel, who was
her confidential friend. Mrs. Cunningham
had two daughters, and all this family, in,
GLIDING young man boarder, slept up
stairs and heard no noise. Mrs, Cunning
ham claimed to have been married to Bur
dell and had certificate TO that effect
They had been intimate, but a quarrel had
taken place and he was at the time of the
murder trying TO compel her to leave The
| house.
The theory OF the coroner was that Mrs
Cunningham committed the. murder, hoping