The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-30
UNBURIED FOR YEARS.
Strange Discoveries in San Francisco
Undertaking Establishments

SGIdnRo DlSCOVeTlGS III San FTAnCl5CO
Undertaking Establishments,
San Francisco Special to Neio York World
Quite sensation Las been caused by the
discovery that dead bodies have been kept
for years at number of undertaking estab-
lishments in this city. A coffin containing
the remains of Mrs Helen L. Luther, who
died seven years ago, was found in the back
room of Cowan Il Porter's burial parlors by
a health inspector, who ordered them to be
removed to the cemetery Wednesday. Mrs
Luther was an alleged daughter of Mrs. Gun
niugham, whose sensational trial for the
murder Of DIR. Buydell so much interested
New York Il quarter of a century ago. Mrs
Cunningham was the landlady Of DIR.
Rurdell, very prominent New York
dentist, and lived with him as his wife. Dr.
Burdell attempted successfully to extricate
himself from the eutsnglement, and told
his friends that he feared the woman. One
day he was found murdered in his Office
Mrs. Burdeli, or Cunningham, and some of
her dodgers were arrested for the crime A
great deal Of circumstantial evidence was
adduced against her, but she was not con-
victed. Then she claimed that she was the
doctors wife, and. to make her story
stronger, she pre- ended that she was about
to give birth to a child. A newborn infanL
was procured from the hospital, and she
asserted that it was the doctors child.
That child came TO California with Mrs.
Cunningham and her son, grew up, got
married and died, aud it was her body That
was kept so long unburied. Mrs. Cum
bingham, who obtained some money by a
compromise from the Burdell estate, went
to Sonora, Mexico, and bought some mines
These mines became very valuable, and
Mrs Gun ingham was soon very wealthy.
Then Capt. Williams married her. The
E..l o1 .~A s4L
only a remnant of her fortune, returned TO
New York TO settle up some matters there.
:he realized quite a sum, which Williams
got possession Of and then deserted her. She
soon after died in poverty.
I'm 1884," said Mr.. Porter, Of the firm of
undertakers where the body was found, IL
went with Mrs. Williams to where her
daughter, the widow Of Luther, was dying.
Mrs Luther told what disposition she
wished TO be made of her body. She was
embalmed at our place. and Mrs. Williams
went back to Mexico We were to keep
the BODY until she could have 1t forwarded
to New York for interment. She never
sent for it, but became poor and died in
New York. Her son, Thomas Cunningham,
came to our place of business once O. look
after the matter, but went away again,
asking us to advise him when we decided to
bury the body"
Another corpse OF a woman which has re-
NAMED unburied for at least nine years has
been found at Msssey's undertaking estab-
lishment, on Sacramento street. The coffiu
is in Theoretically sealed casket and box
ready for shipment. That mas been its con
dition ever since the woman died. The box
looks old and dirty, aud has been used as a
boot-black stand by the employees in Mas
sey's place. Mr.. Massey said: previous
to 1858 ! was in Europe. While was there
this corpse was brought into my establish
ment On my return found the box in the
condition you see it.
The identity Of this woman was discov.
cred yesterday. Her name was Abby
Esther Sheephard. She died at a well.
known lodging house, No. $40 Bush street
on Oct 20, 1879, in her 3lst year. Her hus
band stated that he was connected with the
firm of II. Il. Smith e. Co., South Water
street, Providence, H. l. Tho body is still
in the bath room of the undertaker's shop
Mr.. Massey declares that he will not bury
it without an order from the husband unles,
compelled 10 do so by the health authori
ties. The coroner believes that there are
Suspicious circumstances connected with the
case, and will hold an investigation.