Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-09-30
cor. puNHAMs sHOE
4 statement from Hts Counsel as to the
Alabama Tragedy.

Col Bradford Durham, who succeeded
Col. w. NJ. Clements as General Manager
of the B. & 0. R. r. in 1884 and continued
in said position for three years, and is now
General Superintendent of the Alabama
Midland Railroad, on Sunday afternoon shot
a youth of nineteen years, named James
Cunningham, with a shot gun with fatal re-
suits. Col. Durham drove to the county
Jail aud surrendered himself
Col. A. A. Wiley, counsel for Colonel
Durham. gives the following statement of
the causes which led 20 the killing:
"Three months ago Mrs. Durham received
an ANONYMOUS letter seeking 4 private IN
teryiew and appointing place OF meeting
She turned the letter over to her husband,
who. acting on the advice Of friends, caused
a decoy letter to be sent in reply and asked
his private secretary 20 keep the appoint
ment. The secretary went TO the meeting
point and found Mr.. Cunningham, who was
then employed IS q clerk In the Office OF the
auditor of the Midland Road, waiting
When Mr.. Durham was informed that Mr..
Cunningham was the man he was greatly
exasperated. / was sent for, aud / asked
Mr. Durham not 90 take any steps IN the
matter until could advise with him fur
tber. OF nv own accord | called on Mr.
Cunningham and talked with him about the
foolhardiness of his act. He was very much
alarmed; | told him he was In great peril
and asked why he had written such letter
to his employers wife He said he had seen
her riding on a few occasions with Mr.. An
drews and Mr. Thompson, both employees IN
in Dunham's Office, and that he thought he
would write the letter and ascertain for him
self what il meant | told him that Mrs.
Durham was not strong, and these gentle
men accompanied her at her husbands re-
quest when he was unable to go with her
Mr. Cunningham asked me to frame an ex-
cuse for him. and 20 do my best to induce
Mr.. Durham % forgive his indscretion. !
SAW Mr.. Durham and on my advice he
agreed 90 take no further notice of the mat
ter conditioned, OF course, upon Mr.. Gun
ningham remaining silent upon the whole
matter. which he agreed 90 do Instead OF
keeping his promise Mr. Cunningham ex-
hibited the decoy letter TO a great many peo-
Die here and elsewhere and represented 1t as
a genuine letter from Mrs. Durham. On
learning this fact I called at Mr. Cunning
hams house some weeks ago and remon-
strated with him on the course he was pur-
suing. He gave me no satisfaction and per
sisted in showing the letter. When Mr.
Cunningham was finally discharged from
the railroad company's employ he frequent
w in saloons stated that he had been dis
charged from his position on account Of an
undue intimacy with Mrs Durham"
The deceased belonged to one Of the old
est and best families in this city, and the
affair has created great excitement
The tragedy occurred about z o'clock sun
dav evening Colonel Durham was sitting
in Andrewss drug store, on Court Square,
Montgomery. when Cunningham, in COM
pauy with a friend, passed the door. Dun
ham saw the pair approaching and stepped
back few feet, secured double-barreled
shotgun. loaded with buckshot, and when
Cunningham was not ten feet away, ired
the contents of one barrel into Cunning
hams back. Just below the right shoulder
When the man fell ne was dead, his right
lung being torn 90 pieces. Colonel Dun
ham Jumped into his buggy drove 70 the
county Jail and gave himself up.