Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23


was confirmed by the smell of burning
clothing or leather.
DR.. Burdell had an Office bow named
Thomas Callahan, whose duty it was to
sweep mp tho Office and start the crate
fires at O'Clock every morning in winter
time. This boy, who lived outside with
his parents, came to the Office mt O'Clock
on the morning of the 31st. As was his
habit, he first went down to the cellar to
get scuttlc of coal. AS he neared the Of
fee he took out his deadlatch key to un-
lock the door and was surprised to find it
open. He pushed it in a few feet, when it
was stopped by q heavy body on the oppo-
site side. He set down the scuttle and
looked behind the door Every gas Jet was
burning, and he saw that the object that
had obstructed the door was the dead body
of DIR. Harvey Burtlell.
The hoy shouted and stared wildly about
him. The body lay in a pool of blood
There was blood on the walls, blood on
the floors, blood on the pictures and blood
on the overturned furniture, all showing
that DR.. Burdell. who was powerful man.
had made terrific fight for his life before
he succumbed to the 10 dagger stabs, most
Of which were fatal.
The boy rushed in to Mrs. Cunning
hams dining room, where he found her
self, the boarders and children placidly
eating breakfast. On learning that the
doctor was murdered, Mrs. CUNNINGHAM
shrieked and became hysterical, but Eckel.
beyond turning pale, showed no sign Of
excitement.
The police were at once called in and
doctors summoned, but the latter declared
that DIR. Burdell had been dead at least
since midnight.
The news of the murder spread through
the city, like the proverbial wildfire, and
public opinion was quick to associate Mrs.
Cunningham and her paramour, Eckel,
with the crime. A coroner's jury was
summoned, and its deliberations lasted
for three days. During. the investigation
Hannah Conlin, the cook, swore that on
the Both q woman had come to the house,
saying she had rented it of DR.. Burdell
from tho LIST of the following May, and
as Mrs. Cunningham was out the cook
showed her over the premises. When, on
her return, Mrs. Cunningham learned this,
she said to Hannah Conlin, "Dr Burdell
had better be careful or he may not live to
sign the lease
Another curious fact came out in the
evidence before the coroner's jury. Some
of the most skillful surgical experts in the
city were called in, and one and all swore
that the wounds were inflicted by q long
bladcd, keen edged dagger. Owing to the
nature of the wounds, the surgeons also
declared that they We're inflicted by q left
handed person. Mrs. Cunningham was
left handed.
The woman was certainly an excellent
actress. She declared that she was the
wife of DR.. Burdell, to whom she was So
cretly married, as was shown by q mar
rim ota 1nto nnt
signed by the Rev. DIR. Marvine. DIR.
Marvine distinctly remembered having
married Mrs. Cunningham to somebody,
but he could not recall the name or ap-
pearance of the man, and it was then be-
lieved that Mrs Cunningham had induced
some person, possibly Eckel, to represent
| the doctor.
Although boldly and strenuously doclar-
ing their innocence, the evidence against
Mrs. Cunningham and Eckel was consid-
cred sufficient by the grand jury to lead to
their Indictment for the murder of DR..
Harvey Burdell. Both these people were
incarcerated in the Tombs. Henry L.
Clinton, one of the foremost criminal law
yers of the day, was retained by Mrs. Gun
bingham, who now called herself Mrs.
Cunningham urdell. A. Oakley Hall,
then district attorney for New York city,
conducted the prosecution.
The trial lasted for three days, and the
| courtroom was crowded to suffocation
hours before the time set for each days
| session. Mr.. Hall was then in the prime
| of manhood, and he conducted the case
with characteristic force and ability. But
to the surprise and indignation of tho pub
| lie the jury returned verdict of mot
| guilty" If any had had doubts as to Mrs.
Cunningham's connection with the crime,
| they were set at rest after the release of
herself and Echel
| As the widow Of the murdered man, she
claimed her dover right in his estate, and
| she might have succeeded in this had not
her avariciOusness induced her to concoct
a scheme for getting possession of the
whole. She claimed that she was about to
become mother, and that DIR. Burdell
was the father of her unborn child. In
| order to carry out this plan it was neces-
sary for her to purchase tho services of a
doctor who would lend himself to her pur-
pose. She hit upon DR.. Uhl and offered
him 81 900 if he would procure newborn
baby, bring it to her room, and then make
affidavit that she was its mother.
| DIR. Uhl pretended to enter into the con-
spiracy, but before taking another step he
laid the whole matter before District At