The Discussion
SAUK RAPIDS FRONTIERMAN [1]
While many sources tend to show a fervent curiosity about the case, there were very few kind words spent on either Dr. Harvey Burdell or Mrs. Emma Cunningham. Both were metaphorically raked over the coals for their previous lives'. Dr. Burdell for his opportunistic behavior, spend-thriftiness, and general negative disposition, and Mrs. Cunningham for her claims outside of court that she had been carrying Dr. Burdell's child [1]. Within the media there was little hatred directed at one individual or another, they were both equally worthy of contempt in the eyes of the media. While it may be true that Burdell received some more specified disdain in some circles than Emma, that is merely due to the overwhelming number of incidents that gained him ire within his private and public life before his death [1].
The disparity between the crime rate and the gender of the people committing these crimes happen for a reason. One of the main causes of crime comes from a person's needs. During the mid-nineteenth century, many of the immigrants from Ireland and Germany lived in poverty. Men during this period were also seen as the "breadwinners" for their families. If a man couldn't provide for his family the legal way, many were forced to provide for their families in a more sinister way. Theft was an easy way for these people living in poverty to put food in the mouths of their families. As far as violent crimes, and why men committed them at such a higher rate than women, has to do with the sheer fact that men were very confrontational and prideful during this period of time. This could lead to crimes of jealousy.
SAUK RAPIDS FRONTIERMAN [1]
Poetic Tragedy
The Bond Street Tragedy became a legend and made its mark in popular culture when poets wove the morbid tale into ballads.
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Both these ballads detail the murder of Dr. Burdell, crafting the stanzas in such a way to further dramatize an already thrilling event. It is noteworthy that both poems paint Emma Cunningham in a particularly unflattering light, telling of her questionable claims of carrying Burdell's child, to supposedly stake a claim in his estate, and the doubts of the public concerning the validity of her and Burdell's relationship as well as her exoneration in the crime.
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While mainstream newspapers may have remained more objective in which party was favored in this crime, these pieces of prose suggest a different story in which Emma Cunningham is the clear villain, while the role of victim goes to "poor Burdell." [3]
Library of Congress [2]
Library of Congress [3]
Gender in the Court
In the testimony the women were portrayed as excitable, while the men were level-headed carriers of facts and strong. For example when a doctor testified about Emma Cunningham’s behavior he described her as, “very excitable and agitated; she has a sort of hysteric action” (The People v. Cunningham, 1857), while Samuel Parmly described himself as of very strong temperament. This continued throughout the trial as women were further described as weak and delicate. Dr. Uhl testified that women “show bruises much more easily than males, that is they show signs of bruise more easily” (The People v. Cunningham, 1857). Female bruising patterns lead to a line of questioning about Emma Cunningham’s lack of defensive wounds because according to testimony, the perpetrator would have some kind of wounds due to the strength of the victim [4].
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The ‘common’ understanding of women as weak and in need of a protector occurred throughout the trial, but most specifically in the questioning of George Snodgrass, the questioning of John Connery and the judge’s closing statements. Gorge Snodgrass walked Helen Cunningham to run errands on the night of the murder because it was night time and was asked if he walked slower with her than when he would walk by himself. A. Oakley Hall implied that since Snodgrass was accompanying a women, he would have slowed because a woman cannot walk as fast as a man, this was not the case. When trying to determine how John Connery was able to get Emma Cunningham to speak about her marriage to Dr. Burdell, the prosecution asked:
Apparently the only reason the prosecution thought she would look for protection is if her husband just died because he would not be able to fulfill his role as protector.
On the closing statement to the jury, Judge Servis said:
This is a prime example of the natural instincts drilled into society that men needed to protect women from the world [4].
1: Jeremiah Russell. "THE BURDELL MURDER." SAUK RAPIDS FRONTIERMAN 26 Mar. 1857. Print.
2: “The Bellevue Baby. Mrs. Cunningham's Adopted." By the Saugerties Bard. Air--Vilikins. J. Andrews, Printer, 38 Chatham St. N. Y,” The Library of Congress, accessed December 3, 2020, https://www.loc.gov/item/amss.sb10026a/.
3: “Dr. Burdell, or the Bond Street Murder." Air: Burns' Farewell. Andrews, Printer, 38 Chatham Street, N. Y,” The Library of Congress, accessed December 3, 2020, https://www.loc.gov/item/amss.sb10091b/.
4. The People v. Cunningham (1857), https://cite.case.law/park-crim-rep/6/398/
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