Hannah Conlan
Biographical Information
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| Name | Hannah Conlan | |
Case File: Dr. Harvey Burdell
Next to nothing is currently known of the life of Hannah Conlan apart from her testimony. She had been employed as a private cook at 31 Bond St on 6 Jun 1856. At that time Mrs. Jones was renting the house from Dr. Burdell, who kepts his own rooms, while Mrs. Jones subletted the rest as a boarding house. Mrs. Cunningham and her children were also already in the house at that time.
Testimony
Hannah Coulon being duly sworn, deposed as follows: - "I have been living with Mrs. Cunningham since the 6th of June 1856; I acted as cook; the deceased owns this house; Mrs. Cunningham boarded with a Mrs. Jones when I first came to the house; Mrs. Jones left the house because she and the doctor did not agree; Mrs. Cunningham took the ouse after Mrs. Jones left the house; the only boarders in the house were Mr. Snodgrass and a minister's son; Mr. Eckel often sat with Mrs. Cunningham; I have often seem Mr. Eckel sit in the parlor and bedroom with Mrs. Cunningham; Mr. Snodgrass used occasionally to sit with Mrs. Cunningham in the same way; I never heard any of the conversation; the girl who lived here, and is now absent, told me that she did not life the conduct that was going on; I knew Mr. Burdell; he was a quiet, respectable man; I heard a dispute between Mrs. Cunningham and Mr. Burdell in reference ot some papers which deceased accused her of stealing; this Mrs. Cunningham denied; last Thanksgiving day Mrs. Cunningham asked me to attend to it; a doctor also attended Mrs. Cunningham; he lives about three or four doors from Broadway, on the other wise of the street; he dressed a wound which was on the left side of her nose. He gave Mrs. Cunningham no medicine. Dr. Burdell, as I understood it, gave Mrs. Cunningham some medicine at that time; I was called upon last Thanksgiving day by Mrs. Cunningham; she said "are you doing to let me die?" I said she ought to get a doctor; I went with her to her chamber, and she bled freely from the nose; I ran for a doctor, and when I returned the other girl and myself saw that a feotus was in the chamber; she said that the child belonged to the doctor. Sine that time Mrs. Cunningham and the doctor have been on unfriendly terms; the girls reported quarrels as haivng occurred between the deceased and Mrs. Cunningham; I saw the doctor yesterday there at 4 o'clock; he was then in good health; I saw Mrs. Cunningham last night about 10 o'clock; she came to the basement and ordered me to go to bed; Mr. Eckel was down with her; she and Mr. Eckel then went up stairs to bed; I saw Mr. Eckel in Mrs. Cunningham's bedroom; Mrs. Cunningham was not in the habit of ordering me to bed except on some nights; I went to bed; heard no noise in the home last night; Mr. Snodgrass, Mrs. Cunningham and Mrs. Cunningham's daughter came down to breakfast next morning; Mr. Burdell's boy told me this morning that the doctor was dead; he asked me if there was any row in the house; I said not; Mr. Eckel did not come down to breakfast; it was after breakfast when I heard from the boy that Mr. Burdell was dead; I informed Mrs. Cunningham and her daughters that the doctor was dead; they all seemed ocnfused; Mr. Snodgrass went to Mr. Burdell's room and came up and said it was true; Mrs. Cunningham then seemed crazy and tore her hair; I left the room and went for Dr. Roberts; Mary Donoho lived here last; I think she now lives at 272 Spring street; she left here last Tuesday; she knows I think more about matters than I do; I know Mr. Eckel was not in the habit of going out any morning before breakfast; why he went away early this morning I cannot say; heard that a jealousy existed between Mr. Eckel and Mr. Burdell, in regard to Mrs. Cunningham; I heard the doctor (deceased) say at one time during this month, that he looked through the keyhole of Mr. Eckel's room door and he said he did not like it; this converstaion was between Mrs. Cunningham and deceased. The conversation took place on a Sunday afternoon; Mrs. Cunningham told me that deceased was jealous of Mr. Eckel; nobody lived in the house as females except Mrs. Cunningham, her two daughters and two servant girls; Mrs. Cunningham was in the habit of going into Mrs. Burdell's room; I don't know that she went in there last night; I did not hear that she did; I solemnly swear I know no more; if I did I should tell it if I were to go to the gallows for it; when I informed Mrs. Cunningham, her daughters and Mr. Snodgrass that deceased was dead, I did not observe anything strange in their conduct; I was too excited at the time, perhaps, to notice it. Nobody told me who sent for the Coroner."