5 Shocking Crimes From 19th Century NYC That'll Surprise You Today

BOND STREET BOMBSHELL: DIVORCED DENTIST FOUND DEAD, MISTRESS ACCUSED AS MURDERESSThe lurid murder of a Bond Street dentist captivated New Yorkers in 1857: A violent death, a disreputable victim, a scheming mistress, a fake marriage, and even a fake pregnancy. Harvey Burdell was a successful dentist and also did well in banking and real estate speculation. He partook in pleasures like gambling and prostitutes (he allegedly offered them free dental work in exchange for sex), too. But in 1854, he became involved with a young widow and mother-of-five Emma Cunningham, who eventually moved into Burdell's four-story 31 Bond Street residence, acting as a landlady for boarders, while Burdell kept rooms on the second floor.It's believed that early in their relationship, Cunningham became pregnant but Burdell didn't want the baby, and she had an abortion (he may have performed it). She also tried to get him to marry her repeatedly. On January 31, 1857, Burdell's dead body was found (strangled and stabbed 15 times). During a sensational two-week inquest, Cunningham claimed she was married to him just a few months earlier, while maids testified that Burdell had been sleeping with his 24-year-old female cousin—upsetting Cunningham—and that Cunningham had been sleeping with one of the boarders. Coroners said that based on stab wounds, the murderer was left-handed…which Cunningham was.Cunningham was tried for Burdell's murder, but she was acquitted (her lawyer used, in part, the "weaker sex" defense during the three-day trial). But her story wasn't over: In order for her to inherit more of Burdell's estate, Cunningham claimed she was pregnant with Burdell's child but instead contacted a doctor to ask for a baby for her charade. The doctor cooperated with authorities and when Cunningham insisted that the baby was hers, she was charged with fraud. The case was dropped, but her claim of marriage to Burdell was invalidated (she actually married a man disguised as Burdell). She died 30 years later, as a pauper, and is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery, not too far from Burdell. Like what you read here? Tune in to BBC America's Copper, a gripping new crime-drama series set in 1860s New York City from Academy Award®-winner Barry Levinson and Emmy® Award-winner Tom Fontana. Watch the series premiere of Copper Sunday, August 19 only on BBC America. For more updates on the series, be sure to like Copper on Facebook and Copper on Twitter.