Read Online 31 Bond Street by Ellen Horan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ellen Horan
Tags: Fiction, Historical
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estate.”
“Well, of course they do,” stated Clinton. “I am sure you know, James, that there is nothing novel about a fight among family members over a dead man’s estate. Mrs. Cunningham is being held as a witness and possible suspect to the murder, and she deserves a good attorney for her defense. I suppose the brothers would rather see her swing from the gallows than have her inherit his money.”
“The family believes that Mrs. Cunningham’s claim to be Dr. Burdell’s wife is false and may be the motive for this murder.”
“She is a woman under duress, and there are not yet any facts to implicate her in the murder. I am not sure when it was determined that she should be denied her legal rights, but suddenly, between the District Attorney, the Coroner, and the family, it appears to be in everyone’s best interest that she hang.”
“Henry, please listen,” interjected Armstrong, wearily. He smoothed the carriage blanket across his legs and cleared his throat. “My meeting last night informed me of many things. According to the Burdell brothers, Harvey Burdell was a difficult man. He had quarrels with many, and lawsuits with his own family. He may have been involved in any number of illegitimate pursuits.”
“There you have it; perhaps one of his family killed him.”
“May I continue?” Armstrong snapped. As the senior partner, hehad a habit of demanding deference, and Clinton waited for him to proceed in his long-winded manner. “Dr. Burdell had four brothers. When he was sixteen, he was ejected from his mother’s farm. It is not clear what happened, but his mother demanded that he leave, so he ran away to New York. The eldest brother, John, took him in. John was married and began a dental practice here. He paid for Harvey’s enrollment at the Pennsylvania Medical College. After receiving his degree, Harvey moved in with John and John’s rather attractive young wife.”
“I seem to remember John Burdell being involved in a scandal,” interjected Clinton, trying to gauge the direction of the story.
“Yes,” replied Armstrong, with his usual distaste. “The two brothers set up a practice together on Broadway and Franklin Street. There were quarrels between them: John accused Harvey of being intimate with his wife, and a divorce proceeding ensued.”
“Sleeping with your brother’s wife is hardly a way to show gratitude,” said Clinton.
“Harvey professed innocence in the affair. It appears that a judge came up with a costly alimony settlement in favor of the wife. Harvey offered his brother an ingenious plan—he persuaded John to sign over all of his properties to be held in Harvey’s name—as a way for John to hide his property from his estranged wife. Meanwhile, John was forced to move to Union Square and start a new practice. When John demanded his safeguarded assets returned, Harvey refused, saying he would report him for hiding his money from his wife, and soon after John became gravely ill.”
Clinton turned, gazing out the window. “James, what is your point? How does this affect my decision to take Emma Cunningham’s case?” asked Clinton, impatiently. Confined in the small space, Clinton sensed a trap. Armstrong was a shrewd lawyer. He did not engage in a lengthy discourse unless he planned to win the argument.
“Hear me out,” said Armstrong. “Harvey visited his brother upon his sickbed and drew up a will, making himself the sole executor of John’s estate. John signed it in a delirium. Then Harvey returned with a sheriff and a repossession notice, claiming his brother had debts to him. They removed all of John’s possessions, his furniture, and even the bed under the sick man, leaving him to die alone on the floor of his barren room.”
“So, you’re saying that Harvey Burdell slept with his brother’s wife, stole away his business, blackmailed him, and swindled him of his livelihood? Is there a moral to the story, James?” asked Clinton.
“Does this
“Well, of course they do,” stated Clinton. “I am sure you know, James, that there is nothing novel about a fight among family members over a dead man’s estate. Mrs. Cunningham is being held as a witness and possible suspect to the murder, and she deserves a good attorney for her defense. I suppose the brothers would rather see her swing from the gallows than have her inherit his money.”
“The family believes that Mrs. Cunningham’s claim to be Dr. Burdell’s wife is false and may be the motive for this murder.”
“She is a woman under duress, and there are not yet any facts to implicate her in the murder. I am not sure when it was determined that she should be denied her legal rights, but suddenly, between the District Attorney, the Coroner, and the family, it appears to be in everyone’s best interest that she hang.”
“Henry, please listen,” interjected Armstrong, wearily. He smoothed the carriage blanket across his legs and cleared his throat. “My meeting last night informed me of many things. According to the Burdell brothers, Harvey Burdell was a difficult man. He had quarrels with many, and lawsuits with his own family. He may have been involved in any number of illegitimate pursuits.”
“There you have it; perhaps one of his family killed him.”
“May I continue?” Armstrong snapped. As the senior partner, hehad a habit of demanding deference, and Clinton waited for him to proceed in his long-winded manner. “Dr. Burdell had four brothers. When he was sixteen, he was ejected from his mother’s farm. It is not clear what happened, but his mother demanded that he leave, so he ran away to New York. The eldest brother, John, took him in. John was married and began a dental practice here. He paid for Harvey’s enrollment at the Pennsylvania Medical College. After receiving his degree, Harvey moved in with John and John’s rather attractive young wife.”
“I seem to remember John Burdell being involved in a scandal,” interjected Clinton, trying to gauge the direction of the story.
“Yes,” replied Armstrong, with his usual distaste. “The two brothers set up a practice together on Broadway and Franklin Street. There were quarrels between them: John accused Harvey of being intimate with his wife, and a divorce proceeding ensued.”
“Sleeping with your brother’s wife is hardly a way to show gratitude,” said Clinton.
“Harvey professed innocence in the affair. It appears that a judge came up with a costly alimony settlement in favor of the wife. Harvey offered his brother an ingenious plan—he persuaded John to sign over all of his properties to be held in Harvey’s name—as a way for John to hide his property from his estranged wife. Meanwhile, John was forced to move to Union Square and start a new practice. When John demanded his safeguarded assets returned, Harvey refused, saying he would report him for hiding his money from his wife, and soon after John became gravely ill.”
Clinton turned, gazing out the window. “James, what is your point? How does this affect my decision to take Emma Cunningham’s case?” asked Clinton, impatiently. Confined in the small space, Clinton sensed a trap. Armstrong was a shrewd lawyer. He did not engage in a lengthy discourse unless he planned to win the argument.
“Hear me out,” said Armstrong. “Harvey visited his brother upon his sickbed and drew up a will, making himself the sole executor of John’s estate. John signed it in a delirium. Then Harvey returned with a sheriff and a repossession notice, claiming his brother had debts to him. They removed all of John’s possessions, his furniture, and even the bed under the sick man, leaving him to die alone on the floor of his barren room.”
“So, you’re saying that Harvey Burdell slept with his brother’s wife, stole away his business, blackmailed him, and swindled him of his livelihood? Is there a moral to the story, James?” asked Clinton.
“Does this
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