Old Cunny’s villainous nature is well illustrated in a story told of him
when he took ghastly revenge on some frolicking medical students who had
played some sort of a joke on him. According to the story, he became so
enraged with the students that he knowingly dug up the body of a
smallpox victim which he delivered to the dissecting room, as a result
of which the unprotected students promptly became infected with the
disease.[4]
Although Cunningham probably was booked in the police records of
Cincinnati more often than any other of its citizens during his time,
not all of the charges brought against him were based on his
resurrection activities. As mentioned previously, he was addicted to
strong liquor, and because of that weakness he was occasionally booked
on charges of drunkenness and disturbance of the peace. Thus, for
example, in the CINCINNATI DAILY GAZETTE on January 13, 1870, we read
that “William Cunningham, an express driver, who will be remembered by
all who have attended the medical colleges in this city, managed to get
arrested last night. He first fired his brain with whisky then fired off
an enormous revolver on Central Avenue.” The report goes on to say that
he had on his person more than seventy dollars in greenbacks, a sum
according to the write-up slightly larger than usual for station-house
visitors.
[Illustration: ... fired off an enormous revolver....]
Evidence that Old Cunny enjoyed a lucrative income from his nefarious
business is furnished by an editorial in the CINCINNATI DAILY ENQUIRER
on February 21, 1871. It comments upon the poor conditions of the
Wesleyan Cemetery in that city, pointing out that “several of the graves
look as though they had been robbed by a professional body-snatcher. The
heads of the graves about two feet square in area are sunken lower than
the rest.... Indeed, after a consideration of the ease with which any
one can get into the grounds, it is not a matter of surprise if Cunny or
some other professional has often paid nocturnal visits to the Wesleyan
and obtained subjects for the various medical colleges.” It then goes on
to say that “When men of small means, and endowed with a bare living,
can afford to purchase fine residences and building sites, can drive
home four-hundred dollar carriages right from the manufacturer, things
do begin to look somewhat suspicious.” It may be assumed that, by
inference, the editorial writer refers to none other than William
Cunningham.
“THE CHAMPION RESURRECTIONIST CAUGHT”
As is the usual fate of all culprits who fail to learn that “crime does
not pay,” the law finally caught up with the hero of this tale. Old
Cunny’s end is best described in a feature article which appeared in the
August 31, 1871, issue of the CINCINNATI DAILY ENQUIRER, entitled “The
Champion Resurrectionist Caught.” Under this caption it is pointed out
that
“Everybody knows ‘Old Cunny,’ the resurrectionist, whose occupation
for many years past has been to supply the various medical colleges of
the city with subjects for dissection, and, who, it is understood, has
amassed quite a handsome competency at his contraband employment.
“Twelve or fifteen years ago, when he was in the prime of manhood,
Cunny was so adroit and careful, though daring withal, that he carried
on the business almost without molestation. But of late years his
increasing age and infirmity have several times thrown him into the
hands of the officers, though by singular good fortune he has hitherto
escaped punishment.”