Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-10-06
From the Scotsman.
The LIFE OF STEWART TIE MURDERER.

This -remorseeSS houiIiue, WIN va"
day suffer an ignominious and painful dea'h'
was born in the parish Of Stonneykirk, IN iSoS
Tried, convicted, and condemned, he must OF
course, be held ~ to lasting infamy by the
name of S.ewar,-bui Bradfoot was his rea.
name. His parents belonged to Ireland, ana
being possessed Of little money when they
came 10 this country, they rooted small farm
in the disr Of Galloway. Forced from the
farm by misfortune; or rather mismanagement,
and dives,ed of their lille all, they sent 'htir
son Stewart. TO serve with Mr. Nh, Pi'
Gus, bene violent, and good hearted man, then
residing in The parish Of Glenluce. While IN
his service lie was industrious, sober, trusai,
and indeed every way circumspect IN his con-
duct and in conss quence enjoyed the complete
confidence and esteem Of his employer. "hen
abou, 90 years of age, he married respec'a-
BILE young woman, whose parents were '"o'S
wealthy than his own, anu being influenced
with some idle whim or prejudice, they disa1-
Droyed hip, " of the marriage. Bring Of an
indie pendrnt, naughty, and rather nnper'ous
disposition, he scorned TO brook their hatred,
ierrs md misrepresentation, and wai'e under
the influence of passion, ne enlisted In the Ma
rire,. He was sent of to Chatham in 1925,
and the health If mis- wife being affected, by 'he
neglect Of her parents and the severity o. ne:
fortune, she died in that towns lew mon:hs al.
TER her arrival. He solicited, and was indulge"
with a pass 10 Scotland, 20 convey ms only
child home 10 his wife's parents, but ne never
returned. Tortured and rendered restless ahc
reckless by the constant apprehension vi oeinS
Sc z d as deserter, es;ranged iIom MS haoi.S
of application and sobr,e,y, sinking IN his
own estimation, aud avoided BY his former
commanders and { lends, he associated with
81, and S.
iyely fell into life Of iriesularity and crime
For nearly four years he has been prowlng up
and down The county, ike the arch enemy oil
maukind, seeking whom he might devour In
his rapid sketch we shall only notice few of
the p,incipab incidu,s Of his life-for we should
be 10th to tire and disgust our readers with
ninu,e details Of all his dehnqueocies.
He was either too cautious OF TOO great re-
cream, 10 auempt any desperate or perilous
e$pe6en, TO Obtain money or properly Even
when reduced TO the greatest distress, he new
er once dreamed Of house breaking or high
way robbery. Shtepslealing was his oo'des'
adventure, ard though he succeeded IN brrak-
ing Slranraer goal, his narrow escape made
an impre ssion upon him Tor the subse Quent
Par, Of his profligale lite. He enlisted fire.
ouen,ly, aud decamp-d with the money he re-
ceiyed. He was pretty dextrous pickpockct,
and veteran gambler and cheat at country
fairs. In the course Of his criminal career, he
became acquainted with gang OF ooiners and
vendors of forged notes, land being soon Initiated
wish their modes Of procedure, he associated
with them for nearly two years. Considering
that the gang could not always escape de'ec-
lion, and dreading tina, the apprehension OF one
might lead 10 tire conviction and punishment
of he whole, he cut the connection, and COM
menced business on his own account. About
two years ago he left The border connties-'he
scenes Of his former proceedings-as va shan
ner," and rented small room In an obscure
part Of Dumfries. BY his previous knowledge
AID ex perience he was enabled TO construct
VARIETY of excellent moulds or dies exclusively
f"r his own use, and by this means reduce
this brsnch Of robbery 10 system, by which
he cbatainrd the greatest profit with the least
possible danger Of detection. Al the same time,
To keep mp tecen, appearance, and oh,iae
suspicion, he occasionally wrought at such Jobs
as suited his inclination. While hr resided
at Dumfries he became acquainted with his sec
ond wife, his coadju in murders, and fellow
sufferer Oh the giobet They furnished hem
selves with considerable amount Of base mo,
ney with which they set out on ,our, for the
purpose Of exchanging it for the genuine coin
,hev were married with the usual formalities,
by vir ue Of he uniqe powers Of The very obi
ging blacksmith. During their travels, though
they had a number of-very narrow escapes,
they were so successful as 10 accumulate lii
lie money; bu, il was almost uniformly squan
dered as Fest as il was obtained, in drunkenness
and debanchery among their infamous mall
and female companions. Such, in i few words,
was the diabolical, chequered, AND prIilous
manner Of subsistence Il John Braaioo, alias
Stewart, before he reached the zenith 1t afro
city, by novel and recrean; mode OF murder
add robbery
When travelling one nigh between this city
aud Biggar. lac quite Unexpectedly encountered
an old companion IN crime, who was lurking by
the wayside, waiting opportunity to commit
a bur glary,when genteel family he named were
wrap, in profound repose. In the course Of
conversation he stated tina, This was the las,
house breaking he ever intended to perpe,ra,e;
as he had learned a much more profitable, and
less dangerous way Of obtaining money. S,ew>