The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-10

THE NEW KENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
OF THE PRISONERS BY THE GRAND jury
THEY ARE SENT on FOR TRIAL BY THE
CIRCUIT CoURT.-The suspected perpetra-
! tors of that most horrible murder in New
| Kent we're taken before an examining court
held in that county on Thursday, October
lst, by. Justices Taliferro and Walden.
The first witness examined was Philip
Palmer (colored), who testified that the
prisoners came to his house about two hours
before sunset on the evening of the murder,
having in their possession two muskets.
The one attached to the body found in
the river was identified as belonging to
Kennedy. The prisoners remained fifteen
minutes at his house, and left. On the fol-
lowing morning witness went to the house
of the prisoners, who lived together, and
found them with only their underclothes
on, their pants hanging before the fire very
wet and muddy. Prisoners seemed much
excited, and remarked that they had been
| up all night.
The next witness called was Philip Evans
| (colored), who testified that Kennedy had
in his possession on the Thursday preceding
the murder the musket attached to Baker
| when he was taken from the river.
John Robinson (colored) testified that he
found in the woods in rear of the prisoners
residence two shirts and one pair of draw
ers. He thinks that he Identifies them as
belonging to Baker, but is not positive.
One of the shirts seemed to have been tied
up and to have had flour in it.
1t will be remembered that quantity
of flour was found on the spot where the
murder was committed when a view Of the
premises was made by detectives Tyler and
| O'Dwyer during the week subsequent to the
murder.-REP.l
Z. G. Smith stated that on the morning
after the murder he went to the farm Of
Mrs. Stewart, where the deed was commit
| ted, and while there he picked up an iron
ramrod belonging to musket. This ramrod
was recognized as belonging to the musket
found in Gardeners possession when the
arrest was made by the detectives.
Jordan Morris and other witnesses (all
colored) testified that they had more than
once heard Kennedy threaten the life OF
Baker. A short time before the murder
was committed Kennedy had been heard by
Morris to say that he intended very soon to
have his revenge, and leave the county for
ever. This threat was supposed to allude
to Baker, as it was known that they had
had several difficulties and it was also
stated that recently Baker had avoided him
on all occasions.
| In addition to the above, the testimony of
the detectives, the substance Of which We
have already stated, and which it is unne-
cessary now to repeat, was given in after
which the Justices committed the prisoner
for indictment by the grand jury, which
met on last Thursday.
This body, after hearing the evidence,
returned true bill against the prisoners
for the double crime of murder and arson.
The case was Immediately called up in the
County Court, and motion by their coun-
sci, the Messrs. Lacy, was made on account
| of absent witnesses for continuance until
the next term Of the court; which motion
the court overruled. The prisoners, through
| their counsel, then elected to be tried be-
fore the Circuit Court Judge Christian)
which meets on the 10th day of November
next.