The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-02
LOCAL MATTERS.
DOUBLE MURDER IN NEW KENT
TIE MURDERERS AND INCENRIARIES
ARRESTED AND IN JAIL.

In Tuesdays Dispatch appeard the re-
cord of one Of the most startling and cold
blooded tragedie that has ever been enter
ed upon the criminal calender Of Virginia.
The paragraphs referred to contained an
account of the inhuman murder of Mrs.
Julia Stewart, of New Kent county, the
burning of the dwelling house over the
head of the corpse, and the killing of John
Baker, q half breed Indian in the employ
of the unfortunate woman. Baker was
shot with a musket carrying Mimic ball,
his head mashed in with some heavy
instrument, his clothing stripped from his
body, gun-barrel tied to his feet, and
the mangled corpse, with the weight at
tached, thrown into the Pamunkey river !;
the dark waters of which stream flow near
by the scene of the tragedy. But the body
in day or two came to the surface and was
identified, and the charred bones of the
murdered woman were found in the ashes
Of her late peaceful home.
An inquest was held, and after full
hearing Of the vague testimony elected,
the jury rendered that stereotyped verdict
that the deceased came to their death by
wounds inflicted by some person or persons
unknown. Never was an affair involved
in more mystery but the publication Of
the story brought the affair to the notice of
the Richmond police, and before Tuesday
night two Of our best detectives, special
constables Tyler and O'Dwyer, were on
their way to New Kent county. They
brought experience, good sense, and tho
rough knowledge of their profession to the
work, and entering upon it at once with
spirit, their efforts were crowned with sue
cess.
They found the scene of the arson and
double murder to be retired spot situated
on Peg Point, opposite Ethan, on the Pa
munkey river. The place was accessible
by but one road, and that lonely and I'M
frequented. a creek makes up On either
side of the point, and the ground surround
ing it is but marsh. They first examined
the spot where Baker fell. The soil had
drunk the blood, but still carried the stain
on tell-tale lips. This was about two hun
dred yards from the house of Mrs. Stewart.
The half breed had been cutting timber atthe
time, and turning to look towards the burn
ing building, the shot that killed him was
fired by man who must have been con-
cealed behind stump only a short dis
lance off. There was indisputable evidence
of this to the keen eyes Of Tyler end
O'Dwyer. They then went towards the
blackened chimney and scraped up the
charred bones from beneath the debris Of
the burned house. They were the bones of
female, and beyond doubt that female
was Mrs. Stewart.
The officers then went to work in the
neighborhood, ami though everybody
seemed afraid to tell anything about the
case, soon succeeded in getting testimony
sufficient to fix the commission of the crime
upon two negroes, residing not more than e
mile from the point, named Alexander
Gardner and Lewis Kennedy. These fell
lows lived together; and armed with war
rant issued by Justice Taliaferro, the Of
fcers went at once to their cabin. An
old woman who came to the door said
!" Mr.. Kennedy lived there, but he was
not at home." While she was talking Ken
nedy came around to the front of the house,
and was at once recognized from descrip-
ton previously obtained. Being asked
where Gardner was, lie said he was up
stairs in bed. Mr.. O'Dwyer went up after
him, and made him prisoner, and in the
mean time, by an adroit movement, secured
Gardner. They were then questioned by
the detectives as to the murder Of Mrs.
Stewart and John Baker. They pretended
never to have heard of the affair before,
although the news had been carried
all through the county. Mr.. Tyler
asked how many muskets there we're in the