The New York herald., 1870-02-13
THE DEATH PENALTY.
Execution In Virginia Of Alexander Gard
ner, . Negro, for Completely in Double
Murder and ArsOn-AtrOciOus and
Brutal Nature Of the Crime
Speech ON the Scafr0id.

New Kent murderers In the presence OF quite o
erowo paid The penalty OF his terrible crime on the
scanold to-day. Nearly two years has elapsed since
one OF the most sanguinary tragedies on record
startled and horrined the peaceabIe and law-abld-
Ing citizens OF this county. Lewis Kennedy and
Alexander Gardner, negroes murdered John Baker
and Mrs. Julia Stewart.
At place called Pegg's Point Just above the port
OF West Point, at the bend OF the Pamunky river,
lived Mrs. Julia stewart, widow the proprietress
OF small plantation and the reported p0ssessor OF
a considerable amouns OF money in specie and
Qreenbacks Residing with her, in the capacity Of
overseer or manager was q man named John Baker,
half Indian and negro, who also lived in criminal
intimacy with her, and he, too, was known to have
largo amount OF money OF hts own. In the same
nelghborh00d in 1867, o negro named Alexander
Gardner lived, VINO was frequently employed BY
Baker to work on che plantation. About this time
snere appeared in the Vicinity another negro named
Lewis Kennedy hailing from North Carolina, who
also obtained employment from Baker, and these
make the principal parties 70 the tragedy. Mrs.
Stewart whose maiden name was Hockady, was
good looking. OF very prepossessing manners, ana
came OF o most respectable family but report says
she had been, since her marriage, woman OF loose
morals. Her husband died about ten years SINCE
and shortly afterwards John Baker, the hall-brecd
Indian became frequent visitor az her house. aud
from the fact that ho was seen coming ana going at
the most unreasonable hours, she was regarded by
people IN the neighb0rhood as his mistress. SO no.
torious had TINS become at the close OF the war that
It failed to excite any SURPRISE and as II 1t was no
longer an object to conceal their Illicit intimacy,
Baker, at the urgent request OF the lady took his
residence with her. In this double capacity Of
manager and paramOur Baker continued to live
with Mrs. Stewart; but 1t was not long before they
disagreed, quarrelled and even blows resulted
from their dissensions.
BAKERS HISTORY
Ia one entirely peculiar the South, resulting from
the peculiar institut1on.n He had always been
man. and during the era OF slavery, n0twithstard-
ing tue prejudice entertained against free cOlOred
title Of the most rospecaabie iree person in the
county. by MS industry he had always
made comfortable subsistence; nee. andy and he
some years prior to the war he became enamored
or black maiden, tor wnOm he prolessed the great
marrlage but owing to the laws and customs then
governing this cOmmunltY--wedcck b9tween free
desires were frustrated. rhev could not be united
under the crue! laws OF the country But they were
Ut this time
Two souls with but a single thought.
and considering themselves welded In the eyes OF
asf ssa MsfsH & ysa oF "a Rn fqS SS sfes
considerable number Of years, four children being
born during this period; but. alas for human con-
s:ancy; he loved and was loved ~ return by free re
me ne legal Formally % {, 81 Obtaining divorce;
] upon the Ms mosner sa' Of mis- children 40 one sT Third
OF oil the real and personal property OF which he
was owner, and lett her in good circumstances.
Another divorce and another separation followed in
the case OF the second wife, when Baker became the
paramour OF Mrs. = stewart. over whom ne obtained
thing she possessed was surrendered to HIM, and
the former with his own money he carefully secreted
In crevice IN the brick chimney up stairs, where i
would be an impossibllg to discover II. From all
that can now be cleaned out OF the testimony 1t Is
supposed tnat 1t was this
HIDDEN TREASURE
which led Gardner to participate in tho terrible
CRIME for which ne diea .oaay; Everybody in the
pioyment OF Messrs. Stewart Il Baker. were cogni-
zaat OF the facs that large amount of money was
concealed In the houses but until Gardner was dis
missed from the service Of both nobody enter
tained any design upon 1t. Gardner mad for length
and had, It sald committed robberles, one
among the latter being the theft OF gun and
the absence Of Baker at Yorktown. who, upon his
return. at once discharged Gardner and warned hlm
OF the place. This robbery 81 alarmed Baker
when he heard 1t that his rSt Impulse Was to II
the money SAFE and ne flew to the secret police
where ne found the treasure untouched. Fearing q
second attempt he then placed the money III glass
jars took them with him out or the house, and, 1t Is
supposed, buried them in the woods; FOR, TO the
present clue has been obtained as to their where.
aDouts. This discourage OF Gardner Is one OF the
man causes WI nch originated IN the crime but In
| the case Of Kennedy
! was the motive by which ne was acJuated Like
ms acconpnce, Kennedy had also been discharged
by Baker, and WAS warned or the premises; but
| Kennedy was at the time cohabitng with a black
woman named Annie. living At Mrs. Stewart s
place. and In direct violation OF 6ake's orders he
| continued his visits TO the woman. Between these
| two the most dls2racefu scenes took place: they
! quarrelled sand fought, and frequently made night
| hideUus win yells, curses and screams. Kennedy
|
the woman In irightlul manner, and 1t
! became such q nuisance in the neighborhood
tnat Baker again ordered Kennedy and the woman
| both to leave MS premises. This imperative order
| was at length complied with, but Kennedy had IN.
wardiy sworn vengeance against his prosecutor.
| Kennedy then went TO reside with Gardner, about
two miles distant from Mrs. stewarts and the mat
| ter was nearly forgotten until he met Baker at IA
store sometime afterwards, when he seized him, en-
| deavOred to drag him from the house, and would
have beaten him severely but Tor the interpositon
OF constable who put an end TO the diculty Ken
nedy then said to Baker, i XIII you II 1t takes me
i've years" THIS all occurred some time previous TO
September. 1858, and IRON that time the Two VII
| lans had resolved upon the double tragedy and
other crimes they afterwards committed. Once
tncy doyged the steps or Baker to the city OF Rich
mond for the purpose OF numbering him but an
| opportunity did not once present Itself to carry
| their purpose INTO execution. This was about one
month previous to the commission OF the deed.
| About tins time the relations OF Baker ana Mrs.
! Stewart were " no means pleasant or agreeable;
they had quarreied and fought and BAKER had again
fallen IN iOve-ths time with an indian maiden OF
the Cherokee trlOe, who have lived on the PamunKey
! from LIm6 HnMeMOTlal. 10 tnlS l0S6OOJoct Ot us
Sdoration he was engaged to be married, fact
| with which Mrs. Stewart had long been acquainted,
| and hence the quarrels ard dissonsons TWO weeks
before the murder OF both their last quarrel took
place. and though living under tho same roof IL IL
said they never spoke to each other again.
DOUBLE MUDER AND ARSON.
Kennedy and Gardner, both armed with old army
| musKets, I0aied and hung around the vicinity,
watching opportunity TO carry out the terrlb 10
purpose they had already resolved upon. AT length
on the eventful evening" now familiar here as the
lasts Saturday In september, 1855, tue two mur-
lnt fhnl nnn rIE N nd in fh0
direction OF Mrs. Stewards Baker had been cutting
| WOOD some distance from the house, aud the two
lurking villains we'll knew the route by which he
would return. Arriving about dusk they lay In
near hog-pen Baker usually visited before going 10
tne mouse. Taey had calculated well, for soon their
vicm made his appearance, walking along leisure
! with his axe upon his shoulder. uc mad reacned
| the pen, lew yards distant from the concealed
| assasstiis, when there was loud report OF mus
ket, and Baker fell, exclaiming, "Murderl murder
Pm kiedn The unfortunate man was pierced by
two balls, which entered MS left side and lodged In
| the right ride, one OF them being EMBEDDED in the
| Other He made effort to rise with his expiring
| exclamation, but powerful blow OF musket dealt