The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-27
Mysterious Death of an Old Southern
Merchant-Arrest of an Ex.Police-
man, His Wife. and Servant, ON
SprSnlpinu

Captain John Alexander, on old and
wealthy resident of New Orleans, who was
in his lifetime on extensive real estate
owner in that city, arrived in New York in
September, 1868. He had in his possession
about 900 in United States bonds and
other negotiable securities. At the house
of Ira G.. Gardner, One Hundred and
Twenty-Seventh street near Fourth avenue,
he engaged board, and continued to reside
for several months.
The old man was in the habit Of confding
his monetary secrets to Henry Leeds, OF
No. rs South street, Captain Winchester,
and George Dewey, of l55 Wall street.
These gentlemen have ut various times
counted his money, and found that he car
ried about him at all times sums ranging
from $4,000 to $4,000. Several of bis
friends demonstrated with him as to the
danger of carrying so large sum upon his
person, but Alexander, whose appearance
was that of man in straitened circum-
stances, expressed his unconcern. His &C.
quaintances state that he was man Of fine
intellect and unusually sharp in business
transactions. .#
1t is also ayerred that when he entered
the family Of Gardner, who is an ex-poliee-
man, he (Gardner) was in very straitened
circumstances.
Alexander continued to reside in the fam
lily for months, and made confdants of some
Of the family. He died on the 26th Of
March, 1868, and was buried in Greenwood
Cemetery under the name Of Colin Alexan.
der; and it 10 also matter Of record that @
Dr.. Brockway, living in the house, gave the
certificate Of death to the effect that Alex.
ander died of softening of the brain.
While residing in Gardeners family, it is
said the old Captain was in the habit OF
communicating weekly by letter with his
daughter, Mrs. Virginia c. Burke, of New
Orleans. The old mans letters suddenly
stopped. Mrs. Burke, becoming alarmed,
Immediately left for this city. After seve-
raj days spent in futile search she traced
her father to the house of Gardner, where
she for the first time learned of his death
Mrs. Burke, it is claimed, had one or more
interviews with Mrs. Gardner, and asked
her if she was not aware that her ledger
was in the habit of carrying money.about
his person. Mrs. Gardner denied all
knowledge of the old mans wealth, but
stated that his effects-ali that he had left
on the premises-were in o bag, which she
handed over, and which subsequently proved
to contain $4,000, which are now in the
hands of the Trust Company. Mrs. Gard
ner, it is alleged, further informed the
daughter that her father before death ex'
pressed his pleasurea at the kindness he had
received at the hands of the family, and
instructed her to keep the money found in
the bag.
DIR. Shine asserts that q near relative Of
Gardner, who, previous to the death of Alex
ander, was very poor, has recently pur'
chased newspaper in Harlem, and lives in
princely style. Three thousand dollars Of
the 100000 shown by Alexander to his
friends, it is alleged, have been traced to
the possession of members of the family.
Coroner Flynn yesterday had the body
exhumed and the stomach placed in the
hands of DR.. Doremus for analysis. Mr..
Mexander's friends claim they will be able
to show that he was seen in the street three
days before his death apparently in the
possession of all his faculties.
Ira Gardner, his wife, and servant girl
name Rosa King, were arrested and locked
up IN the ststion-house. DIR. Shine states
that it is likely that the servant girl will
make important revelations on the INQUEST
NeD York Herald, 25th.