The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-12
PUBLIC EXECUTION OF ALECH
> GARDNER AT NEW KENT
COURTHOUSE. ,rq
THE MURDERERS AND THE
MURDERED.
HOW THE DEED WAS DONE.
Scenes On and About the seaaold.
JIBEs OF THE SPECTATORS AND LAS,
WORDS OF THE MURDERER.

the horrible double murder of Mrs. Stewart
ana John Baker, committed by himself and
Lewis Kennedy in the county Of New Kent
In September 1868. The execution took
place at New Kent Courthouse ut II o'clock,
ana was conducted as quietly as such affairs
are generally managed in Virginia-no
rotten rope nor bungling sheriff playing q
part in the dismal scene.
THE MURDERED WOMAN. ,
Mrs. Stewart was, when murdered, Just
thirty years of age, and of very prepossess-
ing appearance. She was member of o
very respectable family, but of corrupt
morals, having, after her husbands death,
ten years ago, become enamorcd of half
breed named John Baker, who finally, as
will be shown, came to the same untimely
end. During her husbands life Baker
lived on on adjoining place, and was some
times employed by Mr.. Stewart as O field
hand. After his death the intimacy of the
widow and Baker became subject of com
mon talk. Finally he went to live with her,
and took possession of the place, in the oc-
cupancy of which he continued until the
day of the murder. .....
THE MURDERED NAN.
John Baker was a man of middle age,
with on adInixture of negro and Indian
blood in his veins. He was considered in
dustrious, and before his connection with
Mrs. Stewart had by hard work and enter
prise secured enough money to buy farm.
Before the war he was married to negro
slave, by whom he had four children. Sub
sequently he obtained divorce and gave
her third of his property. Then he mar
ried free negress, from whom also he got
divorce, and at the time Of his death was
engaged to be married to half-breed.
With Mrs. Stewart he had lived very un-
happily, and their quarrels frequently
ended in her receiving sound drubbing at
his hands. It is even said that though they
lived under the same roof they had not
spoken Il word to each other for two weeks
before the murder.
THE MCRDERERS.
Alexander Gardner was full-blood ne
gro, about thirty-ive years old, six feet in
height, and of strong, muscular build. He
always bore bad character, and many
minor violations of law were laid to his ac-
count. In the early part of 1865 he was
working for Baker, who advanced him mo-
ney on account of work. He soon proved
to be indolcnt, and was suspected of theft,
which resulted in his employers driving
him off the place.
Lewis Kennedy is another of the con.
victed murderers, but broke Jail some
months ago, and is still at large. He also
worked for Baker, and was discharged for
being nuisance to the neighbors, his quar-
relsome disposition being shown in many
ways-among others, by his beating his
wife. When discharged he went away
grumblng, but left his wife in Bakers en-
ployment. Returning very soon, he was
again ordered off, and this time left in
great anger, swearing he would be reyenged
Oil Baker. A few days afterwards they
met at Taylor's Store and fight ensued,
but they were separated by the proprietor
of the store. He then swore before all who
were present that he would kill Baker if ii
took him five years to do the job.
HOW THE DEED WAS DONE.
This was the state of affairs in Septem
Der 1868: Baker and Mrs. Stewart were
living together in thinly-settled country.
Gardner and Kennedy had been discharged
by Baker, and both had threatened his
life. So on the Sth day of that month they
had their bloody revenge.
Baker was out in the woods, not far from
the house, cutting logs to build cabin.
| About sundown he started on his way home
with his axe on his shoulder, and was heard
calling the hogs in to be fed. He had gone
only a short distance from the scene of his
work when he was shot by Kennedy, who,
| with Gardner, was lying in wait in the
bushes. The ball entered the left side Of
the victim, and passed clear through the
body. A neighbor heard the cry of Muir
der l am killed -; but did not 60 and see
what was the matter. Kennedy then rush
ed out, and ere he could utter another
word, struck his victim senseless to the
earth, at the same time breaking his skull
and swapping the musket, with which the
blow was dealt, like mere straw.
| Finding their victim stone dead, the muir.
derers searched the body for money, but
found only ten coppers in his pocket. They
then went to the house and demanded o1
Mrs. Stewart where Baker kept his money
She said she didn't know he had hid it in
the ground, but whereabouts he wouldn't
tell. Thus disappointed in getting money,
the ficnds ravished the woman, beat he1
brains out with tire-iron, and left her dead
upon the floor. A search through the house
for money revealed none, so the torch was
applied, the house burned, and arson was
added to rape and murder.
Finally, they went back to the scene Of
the first murder, dragged Bakers dead
body to the river, about 500 yards distant
and, having first tied the broken musket tt
it, threw it overheard and went away
Living at the same house, they went home
together and appeared before their wives
smeared with blood. Gardner satisfied biz
wife's curiosity by saying that he had rob
bed store in King William and killed 6
man. So, as she says, she bothered herself
no more about the matter. They then got tc
bed, and feigned sickness until arrested TO,
| the crime.
THE MURDER DISCOVERED.
The light from the burning building OF
tracted the neighbors to the place, and they
| were surprised to find the house on fire
while neither the man nor the woman were
about, although both had been seen there
during the day, and Bakers horse was loose
in the field. Night coming on, they left fol
their respective homes, but returning the
next morning found the charred bones oil
Mrs. Stewart in the ashes of the burnt dwell.
ing. AS they had been on bad terms, Ba-
ker was at first suspected of numbering his
wife and burning the house to conceal the
crime. Strict search, however, brought to
light the body, and Detectives O'Dwyer and
Tyler being sent for, went down from Rich
mond and soon apprehended the murderers
Of their trial and conviction it is need.
less to write in detail. The evidence was
conclusive, and one of the prisoners finally
made partial confession. Gardner, since
| Kennedy's escape, has kent q stiff uppel