The New York herald., 1870-02-13

SSss is%sd nothing .s SHs but some ss ss
from i the straw with which II Il was was
which was soon enveloped In flames. Having done
this much 10 destroy the evidences OF their guilt the
retraced their steps the body OF first Victim
which they carried to wharf on the river side and
TO it. One OF them descended 70 the water, sunk
the body and anchored 1t, by sucking the muskes
barrel deep into the bottom OF the river. Feeling
assured that there was no means BY which they
could be discovered the mnrdererp snlleDly walked
home-sadly disappointed IN their expectations OF
few hours before. 10 thus day the money has never
been discovered. The secret OF Its place OF deposit
was buried with Baker. The
ARREST or THE MURDERERS
did not Immediately take place. On tho Sunday
morning following the commission OF the crimes
MIS- stewarps house was 2 mass ot smoking deofA
the chimney being the only standing monument OF
the edifce The cnarred bones OF u human being
proven afterwards BY medical testimony to be those
gave rise to the belief that Baker had murdered the
woman hred the house and 1cd AZ 1t was known
time past Soon, however, this suspicion was dts
pelIed BY the mute but convincing evidence
went out, was found anchored 10 tue bottom or tho
river Traces OF the nour and other articles OF plum
ground, and two detectives from Richmond were not
long ~ bringing guilt home to the proper parties
1hs ~ ene e % M on me ssd s"c
both OF whom were at once arrested. chain Of
crcamstantal evidence the most conclusive was
generation in jail Gardner ran the gaunt
fired at and wouaded made good his escape
into the woods: and once there he successfully
eluded pursuit. For nearly months ne continued
Ut large until a gentleman who had been living here
recognized him hanging about farm some three or
Wen Went to Gardner to arrest him. and % Calling I MIN Sy
his name demanded his surrender, when Gardner
NED. ned me h 1nen sd. mred ,Sgsp %pSn n Toundns
easily captured ana conveyed back co his
former quarters at the jail here. Escape No. was
both was to take place, III November last. This mo-
torious ana desperate criminal Is still at large and
wi.hstandiny tnat large reward is 0nered for hla
arrest by Governor Walker. 1t is supposed Ken
while here OF having killed q white man. He bur
rowed Through the foundation OF the jail and got ous
during the night Gardner was IN the same cen. but
his body passing through, and he had to stand
HIS TRIAL
alone. Evidence substantially as the narrative
above was eiclted and the jury, after y short all
sence, returned to the court room with verdict
ing the sentence OF the extreme penalty OF the law
the Judge asked the accused If he had anything To
say why the sentence OF deash should not be pro
n0unced upon him. 10 which he replied,
Il would like to 20 to de Penitentiary
as long as lib II dat VIII please the Remman." HIS
sentenced the prisoner to be hanged by the neck
until Dead at the place OF execution, on the 7th OF
y,
tence with GOODNESS and com00sure, not seeming q
fully appreciate his awful position. lie was re-
moved to the jail, and after lew days made the
following
The first part OF the 1865 lived with John Baker;
lived in the house with Levi. Kennedy moving
%ssr
him, eal commit the DAY hn.iy
srn but not h0rs h e 50 the house $ and rssr h
woods and shoi him. heard Baker ,ay "oh Lord. I'm
asdy with SrcSsn % tim iS hand said bos:
head when ~ ssn:osd
he returned that he threw Mrs Stewart down. rav.hed her
after Which he robbed the house and set on rs He r.
p s w u ans os, sw ;s S
the wha threw Il in the river with the broken muske tied
tempted reload his muskss but did not account Of Be-
kers cries.
taining Communication OF his sentence to iInprison.
ment Tor ile some OF the statements regarded
palpaoly false nut % finding & Il failed, Gardnsr who
began to play insane and succeeded 30 far as to
have medical commission appointed BY Genera
respite OF thirty days. which expired TO-
day. Two army surgeons and o private
physician thoroughly testeu his mental condition,
and pronounced him perfectly sane. A petition
asking the Governor TO commute Dls sentence was
Exceilency firmly refused to interfere with the
course OF the law a. he saw no extenuaiing crcum.
staDce IN the case Up to last night, and oven thn
morning. the condemned mad some hopes OF .
Communication Of his sentence or ~ least respite,
but his last nope disappeared with toe notification OF
the deputy sheriff, Mr.. Brooks. that MS time was
near at hand-he must die to-day. The wretched
man received the announcement with the same cool.
Dess and deeafor tnat mad previously characterized
him.
THE scArFoLD
was rudey erected but substantial structure, con-
Siottng OF square platform, ten by ten feet, sup
ported by uprgntS aud surmOunted by galOwS.
The platform was about eight feet nigh, with q trap
in the CENTRE ana the cr0sSbeam OF the gallo
was six feet SIX inches aDove this giving q clean
tall OF six feet II desirable. A prop supported the
trap door ana this Knocked from underneath caused
It's fail. There Is Jail yard here, ani conse-
quence, the scaffoid was erected on the edge OF q
strip OF woods not tar from the Court House buI
efrectually hidden from view. Gardner spent the
greaLest portion OF his
on earth receiving trends, taking q last fare well
aud occasionally praying. About eleven o cOi0red
preacher entered the cell OF the condemned man,
hlm all the religious consolation In his power and
exhorting him to repentance. Gardner endeavOred
to pray but 30 excited was ne that every attempt 70
compose himself failed ana in tns way the morning
passed.
Under the supervision Of Captain Brooks, the
Sheriff ian exIedera ofiicer, Ill the Dnal
prelimlnarles for the execution were com
pleted. Eight armed guards were in ~
,aa1To law. These were Stationed round the JAIL Keeping
back the crowd ana Otherwise preserving order
curing the morning; but many scenes mockery
the court house green, IN 'front.' 0l the jail. The
greatest hilarity prevailed among The attending
crowd VINO laughed, j0ked and engaged In various
games, the sound OF the sport reaching the con-
demned In his CELL diverting ms attention from the
religious SERVICES In which he was engaged.
Al ABOUT hafpast twelve O'Clock the Sheriff en-
tered cell OF the condemned pinlOned hin by the
arms ana the solemn procession TO the scaf0id
formed. With the fatal moose dangling from his
neck the condemned surrounded by the guard with
the colored preacher at his side marched firmly
across q common TO the scafOd followed by the
tnrOng Of people. Unalded he asceuded the steps "
the platform and the rope was made fast 70 the
beam above. The Sheriff then read IN o loud and
Gear the death sentence Of the cOurt,
and the subsequent respite OF Governor Walker
amid brcalhless sileuce. All this time the con-
demned appeared composed, and when asked II ha
had anything TO ray he hesltated but at length,
alter taking quiet sarvey OF the gall0ws he turned
to The crowd, many OF whom were glggiing and
laughing. particularly the cOlorcd females, and
said:-''You are all here to-day 10 see me hanged
don't know whether Pm gwne 10 heaven or TO
helln daughter among the negro women.) "Yes,
you may all laugh at poor me now,
on dis scaiold; out de deoils In hell
W