The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-12
and one on the lower or ground floor. The
latter is the one Gardner was confined In,
and the same from which Kennedy ESCAPED
TORY OF THE coNpEMNED.

H# q I.
STORY OF THE coNpEMNED.
An interview with the prisoner elected
but few new facts. In answer to questions
he said he was not prepared to die. HI
said his object in the murder was MOI
money or revenge, but that he was afraid
to 60 contrary to Kennedy's wishes. Or
the evening Of the murder Kennedy and
himself started ON different roads, expecting
to meet Baker at certain point. On his
way he stopped in the field about one hun.
dred yards from where Baker was killed,
and plucked watermelon from the vine,
and was eating it, when he heard the repor,
of gun. In few minutes Kennedy met
him, and told him that he had killed
Baker. Gardner said he then went to the
spot-where Baker lay, and Kennedy pro-
ceeded to the house of Mrs. Stewart, where
in few minutes he heard cries of distress
from Mrs. Stewart. He fastened towards
the. house to see what Kennedy was doing,
but. when he got within o hundred yards Of
the house he met Kennedy with bacon,
sugar, &C., who told him he had murdered
Mrs. Stewart, after ravishing her. BE
said, too, that he had set the house on fire,
(which In few minutes was evident, as the
heavens were lit up by the burning of the
house. 4 ii. =
The only new fact elected besides this
1 story was that he could now tell where Ba-
ker's money was deposited-said it was de.
posted with Swct's wife (half-breed), who
lived on Bakers place, and with whom
Baker had become very intimate. People
in the neighborhood say that SWEETS family
have had considerable money since the
murder of Baker. =
tH1T o"f s@ THE GALLows. H..t
The scaffold was erected about hundred
yards in the rear of the Jail, on the edge Of
piece of woods. There was no attempt
to debar persons from witnessing the execu
tion, but the crowd was not large, and but
few negroes were present. The structure
was substantial, newly built, and the drop
was allowed fall of about six feet. ~
The prisoner left the jail few minutes
before the appointed time in custody o.
Sheriff Brooks and ten arineib guards. Hi
step wss firm and his bearing cool. AT frg
sight of the scaffold, however, he seemed
to stagger, but it was only to step back AM
take good long look at the means of hi
execution. He said nothing, but walked
on boldly and ascended the platform will
q step as firm as murderer ever treads.
FINAL SCENES.
Being asked if he had anything to say
he turned to the assembled negroes, VIII
were laughing and carrying on as if wit
Messing Eolse-race or circus, and sait
in solemn voice that he did not knoy
whether he WAS going to Heaven or He'll
Before God he was innocent, and hi
friends had deserted him.
4 negro woman cried out, "Your'e gwyn,
to hell !! +" which caused an outburst o
laughter from the crowd.
Gardner exclaimed, eyes; you laugl
at Foor me now, with these limbs tied: bu
the devils in hell are laughing at you!"
Another negro woman then shouted, rs
you're going to eat the goose that feeds Oh
our graves, are you :"
To this jeer, which was an allusion to
remark made by the prisoner after b
escaped and before his recapture, an
which all the negroes seemed to have hear
of, he returned no answer, and the crow
laughed at the witty sally.
He then turned to the sheriff and sai
but one person knew lie was innocent
and that was God. He was then shroud
ed in black, and the cap was drawn owe
his face. A negro preacher uttered fey
words of exhortation and offered up fer
vent prayer for mercy. He then said
Nobody had ANYTHING to do with thi
murder but Lewis Kennedy and me-"
Another second, the drop fell, and tn
soul of the murderer was launched int
eternity.
DEAD.
There was no struggle or other eyidenc
of pain. The body hung twenty-four min
utcs, and then being cut down, the attend
ing physicians, Drs. Slater and Williams
made the usual examinations and pro
nounccd life extinct.
The body was put in rude pine coffi
and buried at the foot of the scaffold, an
the show being over, the negroes went thei
way in high glee with the entertainment
and with something to talk about for
month to come.