The New York herald., 1870-01-28
THE ALEXANDER MYSTERY.
Testimony Before the Coroner Interesting Inci-
dents in the Domestic Life Of the
Gardner Family.

Coroner Flynn continued the investigation into
this yesterday. The investig alton was strictly
private, and the witnesses were not sworn, but 1t u
the intention Of the Coroner to have their statements
read to the jury some day next week. when they will
be sworn to. The following Is the evidence taken:
Isaac II. rockingham. President OF the Union Trust
Company stated tnat 10 December, 1859, the sum OF
&c. 600 In bonds deposited for safe keeping with
that company to the order OF the supreme Court
pending suit against Mr. Gardner, OF Harlem, BY
the heir OF Mr.. John Alexander.
Michael " Creger, Of l27th street, testified that no
is owner of properly over the amount OF $l0o, ,ooo
ana lives door to the Gardners; has known them
Tor four years; tney kept boarding house. and in his
opinion were entirely dependent upon 1t for living
from Appearances previous to 1869 he should say the
family were in very straitened circumstances and
made no display OF wealth. after the death OF Cap
tain Alexander he noticed change In their circum
stances for the beter they dressed better and made
purchases almost every day or furniture aud Clothes
to the amount or several hundred dollars; IN June,
1862 Mrs. Gardner desired witness TO purchase for
her plano; he did So aud paid $500 for 1t, which
Mrs. Gardner paid him: six months previous she
had asked him to get her for about twenty five
dollars, but they hired one instead, and not being
able to pay the rent for II 1t forcbly removed
their soninaw. James w. Graf, and his wife lived
there; was a printer and had an olice over cigar
store; they were in very poor circumstances while
living with Mr. and Mrs. Gardner; after the
death OF Captain Alexander they took a
house In 1890 street and commenced house
keeping; have purchased piano, ana their circum-
stances have also been changed for the better;
witness knew the deceased while boarding with the
Gardners; he appeared TO be very strong; saw him
within week ol his death In the street; on the day
or his death Grape on the door ana heard OF his
death WITH some surprise; one day Mr.. Gardner told
witness tnat the deceased was wealthy man ana
had large quantity or governments bonds; that his
son, who was In the treasury was IN the habit or
cashng his coupons for him; that deceased was very
exact about money matters and always paid him
weekly, aud had paid him to within three days OF
his death ana was perfectly honorable In his trans
actlOnS.
James H. Winchester, ship broker and commission
merchant. Al South street, stated taat In December.
1885, deceased came into the oIiice and took OF
two bags from around his neck beneath his shirt;
desired MIR. Leeds (the partner OF wtness) to count
some bonds for HIM which were In the bags, and he
counted INT $4,000; ne was at the once WITHIN week
daughter witness wrote his letsers telling her to
have the property assigned IN MS name and In writ
corrected and made him insert ''our property
marking that all his property ne intended leaving TO
Isaac Lockwood, Of lz7th street. testified that dur
ing The summer OF 1869 Mr. Gardner asked HIM II ne
knew Of any one who wanted money on mortgage
wanted 10 invest; on another occasion he asked II
he knew OF house TO be sold, as he wanted one:
tnlH was the summer 1869. WlLne63 s6l0 ne nau
one TO sell Tor 81 800 but ne said ne wanted larger
one; IN October, 1859. Mr. Gardner said he had got
into trouble, he nad been sued by Mrs. Burke for
large amount OF bonds which she claimed were her
fatner's at the time Of his death witness advised
him to give them up; he said that when Captain
Alexander was ana ans ns ws had
OF DIR. Brockway, to whom she handed the bag. he
opened 1t aud found It TO contain BOMBS and green
he stated that. Captain Alexander mad promised
them something to make them comfortable; that he
y tod ms we tnat sne would ma something on MIN MIN
money with Judge Beehe.
Henry Leeds corroborated the testimony Of
Mr; winchester and stated further that deceased
called at his ONCE ten days before his death; he
was always clear In intellect, not lmbecile; wit
e d.X hat e W IN aeasn es .na axe
sired him TO take charge Of his eects went to 127rn
street aud saw Mrs. Gardner but she would not
property up; told her that Mr. Alexander had some
$60 OV0 In bonds and securities; these said
knew nothing about; thought ne had noe more than
$40 600: spoke OF the Dag around his neck she SAID
1t there still; she would take Of nia effects
and would not give them up: she said that she had
been Ill only three or four days-that Is, confined TO
his room; that he did not owe her anything, but
paid every saturday night that he told her that sne
could keep whatever they found on him after hts
death for the Kindness they mad shown him.
Charlotte Ann Morgan, OF 357 State street, Brook
lyn, knew Captain Alexander for period OF forty
years. he frequently stopped in the house where she
resides when here; ne carried q large quantity OF
bonds around his neck In q bag; had frequently cut
Oh coupons Ior MIN, KNEW ne nau over $ou,OOU, ON
March TO- 1859, he dned at the house and wanted to
come and stop there as ne said he did not feel safe
where he was In reference to his property; on
the 27tn OF March heard OF MS death; went
to attend the funeral, and was met BY Mr..
Gardner's daughter. Mrs. Gran, who said that
deceased mad been to New Orleans, and had come
back looking sick; lie said that ne was very poor,
as ne had given all his means to his daughter;
Mrs. Gardner came In and stated that the Captain
had about him $500, which she cautioned him not
to carry. being, as she said, large amount; sne
said that at the time Of his death ne had 500 and
some odd dollars, and that this was found In differ
ent parts OF his clothes; Mr. Breatt told them that he
knew OF Captain Alexander having q large amount
OF bonds. which he constantly carried with him. this
was denied by some OF them present.
Mr.. Breatt c0rrODorated the previous testimony.
letter was put IN evidence from Mr.. Ryder,
AUDITORS o1ice. Richmond Va, to Mrs. Burke, stat
lng that the missing coupons 10 100 and 1854, for
January. had been presented Tor payment, and when
the party called for the money they would advise
her who he was.
The further Investigation was at this point al.
journed until Friday evening.