A Virginia Tragedy-

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 34, 6 July 1870, Page 6

A Virginia Tragedy-

(Fw York Herald.) At a place called Pegg’s Point, just above the port of West Point, at the bend ot the Pamunky River, lived a Mrs Julia •Stewart, a widow, the proprietreßS of a small plantation, and the reported possessor of a considerable amount of money, in specie and greenbacks. Residing with her was a man named John Baker, a half Indian half-Negro. This man, who was known to have a large amount of money of his own, acted as her overseer or manager, and lived in criminal intimacy with her. In the same neighborhood lived a negro named Alexander Gardiner, who was frequently employed by Barker to work on the plantation. About this time there appeared in the vicinity another Negro, named Lewis Kennedy, hailing from North Carolina, who also obtained employment from^Barker. Tire Negroes supposing that Barker had hidden some money in his house, determined to murder him. Barker had been cutting wood some distance from the house, and the two lurking villains well knew the route by which ho would return. Arriving about dusk, they lay in wait near a hog-pen Baker usually visited before going to the house. They had calculated well, for soon their victim made hia appearance, walking along leisurely, with his axe upon his shoulder. He had reached the pen, a few yards distant from the concealed assassins, whan there was a loud report of a musket, and Barker fell, exclaiming “Murder! murder! I'm killed!" The unfortunate man was pierced by two balls, which entered his left and lodged in his right side, one of them embedded in the other. He made an effort to rise with his expiring exclamation, but a powerful blow from a musket, dealt by one of the assassins, breaking the musket at the breech, severed hia head in twain, and left him a lifeless and mangled corpse. The assassins then rifled the pockets of their victim; but instead of finding a large amount, as they supposed, they were only rewarded by the discovery of ten cents in copper. Had their appetite for plunder been appeased in the first instance, they might have retired without steeping their murderous hands in the blood of another victim ; but this disappointment phrenzied them, and they became still more bloodthirsty. Intent on plunder, they at once left the dead body of Barker, and went direct to the house of Mrs Stewart, whom they knew to be alone, and here the incarnate villains perpetrated a horror which, for barbarity and atrocity, has few equals in the annals of crime. Without any ceremony they entered and demanded of the woman the place where the money was bidden. She told them she did not k»ow where Barker had hid it. This, which was the truth, the scoundrels did not believe ; and they threatened her with instant death if she did not at once reveal the whereabouts of the money.’ Seeing they were determined, the woman begged and implored mercy, and assured them if she knew she would at once tell them all about it. From a confession subsequently made by Gardner, it appears that Kennedy, who is a match for the arch-fiend himself, then overpowered and ravished the unfortunate woman ; and having satisfied his brutal passions, he took an iron from the fire-place, with which he struck her on the head, crushing in her skull, and killing her almost instantly. Plunder came next, but the wretches found nothing but some brown flour, sugar, and coffee, which they carried off. But, fearing detection, they cut open a bed-tick, took from it the straw with which it was filled, and igniting this, set fire to the house, which was soon enveloped in flames. Both the men were arrested, but Kennedy escaped from prison. Gardner was executed. With the fatal noose dangling round his neck, the condemned, surrounded by the guard, with the colored preacher at his side, marched firmly across a common to the scaffold, followed by the throng of people. Unaided he ascended the steps to the scaffold, and the rope was made fast to the beam above. | The sheriff then read in a loud and clear voice the death sentence of the court, and the subsequent respite of Governor Walker. All this time the condemned appeared composed, and when asked if he had anything to say he hesitated, but at length, after taking a survey of the gallows, he turned to the crowd, many of whom were giggling and laughing, particularly the colored females, and said : “ You are all here to-day to see me hanged. I don't know whether I’m gwine to heaven or hell," (Laughter among the negro women.) “Yes, yon may all laugh at poor me now, on dis scaffold ; but de debils in hell are laughing at you now.” (Voice of a woman—“Oh yes, you will eat de geese what feeds on our grabes, yon will.") “ I’m gwino to die. Some people used to ho friends of mine when I was free ; but I hav® no friends now. Dey say 1 killed John Baker, and that I killed Puss George (Mrs Stewart) ; but, thank God, I can now say dat I am innocent. No one was implicated in the murder hut Kennedv and myself." This concluded his speech, which several women responded to with jeers and seeming derisive laughter. Tho officers then too', leave of the condemned, the cap was placed over his head, and at twelve minutes past one the drop fell with a heavy thud, and all that was earthly of AJeunder Gardner w!i.< siVspft'ii’de.) m nvt.il ajr.