St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-11-15
Our New York Letter.

A DIABoLICAL OUTRAGE--DESECRATI
OF THE TOMB OF A. T. STEWART
THE BODY SPIRITED AwAY-GREAT
EXCITEMENT IN NEW YOKK-oUR PO-
LITICAL TIDAL wAVE-TAMMANY Ut
TERLY DEFEATED.
New YORK, Nov. 8, 1873.
To the Editor of the CdledOnidn
OF ali foul deeds, the fOulest one up
on which the heavens have looked for
many day, was that discovered by the
sexton of st. Marks Church, on Thurs
day morning. Upon opening the church
gate, it became evident that the place
had been invaded during the night. A
dark lantern and shovel lay beside a
heap of freshly upturned earth, directly
over the vault in which the body of the
late A. T. Stewart was deposited, and
hasty examination of the premises re-
vealed the astounding fact that the
body of the late millionaire had been
removed.
The startling intelligence was at once
sent to police headquarters, and Com
missioner Nichols, in company with ex-
Judge Hilton. 1.-THE present head of A.
T. Stewart & Co.. proceeded to the
spot, where it was found that one of
the three stones which covered the
opening of the desecrated vault, was
out of place. A small aperture about
twenty inches square was thus
made, and through it the thieves must
have crept to effect their nefariOus
work. The vault occupies a command
ing position, being in the centre of the
churchyard which fronts on Second ave-
nue.. Three large trees toss their huge
branches over the tomb, and their dark
shadows afforded protection to the six
men who must have been concerned in
the robbery. The vault is constructed
of brick, and is arched at the top. The
floor is twelve feet below the surface of
the ground, and a granite stone stair
case leads to the bottom of the vault,
which is room eight by ten feet.
When Mr.. Stewards body was placed
there on the 18th of April, 1876, it had
three receptacles: first, a coffin of oak,
covered with velvet cloth, then lead
en- case, Theoretically sealed, and lastly
a heavy cedar box.
The thieves, after unscrewing the lid
of the outer box, cut open the leaden
case which enclosed the casket, with a
knife, showing that the work was not
done by professionals who would have
brought the ever present Jimmy" into
play.
The leaden case once cut through, the
removal of the body was only the work
of a moment. At first thought it seems
almost incredible that such an act could
be successfully and secretly accom-
plished in so public and exposed a place
as st. Marks Church-yard but the ex-
planatOry circumstance is. that the beat
covered by the policeman on Second
Avenue, extends half mile above and
below the scene of the robbery, giving
ample time for the thieves to lift the
body of Mr.. Stewart from the vault,
place it in some suitable receptacle,
carry it across the church-yard, and lift
it over the high iron fence into a wagon.
In looking about for a motive for this
outrage. that which stands out in great
est prominence steward for the re-
covery of the body. There has been a
prevailing idea that great quantity Of
gold and valuables was buried with the
body, and since the discovery of the
loss, it has come out that about a month
ago the sexton discovered that the mar
BILE slab at the head of the vault had
been tempered with, and to deceive any
person intending to rob the grave, this
slab was moved about twenty-five feet
from the true entrance.
This shocking occurrence has excited
universal and deep indignation not only
against the criminals but against the
police authorities. The latter cannot
ignore the popular feeling, and this cir
cumstance, together with the promi-
hence of the outraged family, has in
cited them to great activity. Every
available detective is employed on the
case and the scene at police headquar-
tiers is one of much excitement. The
nature of the object stolen renders its
successful cOncealment next to impOssi.
BILE and the arrest of these ghOuls il
human form is almost hourly expected
1t will go hard with them if caught
for the necessity of making an example
of them is only too evident. AS Mr.
William Libby (Mr. Stewards partner,
exclaimed on learning of the robbery
SIT is atrocious, diabolical! A city in
which even the dead are not permitted
to rest is good city to get away from
There does not seem to be any protec-
ton"
1t was the intention of the family tC
remove Mr.. Stewards remains to final
resting place in the magnificent mauso-
leum now building at Garden City
Long Island, and should they be recOv-
cred, this disposition will probably be
made of them.
With the usual noisy demonstrations
about the polling places, and the fash
ing of calcium lights around the offices
in Newspaper Square" political parties
have met, fought and disbanded, with