New-York tribune., 1878-11-09

the conclusion that the noise made III lnciOSlng
the remains Of the merchant prince i'll a box or bar
rel for removal. They unable to agree however
as to the house from which the sound had come
Inspector Murray was in consultation with Cap
tain McCullagh at the Seventeenth Precinct Police
Station at late hour last evening. A physician
residing in TentI-st. sought an audience with them
saying he had some information in regard to the
robbery of Mr. Stewards grave which would aston
ish them. On his departure neither of the
officers appeared to be much aston
iShed. Captain McCullagh said that he had
brought information similar to that which was con-
stantly reaching them from all sorts of sources
of mysterious men at late hours of the night
but containing no facts which could serve as basis
of action He added that the police had more light
on the subject of the robbery than they had the pre-
vious night but nothing which could be made public
or which was likely to lead to any important result
within day or two. He added:
Il was opposed to the offering of reward for
the recovery of the body, and advised Judge Hilton
against it. believe the robbers would have been
captured without that. NOw il is probable they VIII
come forward, acknowledge the crime and claim the
reward. The penalty is only one rsimprisonment
in the pcnitentiary and small fine. The reward
will repay them for this punishment; it will have
to be divided among only three persons, for | am
confident there were no more concerned in the rob
berry," Captain McCulagh asked if the
theft of the collin-plate would not cause
a heavier punishment to be inflicted. lie SAID he
thought It would be difficult to prove that offence
as the plate might have been stolen after the grave
was left open. His theory was that 1T had been
taken not on account of the value of the silver, but
TO serve as evidence III the Identification of the body
when il should be returned and reward claimed.
TIE PENALTY FOR GRAVE ROBBERY.
CAPTAIN McCullagh's opinion Of the penalty at
taching to the crime of grave robbery is not sus-
tanned by lawyers engaged in the prosecution OF
criminal offences. Assistant District Attorney Rus
SELL in conversation about the law applicable to the
case, said:
"Some of the newspapers seem to think there is
no punishment for such crime. Now the
statute declares that the Titling of grave
for sae' for dissection or in mere wan
tonness, shall be punishable with five years
IN State Prison and $500 tine or with
other punisbments. 1t does not matter whether
the purpose IS n sale to a museum or selling TO Mr.
Stewards friends, what perhaps would call black
mail. If the purpose is to obtain money for the
body il comes within the definition, and the limit
of tue punishment for every one concerned Is 1--we
years in State Prison and $500 fine. Had the rob
bers opened the grave, but failed in the actual
theft they would still have been liable to two years
in state Prison ana SOU me.
ROW THE VAULT WAS ENTERED.
Detective RadfoId, of the Police Central Office
souad. said Yesterday that the robbery of A. I,
Stewards vault was not such a difficult feat Tor
robbers TO perform as many persons imagined.
"You must remember" he said. THAT the night
was very dark. person passing by would
not have noticed the forms of two or
three men lying on the ground under the
trees in the centre of tho churchyard. even
though he passed directly by 1t. l suppose many
persons think that the robbers stood up at their
work and used a pickaxe to tear up the
around over the vault entrance, but that
is O mistake. They undoubtedly chose
time when no was in sight to climb over the
iron fence near the church and make their way TO
the vault. Probably thew went one at time ana
crept along the ground. When they had found the
proper place to dig with the aid of their dark
lantern they stretched themselves on the ground
and loosened the earth with short jmmies.' They
had then only to throw back the dirt with the fire
shovel until the opening to the vault laid bare.
Once IN the vault thcT work was quickly done. To
place the body in black rubber bag, drag II
across the churchyard to the place where they en-
tered and throw ii over the fence into carriage.
was much easier than to get booty out of a city
warehouse
TIE NIGHT wATCHMAN.
II was reported in the morning newspapers of
Yesterday that Judge Hilton said that he believed
that the watchman engaged to guard the grave
after the attempt to enter it on October had been
permanently employed by Mr. Iamill, and that he
knew no reason why he had been dismissed. Mr..
Hamlll, when asked IN reference to the matter,
said:
81 informed Judge Hilton Of the attempt to rob
the yault Oh October T. and he instructed Inc to
IN Of oh he gray for m month
saving that after that time he would make arrange
ments himself. Icngaged Michael BrutoD to watch
the ward every night for four weeks, and then dis
charged, him as had been instructed to do. The
fact that the robbery not committed until few
days after the watch was withdrawn Is evidence of
his vigilance while on duty"
Bruton is now employed as night watchman at J.
r. Gibbs & Co.'s stables, at No. 304 East Eleventh
ST. He spoke freely of the matter, and said helwas
engaged by Mr.. Hamll about October 8 to
watch st. Marks Churchyard at night. llo
was not instructed to watch any particular
grave, but was told to walk around the yard and
eject any person whom he might see IN the Enclosure
after the church was closed as person could have
any proper reason for being there at night. He had
walked by Ike yard and tried the gates
as he passed them but had never entered
the yard, and could have done so only by
climbing over the fence. On Friday of last week
Mr.. Hamill paid him so and dismissed him. He
never had known why he employed, and was
not surprised when his services ceased to be re-
qured.
Inspector Murray who examined the sexton, the
assistant sexton and the Waterman on Thursday,
was asked yesterday if he had any reason for slls-
pecting any one Of them of completely in the Of
fence lie promptly and emphatically answered:
"No, not the least. If had | should have held
them. They were not in it,"
1t curious fact, i'll connection with the steal