The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-10
TRACKING TIE ROBBERS.
4 TFTL-TtLE TRAN 7TfROTGH THE
,HrECIYIPD TO THE STREET.

rant. McCuiingh's Important Di.covery-The
Body Passed over the Fence Into the Hal
eouv or nm Adjoining Residcnce Plenty Of
Police Theories hut no Definite Results.
On Friday afternoon, in an interval when
The outside spectators were few. Capt McCul-
laeh made a thorough inspection of st. Marks
churchyard. with view OF nscertaining the
pont at which tho robbers went out. Ho pa
trolled the churchynrd from end to end without
finding footstep or any other trace OF tho de-
spoilers. and was about to give up his task
Tho remains. he recollccted we're greatly de-
composed. and he had learned from mon accus-
toned to handling corpses that after a certain
period OF sepulturo there was always secre-
tlon Of liquid matter. The question was: Had
any OF this matter dropped on tho grass. or on
tho granite walks while the robbers wero re-
moving the body ? There were no footsteps on
the grass. and the detectives had discovered no
suspicious marks. But they had trusted 10
their sight alone and had forgotten
that tho sense OF smell might play an important
point Had they used their noses rs wol their
eyes He know we'll that the odor Of a docom-
posed corpse IL lasting. and he resolved to eX-
anime tho ground once more. this time using
his noso instead Of his eyes. When he began
his examination there were two or three oung-
ers peering through the fence. but whom he
ended crawling slowly on his hands and knees
ahundrcd persons or more were watching him
He started Mt the Stewart tomb. but made no dis
coyery until he reached the granite walk that
bounds the eastern side Of the church. There
ne found two marks fresh and greasy. that
seemed to have been made recently. Examin-
ing them he instantly recognized tho same
smell that had offended him at the timo Of
tho opening Of the vault. The marks wero
such as might have bccn made by the
dripping Of decayed animal matter through
a bag Reasoning that tho robbers would
naturally follow the granite walk in order
to avoid leaving their tracks in tho grass.
Capt McCu agh worked along II TO the corner
Of tho church, Then he turned westward into
the portico which Is supported 10y eight pillars,
and contains two arches based upon solid
SIX feet long and three feet deep. Behind zach
OF these arches were greasy marks, showing
that the robbers had rested their load there. or
had been compelled TO halt and lie down behind
them because OF the passage Of pedestrians. At
this stage OF his examination darkness inter.
iered with him, and Capt. NcCullagh went
away. resolved to follow the scent on tho NOR
lie revisited the churchyard yesterday morn.
ing at an early hour, accompanied by Polico
Commissioner Nichols, Coroner Flanagan. In
spector Murray. headquarters detective, and n
sna %PSss mnss Scso sysn With TnS R
physician was small Scotch terrier that was
magnined IN some OF the evening newspapers
Capt. McCullagh began again at the Stewart
vault. showed the first spots on the granite
pavement TO those who accompanied him. and
then, turning the corner OF the church. con
duotod the party 10 the four spots behind tho
arches in the portico As he reached the two
spots nearest Second avenue. he got down on
his hands and knees and put his nose TO the
first The stencil was too much for him He
describes ii as being horrible and sickening,
although the corpse had. doubtless, been carried
away nearly two days before. For time
Capt. McCullagh was too sick to follow the
n
the two spots back OF the western arch were OK
hmined, II was evident from these marks that
pavement Of the pQrtico after passing from the
eastorn section OF the churchyard as the marks
were such as might have been made by the head
They were about six inches in diameter and
made thick coating of grense upon tho stones.
pocket knife. which he handed to Commis.
lIoner Nichols. That official placed tho knife
blade to his nose. but instantly withdrew H.
The base OF one OF The columns We're
the marks Of five fingers made in red earth. Of
the exact color OF that which covered the stow.
art vault Inspector Murray expressed belief
that one OF the thieves whose hands were yet
from above the roof Of the vault, had brnced
himself against the column while he was in the
h,t Of raising the bag singular fact, in Wow
OF the muddy finger marks. was that there were
no footsteps Ia the portico. and no signs OF the
presence Of the red earth that adhered to the
hands Of the robbers. There was drizz!y.
penetrating rain on the morning OF the
robbery. and the soil was soft and eoggy.
yet no trace Of foostep could be found
that tho robbers halted behind the frst
arch To elude ths observation Of some passer-
BY, and that at the second, some ten feet away
they laid down their burden in order to allow
one % their number to scale the fence at the
southwest corner OF the churchynrd in order 10
be IN read mess to receive the corpse when they
We're roady 10 pass II TO him. The marks
Whose smell was 80 we'll defined do away with
lhetheory that the robbers used an india rubber
pag' As well as with tho notion that they had
BOZ ready TO put II into. Rubber bags are often
used for the transfer OF decomposed corpses
but they are made air and water tight as nearly
as possible Il is conIectured that In this case
IN ordinary bag was used 10 envelOp the body.
II Is certain that had tho body been IN a rubber
pAg or IN box no such marks ms were found
paeA oil ne columns OF the portico would have
Will. Capt. McCuagh was scentlng the
rack 81 the burglars in the interest Of the pub
ne and the police, the Doctors little terrier was
making q tour Of the eastern section OF tho
yarl. After two or three circuits he struck n
scent al the vault. which he followed rapidly
uoWh the granite pavement to the corner of the
church Here he turned westward and camc
upon the four spots behind the columns sniff
lhg at these for moment. he started off
a'rpss me grass IN the western section Of
.le chur'hyArd. and made almost n bee line
iot tle southeast corner. Following in the
Ita,Rs o' the dog, Capt. McCullagh looked close
Al ul' grass. The grass was not downtrod-
ne bag HAD dripped upon IT, it was not np.
parent 10 human smell or sight. Tho dog
hWlprl M me corner Cf tho fence, and seemed
t9n'a7 HAd excited. lle lcapod against the
iion fUi-, and seemed 10 Do anxious TO follow
lt lrail Y'i further.
IN mt corner II the yard. about eightecn
Inches from the fence and almost on n in0N,ith
{Ao n lit oi the house that forms the western
ulnniarY ~ tle churehyard is stunted tree
H". - 'l'hrd a. Oui iour le t from the ground
~ c h is broad enough 10 accommodate
H.. i,'' 9i man, ana nigh enough b enable
"'H l' 7l'l easily 90 the top Of tho spiked fence