New-York tribune., 1878-11-09
SEARCHING FOR THE BODY.

SEARCHING FOR THE BODY.
,,ps sTEWARI's OFFER OF A REwARD-TnE POLICE
ACTIVE AND HoPEFUL-THEORIEs AS TO THE
MANNER IN WHICH THE CRIME WAS COM
MITTED.
After two days of anxious search Tor the ue-
spollers of the grave of A. T. Stewart, the ponce
officials acknowledge themselves foilCd at least
for the present. sufficient period has elapsed 10
demonstrate that it Is possible for the robbers to
conceal their spoil effectuay; and there is little
hone felt by the police that they VIII De'
discovered unless they are betrayed by some
one in their confidence or who may learn their
secret In some unguarded moment. 1t is not De-
heved that the body will be recovered until 1t Is
brought forward voluntarily in response to an offer
of large reward.
Detectives speak with ridicule of the statements
made on Thursday to the possibility OF conveying
the body over any of the ferries, or of cOncealmg
i'm this city, OH account of the offensive OdOr they
say that an india-rubber sack was doubt
less an important part of the robbers
outfit for their nights work, and that the
body was Theoretically sealed in it within nine min
utes after being taken from the coffin. so that 1t
could be taken anywhere without giving cause for
suspicion. Or, they say, if it was taken TO some
place near the churchyard, it was probably put at
once into lead coffin prepared for its reception, and
this was soldered up securely Any direct clew left
by the robbers it is thought would have been found
by this tme and the entire absence of such clew,
so far as the publ is aware causes the case to as
sume as discOuraging an aspect as that OF the Man
haitian Bank burglary of less than two weeks ago.
CONFIDENCE IN THE SEXTON AND HIS ASSISTANT.
The doubts in regard to Mr.. Hamlll, the SEX
ton. and Mr. Parker, the assistant sexton. OF st.
Marks Church. said to have been expressed by
Judge Hilton on Thursday, caused much surprise
among the leading members of the church, and not
a little Indignation. DR.. Rylance, the rector spoke
yesterday in high terms of both, and
said there would probably be card
published by the official members of the
church expressive of their entire confidence in him.
Mr. Hamill has been connected with st. Marks
Church fourteen years, formerly as assistant to
Sexton Carpenter and for ten years past as sexton
Francis Parker has been employed about the church
a still longer time, and during the war served III
one Of the New-York volunteer regiments.
Both Dr. Rylance and Sexton Hamill said that
the robbers needed special assistance to find the
exact entrance to the Stewart vault, as the yard
was laid out with mathematical accuracy and the
yaults were euuidistant from each other. The re-
moval of the stone, by Judge IIIltOns direction,
some time ago, would not mslead men who had
planned their work as carefully as those who stole
Mr. Stewards remains evidently had. The yard was
open during large part of last Summer, when the
church was undergoing repairs. and any one who
chose could soon have become familiar with the SIT
uatiOn Of the vaults
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD.
Judge Hilton was active yesterday in attempting
10 trace the robbers At about II a, he drove up
In front of Police Headquarters and held long con.
ference with Commissioner Nichols and Inspectors
Dlks and Murray. They Were not willing to give
anv information afterward in reference TO their de-
HberatiOns. Inspector Murray said late in the after
noon that be thought it very improbable that re-
ward would be offered for the recovery of the body,
but already Judge Hilton had sent to some of the
evening newspapers a notice. offering, by direction
of Mrs A. 7. Stewart, reward of $4,000 for the
return Of the body and information which will con-
Wet the persons engaged in the outrage. or
liberal reward for information which will lead to
either Of these results. 1t not thought probable
BY the detectives that this offer will prove of avail
so long as the payment of the reward is made con-
tngent on the conviction of the robbers.
SEARCHING THE CHURCHMAN'S.
Judge Hilton while at Headquarters expressed
suspicion that Mr. Stewards body might have been
placed in one of the receiving vaults, or
in the basement of the church, to await
removal at q later time. In accordance
with his suggestion, Detectives Radfold, Adj
ans, Ferris and Dilks visited st. Marks's grave
yard, caused the receiving vaults to be opened and
examined them carefully. They also visited the
basement Of the church but their search was fruit
less.
The receiving vaults are opened so frequently
that the removal and replacement OF the earth over
the slabs covering their entrances would ordina-
ry leave no marks likely to attract much attention;
but if IT had been removed on Thursday morning,
after the rain had ceased its appearance would
have been noticed few hours later, when careful
search was made in all parts of the yard. Con-
seduently the examination was made Yesterday
without any sanguine anticipation of favor
able results. In similar manner,
rumor that the body had been rcbured
in q neighborng graveyard, led to the
examination by Captain McCullagh and Detectives
Robinson and Dyer, of the churchyards in Second
st. between First and Second-aves.. and IN Second
ave., between Second and Thrd-sts. These
visits were as frutless as the search in ST. Marks
buTyingground.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE OUTRAGE.
The following official report Of the robbery OF the
grave was received at Police Headquarters yester-
day FROM the Seventeenth Precinct;
DEsEcRAIIoN or A. I. sTEwART's GRAVE.
Some lime during the night of the 9th INST. the ia'y
vault OF Alexander I. stewart In ST. Marks Church
yard at SecOnd-aye. and stuyyesant-St was
sSkG3 sSa By some sIeK@T the piS Tsi
conpate and part Of the trimmings OF the caske were
to.eD. The desecration was DISCOVERIES Dy te
seXOn Feaneis H. Parker, who Immediately nOtln the
friends OF the family The parties who coniDltted the
robbery leit behind them q dark lantern ana scoop
posed that TIE object is obtain are~arG ior Tue recovery
1.-THE remains.
RUMoRs AND CONSULTATION.
Rumors in regard to fancied clews to the robbers,
and even Of the discovery of the remains, were I'D
circulation all day, and kept the police active in