The Portland daily press., 1878-11-08
BODY SNATCHING.
The Remains of A. T. Stewart
Stolen.
A Bold and Daring Outrage

NEW YORK, Nov. Judge Hilton rushed
into the police headquarters this morning great
ly excited, and held consultation with inspec-
tor Dix, who is acting for Chief Walling. He
stated that the body of A. T. Stewart was mis-
sing. The vault was broken open, the casket
was in the vault, but the body was gone. In
spector DIX at once sent out genera al order
announcing the theft and stating that the de-
composition Of the rem aims is so offensive that
they cannot be concealed.
The family vault where Mr.. Stewards body
was inferred is situated nearly in the centre of
the church yard which fronts Second Avenue.
1t is marked only by marble slab. The body
was placed in the vault April 18th, 1876 It
had been placed in three receptacles cotfin of
oak covered with velvet cloth, a lead box her
metically sealed and a heavy cedar box 1t
was dressed in fine suit of black broadcloth
Geo. w. Hammill, sexton of St. Mark church.
was Mr.. Stewards undertaken. Early on the
morning OF Oct. 18th, the assistant sexton, dis
covered that the vault had been tempered
with. The stone slab had been removed q
foot away from its position and the earth re-
moved to the depth of several feet under the
slab. As the slab was not over the opening of
the vault, however, the thieves had been dis
appointed. Mr. Hammill reported the occur
renee to Judge Hilltop and consultation was
bad as to the best means of guarding the vault
At Mr.. Ham mills suggestion the slab marking
the vault was removed few feet to the south
of its position to deceive any persons who
Aikut WISH W otodi buo DOUy. a WaLclm8n
was also engaged and he patrolled the grounds
every night until few days ago. Hammill
was IN the church yard at o. m. yesterday
and noticed nothing wrong.
When the assistant sexton came to the
churchyard this marning he saw tnat the vault
had been opened. A dark lantern and shawl
lay beside heap of earth. The thieves had
q OF been deceived by the false position of the
slab but had begun their work directly over the
opening OF the vault. He went to Hamm'ps
affsn and tod h.
~. "eeded to the churchyard and entered the
pit au1 nd discovered that Stewards body had
k saua' 81. The thieves had pried open the
s.rnn h., aud laid the top on the SIDE
Thew ,b Uao. on, w. ono,, the leaden box with
knife, wrenched off tho p'1 Mf u .no Iu
ner casket and took off the wy .no 5ouy was va
then removed with all its cloth,- n ~ Suo 81,
covering the opening of the vault was u'ovea a
and the aperture thus made. was only Ii. 30
enough to admit one man.
The bodness of the robbery is surprise to
the police and to every one who saw the vault
this morning. The thieves must have known
that the Waterman employed by Mr.. Hilton
had been discharged, and this surmise furnish
es clue by which the thieves may be discov-
cred. The churchyard is surrounded by an
iron railing about eight feet high, surmounted
by sharp spikes and the gates of the railing
were locked and not disturbed. The thieves
must have placed the body in bag or other re-
ceptacle and lifted it over the high railing into
wagon This must have required the strength
of at least six men. The body was in an ad.
vauced state of decomp position and gave out
strong Odor, and the vault emitted noticeable
stencil this morning.
JGdge Hilton says the thieves evidently ex-
pect reward for the return of the body, which
was probably their only incentive. He SAID
that 1t has been thought that there was con-
siderable gold and silver valuables buried with
the body, which is q mistake as the only valu-
able was massive silver plate whic has gone
with the body. He does not think that pro-
fessional thieves had anything to do with the
theft as the leaden box had been cut instead of
forced open. He is unwilling to implicate the
sections but strongly limited at it by remarking
that they were the only two persons besides
himself who could accurately locate the open
ing of the vault and dig directly over it.
The body was thoroughly embalmed in order
that it might be in good condition to be placed
in the crypt of the Stewart Cathedral in Gar
den City, L. 1. No reward will be offered for
its return, but it is believed the thieves will be
captured soon.
The sexton is Of the opinion that the body
still retains much of its old form though de-
composed for the stencil in the vault this
morning was so horrible as to overpower per-
sons not accustomed to graveyard OdOrs
The police express the opinion that the rob-
bers must have had experience in dissecting
rooms or they would not have been able to en-
dure so horrible an atmosphere.