New-York tribune., 1878-11-25
A CROP OF LIBEL SUITS.

PROBABLE RESULTS OF POSITIVE STATEMENTS
WHICH HAD ONLY SUSPICION FOR A BAsIs-NO
INFORMATION OF THE REMAINS AFTER a SEARCH
OF EIGHTEEN RAYS.
The search for the body of A. T. Stewart
has not resulted yet In its return or any evidence
against the robDes but 1t ia apparently to be the source
of fine crop OF libel suits against newspapers Eighteen
days have passed since vault IN st. Marks Church
ward robbed and nothing is now known of the crime
or the criminals which not known when the sAcri-
Iege was discovered. The search by the pOice
and by private detectives has bean constant
and tireless. Every Of the department has
been brought to bear upon which has attracted
larger amount of public attention and for longer period
than any crime since the Nathan murder The strong
hopes Of success which entertained the first few
days of the search based the peculiar character OF
the robbers booty and the dfcuity of its removal or
coLceament grew fainter the days wore on. bat e-
forts were not relaxed Every suspicion hint which
was not utterly absurd face every possible Glow
however slight, followed by prompt inquiry. The
nubc has gained some knowledge Of the movements Of
the police through newspapers but 1t - safe TO say
that NOT a thousandth part has been told. Detectives
pursue their investigations IN secrecy and announce re-
suits only 10 their supeIiOr While they in progress
publicity would defeat; when they concluded, it
would be in many cruelty and injustice Ia tracing
q criminal the innocent may often be subject
TO police supervision for "a time. and those
ynost incapable Of connection with a crime
ing examination No injury is done 10 charac
ter by these Investigations long the public is not
advised Of them II the operations OF the police for the
past two weeks published the city would be aston
hed at number Of persons who have been visited or
about whom inquiries have been made by detectives.
The two night rides, of which Captain Byrnes testified
In court have been than equalled by the adyen-
tures Of many other officials and the discovery made by
the yglant Chief Of Passae is matched by that Of an
East side Captain. The dug up dog; the other a
hog.
Some newspapers have eonfounded the duty Of the
reporter with of the detective, and have given pu0-
Lefty 10 suspicious and rumOrs several Of which were
strong enough TO afford a ground Of action for the
police but not for the basis OF newspaper article
Thus while the Investigations OF the last two weeks
have resulted only in the settlement of the question that
nothing whatever is known of the hdinG-paee OF MI
Stewards body, or OF the robbers Of the grave the
newspaper discussions are likely to result IN number
of libel suits. From the day succeeding the
robbery. bold assertions have been published
on the himsiest, pretext and injuries TO personal
character private interests have been Inflicted without
the slightest hesitation. Tue first person arragned by
the sensational reporters for the crime thoroughly
respectable sexton then his assistant the criminals
then a man who had been employed as night watch
man. day passed. and these theories were overtrown
by strong evidence, Then doctor. who had moved
from one house another in the negbborhood de
claFed to be subject to strong suspicion and the
ton was made without qualification that the body was
taken into the house now occupied by him. This story
fell by its weight because the doctor was at his
Office 10 answer for himself and there was not susp
cious circumstance connected with his mOvements
When il had been established by strong evidence that
the body had been taken from the church yard the
balcony OF boarding house overlooking it, IL became
clear 10 the mind Of the imaginative reporter that
1t had been taken into the house, and he said
SO unblusbingy. He was not sure which one OF
Ia had
This falsehood lasted only two days, because
every one who could have known OF the matter could
be reached and examined. but In the meantime and for
days afterward the house not On agreeable place
Of residence Then No. II stuyvesantst. made the
place where the crime planned and TO which the
body taken for n few hours. Two bosrders
trying to escape without paying their bill, and
a mysterious eoachman the "ghouls" and
an ordinary travelling trunk the receptacle Of the
body. So strong the attractions possessed by
trunk that IL drew crowds OF reporters by special train
and steam-tug 70 o point in NewJersey where 1t wa,
only vaguely rumosed IL had been seen. 10 was no,
sound but the assertions regarding the house
sAued until the aged lady who kept 1t was driven al