The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-11-23
Qh: 2top|e'. indicator.

tlOV'll ll'c CuutNu'N dlu, duU TWO
pieces of paper were attached to an
other post. 1t is said that line
drawn from the letter "B" to the
pieces of paper crosses the vault,
while a second line drawn to the first
from tree on the Second avenue
side of the yard intersects tho first
line at the exact spot where the OPEN
ing of the vault lies beneath the turf.
In order to show how systematical-
ly the robbers went to work, and
with what certainty aud rapidlty they
worked, it will DO we'll to describe
the vault. This is chamber ten
feet deep, the opening to which is
covered by three large stones meas
uriDg ia all four feet six inches. In
tho other above these stones was
earth to the depth of three feet, GOV
cred with turf which was level with
the rest of the surface of the church.
yard. There was, therefore, in the
absence of the tablet removed by or.
der of Judge Hilton no outward in
dicatlon of the vaults position, and
the ease with which the opening
was discovered by the depredators
proves that their plans had been per-
tected with the utmost care.
The robbers, who were probably
five or six in number, having enter
ed the church yard, proceeded to re-
move the earth from the opening to
the vault. This was soon accomplish
ed by the aid of shovel, an ordinary
tire-shovel, which, with a dark Ian
tern, they left behind them. They
then pried up one of the stones COW
ering the opening, thus making an
opening just largo enough to permit
tho entrance of two men simultane-
ously. There wcre several collins in
the vault, but the robbers do not ap-
pear to have hesitatcd in choosing
the right one. The outer casing Of
cedar was easily broken, and the
second or leaden coffin was ripped
open, apparently with large knife.
There then remained the oaken coffin,
which was also broken open. The
body was then taken out aud placed
in some sort of sack, lifted up towards
the opening, where there were prob
ably other hands to receive it. and
carried to the iron railliDgs around
the church yard. The weight of the
body was not very great, but it is
still a question how it was passed
over the ratings. The work was
performed somehow, for all the gates
we're locked, and the body was then
put into wagon and driven
quietly away.
1t is worthy of notice that no.foot.
marks were found in the church-yard,
the surface was soft after
the fall of rain and snow last eve
ming. 1t is therefore, surmised that
the robbers stepped from grave-stone
to grave stone, and thus made their
exit either on Stuyvesant or Eleventh
street. a-.
Mr.. Hamill, the sexton of the
church, who has lmost freely given
whatever Information he possessed on
the subject, told your correspondent
that, iu bis opinion, the dead body Of
Mr.. Stewart still retained much of
its ole form. Decomposed it certain
ly was, for the stencil in the vault
this morning was so horrible as to
Dverpowe persons not accustomed to
grave ard odors. It is also remark
I'd that there is in the bottom of the
coffin a quantity Of black, sticky mat
ter, which is only observable in cases
Of advanced decomposition. Mr..
Hamill, however, thin, that as tho
coffin was alright tho body was 90
far preserved that it would be easy
enough to remove it, although the
task must have been an extremely
unpleasant one. Tho police, in-
deed, when they first examined the
vault, expressed the opinion that
the robbers must have had experience
ia dissectlng-rooms, or they would
never have been able to endure 80
horrible an atmosphere. The motive
of the crime is generally thought to
he the reward which the robbers be-
lieved will be offered for the return Of
the body. If this is the case, they are
likely to be grievously disappointed,
for Mr.. Hamill said this morning that
Judge Hilton said to him that he
would not offer one dollar reward. If
the body has been stolen with tue
view of extortion, the thieves are
likely to find themselves in q very
difficult prdicament. The police say
that they will DO unable either to
keep the body or get rid of it. They
can notstake it out of the city or SCI
it in the city, and their onlye
source will be to bury it som"tole
and yet the ROBBERY was euithe sill
for present gain, for than, which,
nothing except tba6r purposes Of
ver-plate upopne value of it 10
WAC pIOUuW0ul8ll u SuuA w AuuVS0
identifcPso great risk. r5 "a 80
only iamill is Of the opinion that
pfnen worked while lying down ON
Dir stomachs, as the shovel with
itch the earth was removed was
, small tor q man to use while stand
, uurigbt, The news of the desc;
.tiou Of the grave spread very rap
y. and number Of idlers soon
thered around the church yard al =.
ough there was absolutely noth-I
Q to be seen. The gates were all
:ked, and the. only. satisfaction to
obtained was from the contempla.
N of a tree standing near q hole in :
Q ground. :. .E
Many of the bystanders said that
ey we're only astonished that the
ave had not been robbed before.
, 's-.. ~~0Q.n s,,hsnk Tin ~nhnsen