New-York tribune., 1878-11-11
GRAyE-ROBBERs UNCAUGHT.
HOPES OF JUDGE HILTON AND THE POLICE

Judge Hilton ana the police are hOpelui OF sue
cess in the search for the robbers of the
Stewart vault, though they keep the reasons for
their hopes secret. mysterious Personal
was published yesterday, addressed to Judge
Hilton and Police Commissioner Nichols,
and mentioning 100000. The police as
sert that they look on this as a wretcbed
attempt at a joke. The manner which
the robbers got the body out of the
churchyard has been discovered, and they
have been traled by the foul stains left behind 10y
the decayed corpse. Efforts have been made to fol-
low up supposed CLOVIS in jersey City and Newark
IN THE CHURCHYARD AND ELSEWHERE.
THE CHASTITY STAINS IL THE PoR1ICo OF THE
CHURCH-UsING IHE BALCONY OF AN ADJ0IN-
ING HoUsE-CoNFERENCEs Al POLICE HEAD
QUARTEEs-vARIoUs REPORTS THEORIES AND
CLEws.
Not a trace of the recent work of the grave
robbers visible terlay in tie green sward that
covers the dcspOed tomb OF the great merchant The
peace and rest OF perfect Sunday morning were over
the old churchyard, and there sign to indicate
the horrible lately committed within lis gates
Nevertheless crowds of mOrbidy curious persons hung
around the spot all day. peered through the iron fence
cung pcket and ratified the padocks ON the
gates. with amazing perseverance, rs If something was
mOmentarily ed 10 to solve or still furher
deepen the mystery that the object OF sneh gen
cra interest. All sorts OF rumors claiming that the
body OF Mr. Stewart had been discovered now here anu
now there, aud innumerable theories as to the
manner and direction in which the BODY had
been removed were circulated, and the police
were busy with dozen cews, yet not one
has led the end persisteny sought II was known
that Judge Hilton had agreed TO leave the matter Tor
specified in the hands Of the police without seeking
outside aid and every the force was stimulated
TO energetic work. Duch by the certainty OF praise
and promotion if he accomplished valuable results as
by the large reward.
Inspector Murray and Captain McCullaCh especially
have investigated every clew. however slight ana u-
promising, with undagging zea and Commissioner
Nichols has followed the step by step. giving per
sOnal ard and advice in every new movement maze pS
the police On Saturday morning these three gentlemen
with Coroner Flanagan, made discovery OF great I'M
portance as fully exoueratng Mr. HImlll the sexton OF
the church. Of the suspicion Of having opened the gate
for the robbers. allowed it to be opened WIN MS
knowledge This suspicion grew out oi Inc laet lhat
from the vault track led III either dlrCcuon ahu
trace # the robbers found at any point III the
grounds except gate OF the portlco the
paddock of which was broken, The little parry was at
tine cemetery early IN the morning. and mnuiely in
spected every every ut OF grass near The vault
Crawling upon his hands and knees around the yau'
Captain McCulag upon two or three small spots
that had apparently drpped from some substance carried
over the grass foul smell from them that at
when found open on the morning Of the robbery few
inches further west the grave OF these spots
were found leading straight toward the portco Of the
church.
The portco supported by eight pillars four OF which
are connected by panels built between them. almost
10 the heignth of On the flags. behind the fret
Of these panels where two three persons might have
stood entirely hidden from observer III the street
a dark night like that Of Wednesday were three larger
spots which gave forth horrible smell that proved
their origin unmisakaby. 1t seemed from the position
OF the staus that the robbers resting here either to
wait Tor accomplcc VINO was closing the vault they
had just left to hide from somebody passing on the
street had laid their burden on stone. With the
idea in mind of body wrapped IN bag or sack, the
marks Of the head and hip were so plain that no mistake
was possible. Upon scratching the spots with knesi
further confirmation Of their origin came In the Increased
pungency OF the smell they emitted. Here was the first
evidence Of the movements of the robbers after they bad
seeured their horrible plunder. Beyond their track
seemed lost. Behind the second panel at the west END
of e pOrtcO the officials came upon II again. however
more deep stains being found emitting the offensive
smell now 80 familiar Here, again, the burden had
been laid down. leaving two large, greasy spots on
which texture Oh some coarse material Ike closely
knit sack was distinctly traceable.
The theory of the rubber bag then, exploded had
one been used, neither stains nor this teHale marx
could have been tho flags. The body
had been wrapped in common sack ana
thus carried away. Behind the last arch the
robbers had stopped 10 prepare for the
most difficult and dangerous portion Of their foul work
How they had accom- pllshed 1t there was nothing to
snow Their trail here abruptly stopped. The most
minnie examination failed 20 discover The faintest
trace Of smell or stain on the sward Directly west
from the corner 0f the pocO forty or 1y feet across
the yard was end Of the tall iron fence Dclosng the
grounds and the perpendicular wall OF a nOuse-No lZ9
Tenth-st-aong the entire front OF which ran balcony
AGAINST which the churchyard fence abruptly ended.
In that corner stood sunted tree with crotch near
the ground and with low branches overhanging fence
and balcony. But nowhere the faintest Sign or
evidence TO be found of the robbers with their foul
burden. .. .. .
With the officials had come into the cemetery a small
terrier dog that had about the grounds uncasiy
shifting grass. Turning around, Captain McCullGgh
saw The animal suddenly stop at the vanlt then VITA It's
nose to ground take up The trail he had just gone
over aud follow 1t toward the portlco. Reckoning to the
other gentlemen the party to stand aside he watched
the dog narrowly Growing and whining alternately,
and shifting the ground vigorously, the dog across
the porticO TO the last arch and on over the
turf in straight line toward the tree at the corner OF the
fence The officers followed close upon its heels AT
the fence it stopped, hOwiing, and jumped against the
iron rods and the tree What the sharp eyes OF the Off
Gers had failed to discover the brute had scented On
hc tree III the corner marks OF muddy boots as
some one had cned up ana swung himself upon
the balcony The marks were also on the
balcony itself, plainly visible, though too vague
in outline 20 be measured leadcn gutter
that ran along edge OF the house bore imprnts OF
dirty fingers The grip the robbers hand az he swung
himself from the tree TO the balcony was plain The
work was easy then Tue body brought from the hiding
Mace behind the arch the church pOrtco was lifted
go him from below and then into the street The bag
kas swung against the balcony railing ana the two last
spikes in the fence ana tnere SIAM, 1eep ana iouI,
was s visible. On the sidewalk IN front OF the mousse
more slams were found.
WHAT WAS HEARD AND SEEN THURSDAY MoRNlNG'
Dr. Erasmus D. Garnsly lives In the basement OF the
bouse al No l29 East Tenth-st He went to bed at