Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-12
GHOULS OF ST. MARKS.
The Motive for Stealing the Body Of the
Late A. 7. Stewart.

George Alfred Townsends New York Letter.
The stealing of the body of A. T. !
Stewart from the aristocratic old |
church-yard of st. Marks church,
where Peter Stuyvesant and several
New York Colonial governors and
functionaries are buried, hardly sur
prises anybody since the robbery of
the Manhattan Bank. This church
yard is in a retired situation, near the
building of the Historical Society,
and on a part of 'Peter the Testy's"
old BOwery farm. 1t is the church of
the English Knickerbockers.
The motive to steal the body was
undoubtedly the costly preparations to
entomb Mr.. Stewart beside his wife
in the cathedral at Garden City. That
cathedral was to have been finished
next June The crypt alone to receive
the marble sarcophagi of Mr.. and Mrs.
Stewart will cost 100000, and the
cathedral, which has no other utility
than as an urn for the two people, will
cost 100000. The whole was to have
been opened and dedicated next June,
and cathedral schools at once opened
there. The thieves saw that the pious
labor of Mrs. Stewards remainder of
days" was to accomplish this entomb-
ment, and that her heart was set upon
it, and large portion of their fortune
embarked in the idea They therefore
reasoned that she would pay very lib
orally to recover Mr.. Stewards body
if they should carry it off, On no 9TH
er consideration than ayarice would
they have engaged in this dangerous
and disgusting work, The graveyard
is in an old fashioned quarter, near
Stewards retail store, Hamilton Fish $
law office and Secretary Evarts' resi-
dence. The bones and carcass could
only be got over the high spiked iron
fence in bag. They were, therefore,
unceremoniously dumped out of their
treble coffin and lugged off like the
bones of dog,
All day to-day Judge Hilton has
z been stirring up the police depart
ment. Mr.. Clair, of Mrs. Stewart's 5
hotel, says no doubt Mrs. Stewart
would give half her fortune, if she
, could do so, to replevin the remains
but he thinks the thieves will be
, so closely followed that they may
throw away the carcass. AS notice
! was given to the police last October o.
! an attempt upon the grave, it is con
! sidered strange that regular watcl
was not kept on the spot until Mr.
= Stewart could have been removed, il
. April or May, to his elegant mausole
um. The discovery has led to a gene
. raj panic on the subject of burials, an
.. cremation is being advocated as til
q only secure way of keeping the ashe
y of the rich. Mrs. Stewart inhabit
2 her husbands home Of marble, ant
I, has been very happy and cheerful 70
i some months past, taking the keenes
interest in her cathedral. ! yisiter
4 the picture gallery appended to tn
. dwelling on Friday last, and found sh
| had added many new paintings sine
, Mr. Stewards death. Her relatives
I the Smiths, reside with her. TIL
r. dwelling alone cost 81 100000 and
. fre-proof, Next door lives her doc
Is tor, and the third door is Judge Hi
! toms.
:, The thieves generally open commu
nication in matters of this kind b
anonymous letters. followed by specia
Il advertisements in the newspapers.