New-York tribune., 1878-11-08

very plain man in his dress. lie used to wear o
string for watchchain, and wonld never get any
other think he was prouder of that watchstring
than of all the rest of his personal attire put TO-
gether. Why, it was not until about three years
before his death that induced him while in Parls
to purchase pair of gold sleeve buttons. MT.
Stewart was very plain man in his dress"
"Was there much gold and silver-plating on the
coffin ~
every little. The body had three coverings
first, the outer OF rosewood cofn then, within this
the leaden case inclosing the coffin which held the
body. This last coffin covered with black
cloth, fringed with gold bullion, all plated with
gold. The inside Of the coffin lined with white
satin. and outside where the four corners OF the
velvet cover were drawn together, they were hcid
together by solid silver plate, on which was en-
graved Mr.. Stewards name, with the dates Of his
birth and death. This the only piece of solld
silver Oh the coffin. and until Informed by the sex
ton. was unaware that even this was solid metal"
How was the body dressedV
:" 1t was dressed in a black suit with white era,
vat. At death it was very emaciated. and could
have weighed scarcely eighty pounds"
What do you think was the object OF steailhg
the bodyr
1t IS an infamous attempt TO extort money
from income of thousands. But although L am
willing to spend any amount TO recover the body,
and bring the perpetrators to justice, do not IN
tend TO yield cent to a scheme of blackmail"
~
81 shall be guided by what the Commissioners
tell me- They say the 2, 500 policemen can recover
the body if it in the city. and that 1t ls they have
no dOubt. Ii was my intention to have the body re-
moved shortly TO the crypt preparing for IL III the
Garden City Cathedral and had made my plans
1t soS beautiful nTc crypt UGsS1 with
statuary and stained plate glass"
Judge Hilton called to boy 10 bring him de-
sign OF the crypt and pointed out the many featnrrs
of it and of the Cathedral. Then, rolling up the
drawing he said with shake of the head that the
architects were charging hiln most unchrlsliih
How is Mrs Stewart affected by this profan-
alton of her husbands tomb ~ lie was asked.
II have not told Mrs. Stewart yet" he said. "nnh
I do not think she knows it. I have been very
busy and have not been able 10 see her. am gong
to Police Headquarters now to see II any definite
information has been discovered, aud until some
thing further has been done in the ease | cannot
say what my may be, except that / shall
try every means TO recover the body ,.,.,o
"Was Mr.. HamilI the undertaken WHO had charge
of Mr. Stewards burial r.
know him from anybody else, but was told that he
had been for many years u sexton AT st. Marks
Church and member OF It's cOhgregauoh'
COMMISSIONER NICHOLS STORY.
Police Commissioner Nichols who accompanied
Judge Hilton on his visit to the grave yesterday
morning. was found at Police Headquarters about
p. IN. He said:
Judge Hilton came to Police Headquarters this
morning greatly excited and stated 10 me that the
vault containing the remains OF A. i. Stewart bad
been broken nto the coffin opened and the body
stolen. Tne startling news was communicated at
once 10 Inspector Murray. who entered the room at
that moment. The case was fully explained both
TO Inspector Murray and myself by Judge Hilton,
and we consulted in regard to 1t for sometime. IL
seemed best both 10 the Inspector aud myself that
general alarm should be sent out to the police
precincts throughout tho city. THIS was immedi-
ately done.'
Commissioner, does il seem TO you impossible
for the body TO he taken the ferries or placed
any where above ground without discoveryp
mo. 1t does not but il seemed 80 TO Judge Hill
ton ard the order was worded III aceordak-ce with
his wishes"
"Was the stencil very offensive"
80 offensive that l could not remain suy wDere
near the mouth of the vault. 1t most sicken-
ing; but the thieves probably had appliances to
couuttraot this.
".Judge Hilton, Inspector Murray and myself"
coutiuued the Commissioner, " after tits consula-
ton drove hastily in Judge liltons carriage TO tho
graveyard. Meanwhile Judge Hilton told me III de-
tail the facts of the case lie spoke OF
Mrs Stewards receiving letter stating that rob-
berry of the grave was intended. When tho night
watchnan was employed to guard the graveyard
the police were not informed, as they should have
been Had we known of this threatening letter we
would have detailed special patr0nan TO guard
the place, and this crime might have been pre-
vented. Upon our arrival at the graveyard, In
spector Murray Immediately summoned the sexton,
George W. IIamil the deputy sexton, Francis
Parker, and the discharged Waterman, and ex-
anined them at some length. The result Of his
examination am not at liberty TO state. There
were no traces of footsteps visible Oi any account
The work was done with neatness and
dispatch. The robbers took the only piece
d
NV theory is that they were experts, Judging from
the skilful manner IN which the c9iln ia was re-
moved There were indications that horse bad
been standIng in Elevcnth-st., near the curbstono
by the graveyard and i thnk the body was
taken ont Of the colin ah casG c GfsI" nG occ 20 ~" m
a single coupe which was III waiting ana driven
off,"
STATEMENT or GEORGE ". HANIfL.
George w. Hamll the sexton and undertaken,
said Yesterday On being told by Mr.. Parker this
morning that Mr.. Stewards vault had been opened,
ran at once TO the churchyard aud entered the
vault The strong box III which Mr.. Stewards body
had been placed had not been moved from
its posion but the covering had been pried oil aud
Law on the floor Of the vault. This box had con-
tanned a coffin surrounded by lead case TO prevent
the escape of foul Odors The top of the lead ease
had been cut away with knife. The coffin lid had
also been removed and the coffin was empty. Not
single shred OF the clothes remained The thieves
had evidently placed the body III bag or some
other covering. Only Of the three stones which
covered the entrance to the vault had been removed
and the aperture thus made was scarcely large
enough to allow two men TO enter the vault to-
gether. When the coffin was left in the vault
there was nothing 1t of any value cx-
cept the solid silver plate, which was worth
about $50: This plate was missing. MT.
Stewards body was dressed for burial in
a fine broadcloth suit. There were articles Of
jewelry on the body. The only motive for the rob-
berry that can imagine is the expectation of re-
r. Of q t,a InI