Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-08
ANNALS OF CRIME.
MURDERS, SUICIDES AND LYNCHING
A Black Brute---The Knife ---MysteriOus
Suicide 80 Serious air---Tam-
many Suicide Murdered
and Burnt.
THE BODY OF A. T. STEWART STOLEN,
GRAVE ROBBERS.
The Body of A. Il. Stewart
StOlen

Stolen.
New YORK, November THE police
headquarters were informed to-day that
the body Of 4. I. Stewart was stolen
from the family lyvault 1t St Marks Church
early this morning. The caSket was
broken open.
Inspector Dilks. when informed OF the
robbery, at once sent out the following
general orders To ali the precincts:
"The remains Oi \. 7. Stewart were last
night stol9n from the family vault in 1t.
Marks churchvard. The Casket was
found broken open and the body re-
moved. The decomposition OF the re-
mains is 50 offensive that they cannot be
concealed. This iSapparentfrom standing
n the opening OF the vault this morn
ing. Consequently they cannot he
taken across the ferries without dlscov-
erv. Cause diligent search To be made III
your precincts, rs the remains We're evl-
IDENTIFY stolen in hope Of 4 reward.
Early on the morning Of October 9TH,
Just one month ago, the assistant sex
ton of st. Marv's Church discovered
that Stewards family vault had been
tampered with. The stone slab had
been removed from its position and the
earth disturbed for several feet. As the
slab was not over the opening Ot the
vault, the thieves did not get at the
body The scXtcn reported the matter
to Judge Hilton, who ordered the
slab placed a few feet from IT'S
true position. in order to deceive
any one in attempting to steal the body.
\ watchman was engaged, and ne
patrOllcd the grave yard every night
until very recently, the discovery OF an
outrage was made AT s o'clock this
evening, the robbers had relieved one
stone from the opening 10 the vault,
and had broken open the collins III which
the BODY was enclosed, and carried
away the contents, il is supposed, in
sacks. The robbery has caused great
excitement in the ncighood Of the
grave yard.
The robbers, who were probably five
or six ia number having entered the
churchVarl, proceeded 10 remove the
earth from the opening OF the vault.
This was soon accomplished by the aid
of an ordinary hand-shOvel and the dark
lanterns which they lett behind them.
They then pricd up one OF the stones,
thus making an opening just large
enough to permit the entrance 0t two
men simultaneously. There were sew
cral cotlins in the vault, but the robbers
do not appear Ia have hcSitatcd i'll
choosing the right one. The outer cas-
ing, which is OF cedar was easily bro
ken open. and the second or lcadcn
coffin was ripped open apparently with
IL large knife. There then remained an
oakcn coffin, which was also broken
open. The body was then taken out
and placed i'll some sort OF sack and
lifted up toward the opening, where
there were probably other hands to re-
ccivc it. and carried to the iron railings
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 railing. The
work was performed somehow, for all
the gates were locked, and the body was
then probably put into wagon and
driven quietly away. 1t is worthy OF
notice that no foot marks were found in
the church yard, although the surface
was soft after the fall OF rain last evening.
It is therefore surmiSed that the robbers
stepped from grave stone to grave stone,
and thus made their exit either on
StuvVcsant street or on Eleventh street
They wrenched the plate off the
caskct and carried it away with
them. on the whole, all indlCa-
tons point to Il remarkably bold
execution Oi carefully conceived plan.
Especial care must have been taken to
avoid the police, for the spot is very
open and offers no good chance tor con-
cealmcnt. The beats Of two policemen
terminate close To the church yard rail-
ings and the two officers ought In meet
there constantly throughout the night.
Neither Of them saw anything 10 excite
suspicion. Mr.. Libby, of tn" firm
OF 4. T. Stewart x Co. said
to-day that the estate OF \. /.
Stewart will not offer Il reward for
recovery oi his body. 1t will give
one hundred thousand dollars if need be
ior the detection and punishment OF
outlaws. but not one cent To them Tor
! the return uf what they have taken.
! Not a single cent will be paid in order
| to compromise this case.
! ID tu midnight, last evening, the
( police stated that no arrests had been
| made in connection with tn" desecra-
ton oi the Stewart vault. They ap-
pear to bc utterly hefoggcd as To- who
| perpetratcd the robbery.
The Sul SAYS AmOngall theories rela-
, tive t. this crime, none l. more curious
than that which attributes it to the
! agency Of certain disappointed heirs
or so-rallcd heirs Of Mr.. Stewart.
Those who hold to this theory
believe the body was removed
in order that a chemical analysis
nav be made to detect the trace o
! poisoning. The news Of the deseCration
, Of Mr.. Stewards grave was not convened
! to Mrs. Stewart until last evening, wher
Judge Hilton called and broke the SAD
tidings to her as gently a. possible. She
was overwhelmed with grief, hut full!
conceded with judge Hilton in taking
firm stand againt> any concessions d
reward to the robbers She cXpressec
her willingness To- dcfray any expense L
secure the arrest and conviction Of th'
/ rrrratrytnT-- of the outrage.