The New York herald., 1878-11-11
WRAPPED IN MYSTERY.
The Robbers of the Stewart Vault
Still Undiscovered.
RETlCENCE OF THE POLICE.
Inspector Murray's Callers and His
Hopeful Clew.
THE WASHINGTON RESURRECTI0NIST.
THE WASHINGTON RESURRECTIONIST.
Was George A. Christian Mr..
Middleton's Customer?
A REMARKABLE HISTORY.


that two distinct cews to the robbers who had carried
off A. L. Stewards body had been discovered the
subject Of universal discussion yesterday wherever
citizens were congrcgated. There general ex-
pressioh of hope that the police authorities by using
ntelligently the clews discovered by chance would
be able to bring the guilty parties to justice 1t was
gretted that police had not been careful and
prompt in searching out indications that would have
enabled them to follow the trace of the grave rob-
bers while their trail fresh, and fears were
expressed lest the dilatory action Of the police
authorities may have enabled the rufiians
to put themselves beyond reach of pursuit.
Captain McCullagh, in discovering the telltale
traces of the robbers has set at rest the question
whether the remains of A. I. Stewart stolen
from their resting place last Thursday morning
1t the time of the former attempt the 7th of Oc-
tober, theory which was beginning to find good
many believers, even among the experts Of the de-
tective department. The discovery Of the putrid
stains on the portico and pathway of St. Marks
proves. beyond the possibility Of doubt. that the
remains were taken from the vault sometime between
sundown Wednesday and sunrise on Thursday
morning.
SECURE STARTING POINT.
The Importance of settling this point cannot be
over estimated. it furnishes the police with
cure starting point for their Investigations 1t also
has the effect of dsposing of many of the fine spun
theories invented by the fertile brains of detectives
1t is quite certain that though the robbers
undoubtedly bold and skilful. they had by means
displayed the foresight with which they had been cred
tied. Neither metallic coffin nor rubber bag had been
brought into requistion, for if they had been the tell
tale stains would not have appeared The stains
show conclusively that the decomposing remains
were simply lifted ont of the coffin in their grave
clothes, and in this way borne out of the church yard
What further disposition made of them is vet
amystery, unless the clew furnished by Roundsman
o Brien should prove connecting link. The rounds
man was on duty Grand street ferry, in
this city. about three o'clock on Thursday
morning when the driver of . milk wagon,
or what appeared to be . milk wagon.
inquired for the nearest ferry to East New York A
storm Of sleet and rain falling at the time render
Ing 1t very difficult to distinguish anything. at
q short distance The question, though . peculiar
one. does not to have aroused the officers
picion at the time. he treating 1t one OF
those rather heavy jokes which people some
times indulge in at the expense of the police.
Although the officer did not obtain a good
view Of the supposed mikmans face he noticed that
there was in the wagon large box case. This Of
Itself however. did not arouse any suspicion. as
many dairymen in the habit Of sending milk to
their customers in sealed cans. which are usually
packed in cases, prevent the possibility Of the milk
being watered the road by the wagoners. Next
day, however. when the came that Mr. Stewards
remains had been stolen about the hour indicated the
roundman's suspicious became aroused and he in
formed Captain Copeland. Of the Thirteenth precinct
who Immediately reported the circumstances to Head
quarters. In interview with q HERALD reporter
yesterday Captain Copeland stated that he did not
attach much importance to OBrien's suspicious but
that Officer has already been special duty he
thought it best that he should be permitted to work
up the clcw which he imagined he had discovered
With this view he has been temporarily relieved from
duty. and is engaged in trying to discover the
driver OF the suspicious wagon.
REWARD USELESS.
In reply to the reporters question whether he
thought the conditions under which the reward for
the recovery OF the remains and the punishment of
the robbers well calculated to lead their
render, Captain Copeland promptly replied:-'It is
the general police impression that the conditions at
tachcd to the reward will defeat its ainthat if the
principal aim he the restoration Of the remains.
IT, as take it," continued the Captain. Mrs
Stewart wishes above all things to recover her
husbands remains il would have been much better
TO Offer a reward simply for their return. and when
that end was accomplished second reward might he
offered for the discovery and punishment of the Of
tenders Although II Is right that the robbers should
be sought out and punished. looking at the matter
have been the wisest course to pursue and the one
most likely 10 Iced to success"
Don't you think that II bloodhounds had been at
once put on the scent there probability that the
robbers might have been traced by their aidy''
Perhaps SO. II it had been done at once while the
scent fresh: but IL seems to me too late In
tho country the scent might have remained distinct
enough to follow even yet; but in . crowded city.
where all sorts of garbage liz constantly moving
about the streets il Is probable that at this time
blcodhounds would be Of much service"
THE WAYS or OLD HEsUERrcTIoSIsTs.
lp N he DOl WI
removed seems to clear the sexton of all connection
with the outrage.
picons Ia that direction. No doubt the job done
by skilful burglars. and they could very easily
only three feet Of earth covering it, and II would have
been been very easy to run an iron rod TO
,nst depn s and pS.s s 'Gs means s ,,S
old times when body -snatching the
resurrcctionsts in the habit Of proceeding in
this way with iron rod they located the head of
the coffin and then dug hole large enough to enable
one TO- descend. and by breaking in the head of
the coffin they removed the body without disturbing
the grave. the body being drawn out through a
Kind of planting tunnel II the sexton or his
assistant bad had .,,,, anything % & to DO wi. with i
and rcarranged the grave without anyone
being the wiser. They could then have waited until
when trace would exist as to the time uf the rob-
oery. and it would have been mposaibe to recover IL
however in the afair was Mr.. Htons failure to no.
Iify tho police and the public when the first
attempt to remove the body was made. Had
the captain OF the precinct been notified at
the time. the police could have kept . sharp
look out for the rcsurrcconists and they would have
been baked in their attempt To carry out the scheme
Tho best protection. however, would have been pub
licity, for, as the HERALD properly remarks every
citizen would have been turned into an amateur de-
tectvc, and any suspicious movements would have
been reported at once TO the police
do you attach much Importance to the supposed
clcw obtained by Officer OI,ricn -
well, no. You sec the night was so stormy that
the officer was not able to distinguish the mans
acc and II YOU except the fact that IL Is supposed the
robbery took place about the same hour, thcrc IL
nothing to connect tie wagon with the outrage. IL
anything suspicious had struck the officer ne would
have arrested the man reported the circumstances
At the time. but the fact IL he did not
have any suspicion uiitil next day when he
learned Of the outrage. However. the AFFAIR IN being
hunted up, aud If there IL ,ting In II no Doubt II
will come to light I cannot tell You where OIrien
be foiind h. IL ont the and may not turn
up for days"
PUSHING MS DISCOVERIES.