Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-13
The Grave of the Stewards.

In st. Mark s church-yard, early this
morning. is the exciting topic of con-
versation in this city. The cemetery
occupies the irregular end Of the block
bounded by second avenue, Stuyvesant
and East Eleventh streets. The
church, facing on Ssuyvesant street
divides the yard into two st'i ps of
green turf, dotted with small square
marble slabs. These slabs indicate
the vaults, which form perfec honey
comb under ground. The Stewart,
family vault is about in the centre
and is surrounded by spiked iron
fence ten feet high, and exceedingly
difficult to climb. A more exposed
position for yard robbery could
hardly be found The yard fronts on
three streets, with houses opposite all
sides, and four street lamps throw
light into it, The Stewart vault
entrance is covered by three stone
slabs, all of which had to be removed. =
The robbers who were probably five
or six in number, having entered the
churcb-yard, proceeded to removs the
earth from the opening to the vault.
This was soon accomplished by the aid
of an ordinary fire hand-shovel, which,
with dark lantern, they left behind
them. They then pried open one of
the stones, thus making an opening
just large enough to admit the entrance
of two men simultaneously. There
were several collins in the vault, but
the robbers do not appear to have
hesitated in choosing the right one
The outer casing of cedar was easily
broken open, and the second, or leaden
coffin, was ripped open apparently
with large knife. There then re
NAMED an oaken coffin, which was also
broken open. The body was taken
out and placed in some sort of sack,
lifted up towards the opening where
there were probably other hands to
receive it, and carried to the iron
ratings around the church-yard. The
weight of the body was not very great.
but it is still question how it was
passed over the ratings.
The work was performed somehow,
for all the gates were locked; and the
bJdy was then put into wagon
aud driven away. tits worthy of
notice that no foot marks were found
in the church-y yard, although the
surface was soft after the fall of rain
and snow last evening. 1t is there
fore surmised that the robbers stepped
from gravestone to gravestone, and
thus made their exit either on Stuy
vesant street or Eleventh street. They
wrenched the plate off the casket and
carried it away with them.
On the whole, the indications point
to remarkably bold execution Of
carefully conceived plan. Especial
care must have been taken to avoid
the police, for the spot is very open
and offers no good chance for conceal
ment. The beats of two policemen
terminate close to the church yard
ratings, and the two officers ought t,
meet there constantly throughout the
night. They neither Of them saw any
thing to excite their suspicious.
Mr.. Libby, of the firm Of A. T.
Stewart & Co., said to-day that the
estate Of A. L. Stewart will not offer
a reward for the recovery of his body
1t will give 100000, if need be, for
the detection and punishment Of the
outlaws, but not one cent to them for
the return of what they have taken.
Not single cent will be paid in order
to compromise this case.
Up to midnight the police stated
that no arrests had been made in connec-
tion with the desecration Of the Stew
art vault. They appear to befogged
as to who perpetrated the robbery.
The Sun says among all the theories
relative to this crime, none is more
curious than that which attributes it
to the agency Of certain disappointed
heirs, or the so called heirs, of Mr..
Stewart. Those who held to this
theory believe that the body was re-
moved IN oder that chemical analysis
might be made to detect traces of
poison.
The news of the desccration of Mr.
Stewards grave was not conveyed to
Mrs. Stewart until last evening, when
Judge Hilton called and broke the
sid tidings to her as gently as possible
She was overwhelmed with grief, but
she fully coin cded with Judge Hilton
In taking firm stand against any
concessions or promise Of reward to
the robbers. She expressed a willing
ness to 60 to any expense to secure
the arrest and conviction Of the prepe-
traitors of the outrage.