The New York herald., 1878-11-08

cation was permitted between them.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE W. HAMILL
As result Of long examination the following
statement was made and signed by Hamill:-
George w. Hammill. sexton of st. Marks Church.
deposes:-About eight A. NJ Francis Parker, who Is
the deputy sexton OF the church Of which am the
aud in an excited manner said. Tho body is gone
l asked him what body. He said. ''Stewart's." l
ordered him to return to the church and said that
where noticed that the earth had
been shoveed from the slab leading to the vault of
A. I. Stewart told Parker to get rope. which he
did. and with him fastened the rope around the slab.
which we then pulled up. then descended into the
vault and noticed that the body had been carried
The cover Of the casket having been broken un-
snn~ bad BEEN co 70 os 1ns a
cover TO be taken of the casket. then came
out Of the vault went TO my office and
office room with me. He was in my Office about half
an hour. When Carpenter came explained 'the case
ter. He advised me to notify Judge Hilton. which
did. going to his house. Thirty-fourth street. near
Fifth avenue then left his house and returned TO
my Office remaining there about ten minutes. L then
went to st. Marks Church and remained there until
the arrival Of Judge Hilton. remained around the
GEORGE W. HANuLL
In the course Of his examination Mr.. Hamin said
that he was at home at ten O'Clock on Wednesday
evening and did not leave until the next morning
detective sent to his house to ascertain II this
SO and the statement corroborated. In reply to
question as to Mr. Hamills antecedents Judge
Hilton said A know of him is that he has been the
sexton and undertaken of st. Marks Church many
years fourteen. believe and he has good record"
STATEMENT OF FRANCIS PARKER.
Meantime the deputy was examined with the follow
Ing result
Francis Parker deputy sexton. No. 436 East Ninth
street. deposes Il to st Marks about eight this
morning. as is my custom. On entering the church
n n n md hQ uQn Of
T. Stewart at went to it and found that 1t had
been meddled with l at once notified Mr.. Hamill
where was soon Joined by Mr.. Hamill. procured
rope and placed it around the stone and raised it
into the vault. remaining there for few minutes.
When he came up he told me Stewarts body had been
aon ~ as wsns " Mr.
ing he told me he had not yet seen Mr. Hilton. He
remained short time and again went away to notify
Mr.. Hilton. He soon returned and told me had not-
fed Mr.. Hilton. Mr.. Hilton soon after came to the
churchyard. FRANCIS PARKER
PoIIcE THEORIES
While Judge Hilton was at Police Headquarters the
examination Of the sexton being temporarily
pended. Commissioner Nichols said. when Judge
Hilton came in this morning no said. with his eyes
staring wildly. Some one has robbed the Stewart
vault supposing that he referred to the money
vault at the store. said. Well. they've made good
haul. then He rejoined. Why. they took nothing
but the body It was some time before compre-
hended the fact. but we then went at once to the
church. There is but solution to it. Some one.
who knew all about the body. the cofns. the vault
and the removal Of the watchman has done for the
sake Of the reward"
"Do you intend to offer . reward. Judge Hilton r
asked the HERALD reporter
II have not determined what to do. shall bs
guided by the Commissioners"
Il hope no reward will be offered" said Captain
McCullagh.
"What record has the sexton. Captain p
"A good one. He has been in the church . great
many years and they all speak well Of him.
Judge do you suspect the sexton p
II cannot express an opinion. The circumstances
strange. but the mans antecedents are In his
favor"
Hrvc you informed Mrs. Stewart Of the robbery ?"
II have not. I shall go to the house q soon q
leave here"
'Does she read the papers 2"
"Yes. She Is q remarkably intelligent woman. Art
is her hobby. Her father Of the richest men
| in New York"
| "Has she any business tactY'
Eyes. She and Mr.. Stewart very much alike.
They worked admirably together and Lived very hap
ply
Have you ct any time heard Of special individuals
asking for Mr.. Stewards vsult2~
.-Oh yes. People 60 to the churchyard every dsy
and ask to zee it. Some little time ago. according TO
| the sexton. man who said his name was Stewart
and . relative Of Mr.. A. T. Stewart. visited the
churchyard and made particular inquiry as to
the vault These clamants and their hackers
would do anything to get money from Mrs. Stewart
The bcst bit Of detective work done done in
that claimants case. We knew exactly their pur-
poses. and they were enveloped by our net that
they didn't know whom to trust"
"Isut they have money. have theyY'
''Oh. yes, they have. They bring suits and entail
expenses of that nature. They would do anything
no matter what. TO extort money from Mrs. Stew
art"
"But they wontY'
mot u cent"
At this point Inspector Murray said. These men
tell very straight story. don't believe we can hold
them"
They should be followed and kept in sight" said
Judge Hilton. Every movement should be known.
that IL they are in communication with others we
shall know it."
Certainly" replied the Inspector; II win attend to
that"
CORONER FLANAGAN's VIEWS.
II at first thought best to keep the matter
quiet but better counscls prevailed and Judge Hilton
decided to give all the publicity possible Coroner
Flanagan sent for. He at said the outrage
the work either of undertaken or physician;
that no unacquainted with handling bodies in
that condition would dare to touch them and
they would not know what to do with this body after
getting It, He said that when it deemed desirable
to preserve bodies for inquests. and all the fac
ties Of Bellevue Hospital at his disposal. IL
difficult thing to do. and therefore who was
unfamiliar with the horrid details would dare to at
tempt such outrage. It evident also from
what left in the lead casing that the body
. most offensive condition No hack could carry it
away. No box barrel could conceal from instant
detection
Mr. IIBBY's IDKA
In reply 10 the question. What In your Judgment
WAS the motive for the robberyr' Mr.. Libby rc-
piled 81 am ut q loss to understand. unless money
at the bottom of it, But men Of ordinary mental
capacity you would think, could scarcely be foolish
enough 20 suppose that they could extort funds bv