The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-08-22

New York Telegram


Another phase of the negotiations for Stew
arts body is published, making an extraor-
binary story. On Monday in January last
lawyer in this city received by mail letter
signed sRomaine, !" inclosing 800 as q retainer,
and asking him if he would consent to act as
attorney for the negotiations for the return OF
Stewards body on the payment of $780, On
the same day came . package by express,
to which the letter referred, and which, on be-
ing opened, was found to contain silver knobs
and part Of q handle belonging to A. T.
Stewards coffin. The lawyer was requested to
answer by personal whether or not he would
accept the retainer. He did so, and, in few
days, received further retainer of $3.50 and a
second parcel containing the coffin plates, sew
eral other silver handles and still more knobs
The parcels and letters came from Canada
Assurances were also given that the body was
III perfect state OF preservation.
The lawyer took the letters and articles FOR
warded as proof of the possession Of the body
to Superintendent Walling. Subsequently
Judge Hilton was informed, and the terms or
the robbers were mentioned TO him as being
$25O,0V0.
serted that he did not know the thieves nor did
he know whore the body was; that he supposed
they applied to him because, possibly, when he
was Register or Postmaster, they had served
under him.
Judge Hilton declared that the proposition
was preposterous; that he would not pay q
cent for the body without securing the robbers,
and finally dismissed the lawyer with the in
sulting declaration that he would have nothing
to do with such negotiations.
The negotiations were continued In
hopes that the detectives might get some
clew, but nothing came of it. subsequently
negotiations were opened directly with
Mrs. Stewart, through a firm Of Wall
street lawyers of ouch great prominence
and character that good faith could not be
doubted-Evarts, Southmayd and ChOatt A
member of the firm laid the correspondence OF
Romano before her, and, though she asserted
her absolute confidence in the assurances of
Judge Hilton that the body had been recovered
and was at the cathedral, the lady read them
over and requested an explanation Of Judge
Hilton. He satisfied her that the letters were
unworthy Of consideration, and she returned
them to the lawyer as such, and immediate ne
gotahons we're broken off,
1t seems that all this time Mrs. Stewart has
been led by Mr.. Hilton to believe that the body
had been recovered, and il now became neces-
sary to undeceive her. Hilton expressed a
willingness to pay s25, 900, the original reward,
but would not pay more without securing the
thieves.
All hopes that the refusal to negotiate for the
return of the body on the terms named, OF any
other than the payment Of the reward "a S25,-
WI, WHICH OHcT JOutS IIhUstultttu W Hhll u
Romano in Montreal, would lead tie thieves III
desperation to reveal themselves, were finally
abandoned by Judge Hilton about three weeks
ago, and he has since then reopened negotia
tons; this time, it is believed, with the pur-
pose of buying the body outright, and without
any attempt to secure the thieves. II is clear
that all efforts heretofore have been baffied
There Is no question that Romano is the Sc
lected agent of the robbers and has the body in
charge. He has carefully concealed his identity,
and his handwriting is 30 disguised as to battle
any n new sDd a' nerdina ean S;
opened by Judge Hilton himself, who, on July
"a, caused to be inserted in the Herald the fol-
lowing PERSONAL:
Canada: Counsel desires to communicate 4"
1t il not signed. Mr.. Jones has as yet re-
ceived no response to il. Meantime tho body
remains in its cOncealment known only TO the
robbers, and is said to be in a state of careful
preservation.