The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-13

the Same morning mail came a letter from
Montreal signed "Romaine." written in style that
defed all efforts to defect any particular handwriting
But it was quite legbie. The lawyer was asked in
this letter whether he would take charge of negotas
tions to obtain the heavy reward and more from
Mrs. Stewart for the return Of Mr.. A. t. Stewards
body. aud that upon the payment of the sum of
$50 900 the remains of the dead merchant would be
delivered In no case. however, it stated there
the slightest possibility OF the principals being
made known. nor should any effort be made TO
detect them. As evidence of good faith small
retainer Of 500 enclosed in the letter. with the
announcement that II the recipient OF this fee was
willing to go ahead with tho he should insert a
certain personal" in the HERALD and more money
would be forthcoming by the following mail Atten-
ton also called to the fact that package
tanning tangible evidence of the body being in their
possession had been that very day forwarded
by express to the address. The law
yer. sstonished at the contents of the
letter. but seeing no package his desk.
about to attend to other matters requiring his at
tention when he called his boy and asked II pack
age had been received that morning. The lad went
into the outer Office and at once returned with the
parcel. handing it to his employer. The latter
opened it and behold! there were the silver knobs
nd part OF = handle belonging to A. 7. Stewards
coffin. as had Uesn described in the letter.
ftii~ M A HOAX NOT. " .st-
The nrst IDEA that struck the lawyer was to rush
at once to Police Headquarters and also to Judge
Hilton in order to acquaint them with the above
facts but on sscond thought he reflected that after
all. he might hive been mado the victim OF cruel
hoax And yet there the 500 fee there were the
silver fhobs and the story given in the letter APP
peared to all nents purposes So much
time had already been lost in tho recovery of the
Stewart remains by the authorities that few days.
further delay could apparently work no harm to any
one. So the lawyer, without communicating the
news to any one. inserted in the next days HERALD
the PERSONAL called for. signing his own initials to
tie same. IN dive course of mail after two or three
days, came sns>er letter from Montreal. signed. as
before. s'RoinSr. p expressing satisfaction over
the decision arrived at by the lawyer and trusting
that he would successfully pursue the negoti-
atoms with fudge Hilton or Mrs. Stewart. This
letter. further evidence Of the good faith Of the
Montreal psrties. contained another fee Of $3.50.
making tho total received by the lawyer from the
et SECOND SIGNIFICANT PARCEL @st .
The very next day another and larger parcel
reached the same gentleman's Office. not direct from
Montreal but from Boston. An accompanying note
explained that 1t had been forwarded direct from
Montreal because the customs officers might, per-
chance, have opened it and been taken somewhat
absck by its contents. They would have been in
deedi The Stewart coffin plate there, several
other silver handles aud still more knobs. They
had been taken to Boston by trusted friend OF the
robbers. and sent on to New York from the Hub.
Singular to say, however. the chirography of tho
letter explaining the for forwarding it in
this manner was exactly the same that of the
other Montreal letters. and also signed "Romaine."
The words are written in all sorts and shapes US IL
in the handwriting Of a schoolboy. like this = <
For ilstAnCEs ga arf pas si al .ls't.r r..s.,
49,. a scKxK AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
When tho lswysr that his correspondents in
deed meant business his resolution was taken.
Gathering up the contents of the two parcels re-
ceivsd by express and the letters received from
Montreal he repaired to Police Headquarters
and was soon closeted with Superintend-
ent wslltng.s The lawyer and p the Chief
are old acquaintances and introduction
wss needed. Quietly taking the psrcel from
under lbs afh tlsuy without utterinsa word.
laid its contents coffin plate. handles knobs letters
ana ALL before thunderstruck Police Superntend-
ent. Had bombshell been fired into the Chiefs
privste room he could not have been more suddenly
lifted of his chair "A look of blank astonishment.
then glance of anger and again an expression of
doubts; but there they were hard. tangible evidence
before him the table. They told their own
story. The Superintendent was indeed astonished.
and many seconds elapsed before he re-
sumed conversation with his visitor. A careful
perusai Of the letters followed and 1t was evident
that their author anxious to conceal his own
identity as that of the four principals for whom he
was rcting and writing. Folding the letters up
again, and retaining them in his possession tho
lawyer left the plato and other belongings of the
mathematics coffin with the Superintendent tax
ing the latters receipt therefor. This receipt the
lawyer guarded carefully and after deciding upon
line Of policy be pursued future operations he
repaired to the Office Of ex-Judge Hilton.
SCENE WITH JUDGE HILTON.
So many hundreds Of propositions and letters had
been received by Mr.. Hilton in regard to the recov
cry of the of his friend aud benefacor that
at first no seemed rather disinciined to converse
with tho lawyer the subject at all. but when tho
latter showed him the significant receipt signed by
superintendent walling new light seemed to dawn
upon him. els .e.sa.tfog .rs5
.sThese men want SASS. 600. Mr.. Hilton. and the
remains will be at your disposal" said the lawyer.
..Preposterous." answered Judge Hilton. "Ill not
give cent for the body. not for that. want
the robbers themselves"
.'But you not going to have them. don't know
myself, who they are. All I am authorized to do
and this guarantee. that you have the remains
of A. T. Stewart by paying this amount Of money"
al will not listen to it any longer" iarcd up Mr.
Hilton. adding. suppose told you tho body is now
on Long Island7'
IN EXCELLENT PRESERVATION.
''Then would not believe you. tell you 1t is
not there There is just much chance for it in
being in your store 1t may be right in our imme-
date vicinity. for do not say that positive
that it IL in Montreal. but do say that you will
never these remains until you listen what
these Montreal people have to say. 1t is through
them only that 1t can DO returned wherever it may
be- and guarantee further that it has been kept
in an excellent state OF preservation" ..a ...
Of itY'
Gan can say their lawyer is that these men
will carry out the contract they propose to make
with you through me-" s.,.
"rli have nothing to do with It," said the rate
ex-Judge and the lawyer left him In anything but
friendly mood.