New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-14
HISTORY OF TIE CASE.

WILD NEWSPAPER RUMORs-THE NEGOTIATIONS OF
LAST JANUARY-No PRACTICAL RESULT.
The body Of the late Alexander T. Stewart was
stolen from the vault in st. Marks Churchyard on
the night of November g. 1873. The loss was not
discovered until the next day, when the robbers
had made good their escape. The coffin plate, han
dies and q small piece of the cloth OF the colin
were taken with the body Subsequent inveshga-
tion established the fact that the robbers five
in number, but the route taken by them could not
be determined. 1t was apparent from the first that
the only motive for the robbery was gain. The de-
tectives and the immediate friends of Mr. Stewart
were satisfied that the robbers had made provision
for the complete security and the perfect preserva
ton of the body which to them represented a for
tune.
On November 10 following the daring robbery,
Chief of Police Donovan, of HObOken and Captain
Kealy the Chief of Detectives of the police Of this
city, followed a clew which led them into New-Jer-
sew bat at late hour Of the night they returned to
New-YOrk. having satisfied themselves thatthe clew
was a false one Nevertheless, all the morning pa
pers, except THE TRIBUNE and Herald announced
In most positive terms the next day that the body
had been recovered, and that the thieves, five in
number. had been arrested. Further investigation
resulted in the other papers reasserting their stores
md on the other hand, in the papers named deny
ing that either body or prisoners had been found.
Subsequently,, at various times, reports were pub
lshed to the effect that the body had been recOv-
cred under other circumstances than those at first
detailed but none of the statements were found to
be correct On January 80 The TRIBUNE made the
following announcement as part of the true his
tory of the efforts to the return of the body
the information having been obtained from an I'M
deniably good authOT1tyi
Two morning papers, about week ago, were induced
70 h1fsh IN ne of A. IL.
Stewart had been recovered This was done AT the In
ston of interested persons to make the robbers
leve that what was supposed 70 be the body OF Mt.
Stewart had been returned. IL was thOught that
this would force the thieves into negotiations for the
subsequently THE TRIBUNE, as by authority, published
IN positive terms that the body had not been found. On
Monday person in authority called on Mir. Hammlil
sexton OF St. Marks Church, and asked permission TO
Ths privilege the sexton refused grant the ground
that private property and that no one except inc
owners could give the desired permission The person
then went away and soon afterwerd returned Win
written authority from Judge Hilton. In order that
their movements might lot be observed It was deter
mined open the grave early on the ioowlng morning
opened and the coffin was taken Out
When the robbery was first discovered II was notced
that top OF the coffin there was an aperture IN me
velvet covering II was irregular III shape evidently
having been cut with ordinary knife by the rODDels
for the purpose of identification There were ve sldes
20 the cut and the length about five inches
aud its width three inches The person VINO had tIe
brown paper which by the thieves as a copy
Of the missing piece Of velvet When placed over the
cut, il was found TO be an exact duplicate. livery
angle fitted snugly, and each side was OF the proper
length.
The publication of this statement greatly excited
the police authorities who declared that 1t would
break off pending negotiations for the return of the
body, as the thieves would be sure to see the publ
cation and to conclude that either their agent had be-
trayed them or the police authorities had made the
fact public. SuDerr tendent Wallmg and Chief of
Detectives Kealy personally requested that IHN
TRIBUNE should publish nothing more about the
matter for the present; and the Superintendent IN
order to illustrate his views, told how premature and
iniudicOus publications bad broken off the almost
completed negotiations for the recovery of Charlie
Ross by his kidnappers who were subsequently
killed and with them the secret of the boys place
OF concealment was lost At the request of the pO-
lice officers, THE TRIBUNE remained persistently
silent on the subject until the publication a week
ago of another false report that the remains were
under guard of Judge HiltOn's men in the Cathedral
Mt Garden City, and that $500 had been paid for
their return. This story The TRIBUNE at once
denied on the evidence Of two Of its reporters, who
had only two days before thoroughly inspected the
cathedral; but it was repeated and reasserted
time md again.