The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-08-21
THE STEWART GRAVE ROBBERY.
New York Telegram.l

announcer phase OF the negotiations for Stew
arts body is published, making an extraor-
binary story. On Monday in January last a
lawyer in this city received by mail letter
signed sRomaine, inclosing 800 as 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 $250000 On
the same day came q package by express.
to which the letter referred and which, on be-
ing opened, was found to contain silver knobs
and part of handle belonging to 4. Il.
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 q
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
IN 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 of
the robbers were mentioned to him as being
$250,0o0.
The lawyer, who was Patrick H. Jones. as
serted that he did not know the thieves nor did
he know where 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
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
ciew, but nothing came of it. Subsequently
negotiations were opened directly with
Mrg StaUarf oh firm Of Wol1
street lawyers of such 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
gotatlons were 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 it now became neces-
sary to undeceive her. Hilton expressed
willingness to pay $25, 600, 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
D.
OO0 which offer Jones transmitted by mail t.
Romano in Montreal, would lead the thieves in
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 It 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 so disguised as to battle
any attempts to detect him by that means
The new and pending negotiations were
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"
1t is not signed Mr.. Jones has as yet re-
ceived no response to it. Meantime the body
remains in it's concealment known only to the
robbers, and is said to be in state of careful
preservation. .-.
A Bavarian Legend.
The legend of the wonderful eques-
trian Eppelein Won Challenger, the most
renowned robber of his day, is thus
given by Nuremberg correspondent:
"Tradition has assigned him as the IA
vorite of the commanding chief of the
bottomless pit. Ee fourished in the
fourteenth century, and was rival of
the celebrated Counts of Brandenburg,
who had their castles in the vicinity of
Nuremberg. History .narrates that they
were all martial gentlemen, who found
stealing more lively way of living than
working. Among these robbers of the
early days this Herr Won Gailingen was
sort Of Tammany Boss or big
Injun,' and marvellous stories are told of
his dauntless feats. This is a walled
city, the moat being about fifty feet
deep by eighty wide. The local guide
pointed out the exact spot where Herr
Won Gailingen made his wonderful
leap CA. D. 1890, and for the second
time saved his life and limb from the
exquisite agonies of the torture cham
Der. The guide informed me that,
much to the JOY of the Nurembergers,
the great robber was recaptured, and
speedily condemned to undergo the tort
ures of the horrible Iron Virgin. Be-
fore the day fixed for his execution the
people clamored for public exhibition
of him. This being granted, he was
brought forth, dressed in his armor, just
as he was captured. He was the posses
sor of wonderful horse, said to have
been presented to him by his Satanic
Majesty, and to be half horse and half
goblin. The name of the horse was
Black lightning. When the great chief
was led forth to be exhibited he craved
one boon, and only one, and that was
that he might have the pleasure of show
ing himself to best advantage upon the
back of his favorite steed. This being
granted, the charger was led forth.
With graceful bound, Won Gailingen
vaulted into the saddle, gave one pierre
ing scream to his we'll trained Light
ming which made three bounds over
the heads of the stupid burghers, when
he reached the moat. One more fright
full shrek from his master, and at
single leap he cleared the moat! To
this day, upon the opposite wall, can be
seen deep and distinct indentatlons in