The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-14
The A. T. Stewart Grave. Robbers.

BOLD DEMAND OF A QUARTER OF A MILLION
DOLLAEs-A LAWYERS EXTRAORDINARY
FEE-THE COFFJN.PLATE AND COFFIN
KNOBS SENT BY EXPRESS-TIE GHOULS AND
MRS. STEWART.
Yesterdays Herald.l
It was in the month OF January last that
on a certain Monday morning a messenger
OF the American Express Company dellv-
cred small package at the office Of Mas
sal,.street lawyer. The lawyer had not yet
arrived ut his office, and it not being an un-
usual matter for Il parcel to be delivered
there. the boy in attendance readily gave
receipt for it. 1t had remained on the table
in the outer office for over an hour when
the lawyer entered, and even then
he paid no attention to it. With
the same morning mail came letter from
Montreal signed * Romaine," written in
st, lie that detcd all efforts to detect any
particular handwriting. But it was quite
lcgIble. The lawyer was asked in this let
tc: whether he would take charge OF negotla-
tons to obtain the heavy reward and more
from Mrs. Stewart for the return OF Mr.. y.
L. Stewards body, and that upon the pay
ment of the sum OF S250,000 the remains
OF the dead merchant would be delivered.
In no case, however, it stated, was there
the slightest possibility OF the principals be-
ing made known, nor should any effort be
made TO detect tlem.~ AS evidence Of good
faith small retainer Of 500 was enclosed
| in the letter, with the announcement that if
the recipient OF this fee was willing to go
ahead with the case he should inserts certain
"Per> onal" in the Herald, and more money
| would be forthcoming by the following
mail. Attention was also called to the fact
| that package containing tangible evidence
| OF the body being in their possession had
been that very day forwarded by express
! 10 The same address. Tie lawyer. aston
ished at the contents of The letter, but see,
ing no nackage on his desk, was about IT,
attend 10 other matters requiring his ton
too, when he called his boy ARA askcd.ll
package had been received that morning.
The lad went into the outer Office ana at
once returned with the parcel, handing II
TO his employer. The latter opened 1t, ana
behold. there were the silver knobs anu
part OF handle belonging to A. I. Stew
AIRS coffin, rs had been described III tho
letter.
A HOAX Or NOT.
The first idea that struck the lawyer was
to rush ut once TO police headquarters ana
also TO Judge Hilton IN order TO acquain,
them with the above facts, but on second
though, he reflected that. after all, he might
have been made the victim OF cruel hoax.
And vet there was the hundred-dollhr
fee. there were the silver knobs; and the
story as given in the letter appeared con-
sistcnf, 10 all intentS and purposes. 90
much time bad already been lost in the re-
covtry OF The Stewart remains by tue au-
thorities that few DAYS further delay could
apparentIv work 10 harm to any one. so the
iawyer. without communicating the news TO
any one, inserted in the next days Herdtd
The Personal" called for, signing his own
initials to the same. In due course OF
mail, after two or three days, came another
letter from Montreal, signed, as before,
:. ROmaine," expressing, satisfaction over
the decision arrived at by the lawyer ana
trusting that he would successfully pursue
the negotiations with Judge Hilton or Mrs.
Stewart. This letter, as further evidence
OF She good faith Of the Montreal parties,
contained another fee OF $3.50, making the
total received by the lawyer from the rop"
bers $3.50. -.-..-...'
SECOND SIGNIFICANT PARCEL.
The very next day another and larger
par Gel reached the same gentIeuan's once,
not direct from Montreal, but from Boston.
An accompanying note explained that IL
had not been forwarded direct from Mon
real because the customs officers. might
perebanee baYe opened it and been taken
somewhat aback by its contents. Ihey
would have been indeed, The Stewart cpI-
fin. plate was there, several other silver ham
dies, and, still more knobs They haG been
taken I'd Boston by u trusted FRIEND. Of the
robbers, and sent on to New \ orr IRON the
Hub. Singular 10 say, however,, the icn'ro-
graphy oil the letter explaining the reasons,
for forwarding II in this manner was exaes'