The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-09-04
TIE ROBBERS OF THE GRAVE.
Disgraceful Biclering for the Bones of a.
e. Stewart.

between Henry G. Romaine, who pro.
fesses to have in his keeping the re-
mains of the late A. T.. Stewart, with
Judge Hilton, through ex-Postmaster
Patrick H. Jones of New York city,
have at last found their way into the
newspapers. The plate and orname nts
from the coffin were returned, so as to
leave no doubt of the body's being in
the possession Of Romaine also q piece
of paper which was found to fit exactly
the place in the cover of the coffin from
which piece of velvet lad been taken.
Failing to induce Judge Hilton to &C.
cede to their terms, the robbers next
urged MIR. Jones to bring the matter di.
rectly TO the attention Of Mrs. Stewart.
The correspondence opens with the let
ter received by the latter from Henry G..
Romaine, on the Goth of January last, of
which the following is copy:
MONTREAL, Canada, Jun. a, 1879.
The Hon. II. p Jones, Counsel Ncao York
City:
sIR-surprising as it may seem that
such being exists, nevertheless friends
in your city assure me that you are an
honest lawyer. Your public career and
private character strengthen that belief
to such an extent that remit herewith
retainer of 800. Having thus es-
tablished the relation of counsel and
client, l request your professional assis-
tance in the following matter:
That no doubt of my sincerity and
ability to perform what I promise may
exist either in your mind or the minds
of these moro directly interested, I in
trust temporarily to you as such counsel
the articles which accompany this let
Ter. am prompted TO this for the rea-
SON that numbers of offers of similar
character from irresponsible persons have
been addressed to the immediate family
of the late Alexander T.. Stewart. The
unbroken silence maintained by me un-
til now was prompted by E. desire to al
low Judge Hilton to exhaust every
means and pursue every clue that prom.
ised success, and thns himself be con.
vinced OF how friutless were his labors.
Thet he has baen as tirelaee II the search
a. he would be remorseless in the prose-
cutioL were the perpetrators discovered,
is known to all.
But, sir, he labors to no purpose. The
press, the people and the police have
becl beaten from the start. Their the
ories and tho progress asof tho pursuit
were daily published in the New York
papers, and, of course, were read by me.
Let me assure you, sir, thae there never
was moment when success was possible.
The remains were taken before 12
o'clock on the night of the 9th, and not
ut o'clock on the morning of the 9TH
of November. They were not taken
away in q carriage, but in grocers
wagon. They were not taken to any
house near the graveyard, but to one near
One Hundredth and Sixteenth street.
They were then enclosed in zinc-lined
trunk previously prepared, and left on an
early train. They went to Pittsburg,
and from there to the Dominion. There
they were buried.
Except that the eyes have disappeared,
the flesh is az firm ard the features as
natural as the day of interment, and can
therefore be instantly identified. The
enclosed piece of paper is exactly The
size of the piece of velvet takea from the
coffin, while the ANAL strip sent you will
prove to be of the same piece as that of
the coffin. If any additional proofs are
required, the plate will be sent you upon
inserting the following personal in the
New York Herald: "Canada-Send
P. Counsel"
One word more. If you decline to act,
d friend will call for the retainer sent
you. Il you accept, confer at once with
the Rev. DR.. Nyiance, MIR. Clinch, Judge
Hilton and Mrs. Stewart. Tell them not
to attempt to trace the writer of this, as
it will result in nothing, for know that
/ am perfectly free from extradition, and
az no man on earth except myself holds
any of the proofs, or knows where the
remains are buried, they never can get to
me. When you are satisfied that the
relatives Of MT5. Stewart will talk busi-
ness, insert the following personal in the
New York Herald: "Canada-will do
business. Counsel" Then you will
hear from me again, and be referred to
my representative. Yours respectfully
HENRY G. RoMAINE. =
P. S-To insure safe delivery Of the
proofs send them by special messenger
MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION.
A few hours before the receipt of this
letter package containing screw, four
screw-caps and the piece of velvet re.
ferred to in the letter were left at Mr..
Jones' Office at No. 150 Nassau street
On the same day these articles were
taken to police headquarters and deliv-
cred to Superintendent Walling. Three
days later the PERSONAL calling for the
forwarding Of the coffin plate was pub.
lished as directed, which brought forward
the following reply: I
BOSTON, Mass, January 81, 1870.
p. II. Jones, Counsel, Neto York Crty:
Immediately Oh arrival of Herald con.
tanning personal decided to express the
plate from this city, and thus avoid The
discovery and publicity which would Ger.
tiiuiy follow the examination Of tit
package by the custom officials of the
Dominion. You will doubtless receive
it tomorrow.
You will at once confer with the au
thorized representatives of Mrs. Stewart
aud permit them to satisfy themselves O.
its genuineness. Having done that, yor
will await further Instructions, which
will be forwarded after the insertion o.
the second personal: "Csnada-will de
business. COUNSEL You are especinll,
requested to maintain the strictcst Sc
crecy, and you can assure Judge Hijtor
that any business done with me W.
never be known by mortal man.
Yours, &C., HENRY G.. RoMAINE.
The coffin plato was duly received pei
express from Boston, and on February ]
was delivered to Superintendent Walling
On February. s Mr Jones, at the reques
of Judge Hilton, inserted the 'seconC
personal" in the Herald, and two day
later s;;te ~ S, IL IL
receipt of the two letters and the pack
ages, and accepting the retainer. Thi
letter closes with tho remark by Mr.
Jones that he thought "that the Judge
(Hilton) is anxious to recover the BODY
of his friend, as we all are to sec that thI
real remains are deposited in the plac,
designed and prepared for their racep