Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-05
BURIAL Of A sUlti0E al
Why John Stewart, the FofgeT,
Ended His Life.
Followed TO the Grave by Those
whom Crime Had sep
araied.


New York Herald. Jan. 81.
The body ofe man 6ho had died By
his own hand rather than pay legal
penalty for his crime was lowered into
the earth yesterday. he had had
as be counted them, but his
nearest associates had forsakeD him
he died, and none but his rela
stood by his open grave. He had
been a Catholic, at least by training
and family tradition, but no priest said
a prayer over his coffin and tho ground
where he lies is not consecrated by his
church. The casket in which he lies
is q costly one and a name is engraved
on its plate, but it is not the name OF
the man inside. Respectable by birth,
he bad become a criminal.
He was the notorious fOrger known
as John Stewart, who was detected
last week in a theater by the ACCURACY
of q description sent to the New
York police from Dallas, Texas, where
be had been known as George Cole
man. On Saturday night he cut his
throat in the lerryhouse while the
detective who had come for him was
buying his ticket for Dallas. Texas,
aud on Sunday be died. His re
mains were prepared for burial
BY direction ci q salccn keeper
who knew him, but before the burial
his brother claimed them and took
charge OF the arrangements.
The discovery of the brother was ,
consequence OF almost the last act o
the ruined life. Alter Stewart-io'
that was the nam he had borne f0i
years-was arrested last week he OBJ
s~tinateIy refused to acknowledge his
guilt, even when the detectives az
! sured him that they knew more than
they really did. He wa strong, keen.
Intelligent, experienced and wary, and
above all he was buoyed up BIZ a hope
that did net fail him till the very last,
The police assert that the forgery BY
which the Texas bank was swindled
out Of $6l0D was planned aud exc
cuted by a New York gang. Stewart
uttered the forged paper, obtained the
booty and took as his share one quar-
ter Of it. The others Of the gang
we're near enough to furnish him legal
help and we're able to do it.
TRUSTING TO THE HONOR OF
THIEVES"
The prisoner therefore lay 10 hi,
cell awaiting with a good nerve th,
arrival of the men and the paper.
which we're TO take him back TO Texas
He expected them, but, as it after
ward appeared, be also expected al
ally in the person ofscme able lawyer.
Despite previous experiences, be
seemed assured that his pals" would
stand by him, and this conviction ap.
parently gave him courage enough tC
persist in denying his guilt. Ever
after his positive Identification by the
President Of the bank he had swim
died, he stoutly asserted that he wa
not the man he was taken for. At th.
last hour, when no help had come, aDt
he knew at last that none would com,
aud that he hsd punishment to face
be would have turned on the men Wit
had lett him aud would have sayeC
himself at their exsense.
!, 1T is too late" Inspector Bfrnei
said TO him. "YOu were told that j
yeu wanted to talk you must Talk then
Now you cannot help yourself"
"fhen Stewart broke down. Il shal
plead guilty" he said 10 the Inspector
1T may take a year or two off my sen
tence. aud it's no use for me to stan'
trial"
But you are ffty-four years old,
said the Inspector. Suppose you &c
ten years? That will be a life sen
teuce."
That's So said the unhappy man
Those Southern prisons are bells OF
earth. l never could live out m.
time"
DESPERATE AT LAST.
He was to start in an hours time
He wrote a letter and enclosed 10
$25, which was all he had with him
Ut any more Of his booty RENAME,
some one else has it The letter h
directed to his sister. On his way Il
the ferry he handed it to one OF N
Headquarters detectives who wen
with the Texas officer as far as tn,
river, and asked him to deliver il.
Then, as was told in Sundays p per
with one quick thrust he drove ia,
blade Of a penknife into his throat
severing one of the arteries. lie wa
hurried to a drug store, where a rougl
bandage was put on, AID he was ther
taken to the hospital. He died a fev
hours a~fterward, having hardly spokel
in the interval.
|, IN THE COFFIN.
While the body lay, Sunday night
/ Monday and Monday night, in tn
/ u~ndertaker's shop one after anothe
7 Of his associates, who we're not afrai,
E to do so, called to see it. The ghastl
D.. wound through which his life had es
capped was hidden, and the face locke
e lifelike and peaceful. On the cofiI
( plate was the inscription
= '.''' '..'',. ...,s'...
JOHN STEWART, T:
Died January %. 1888, :
Aged "a years. /:
q s"'''"''''''''''' ''''''''''''" '''"' ''".......S