The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-26
A. t. STEWARDS. REMAINS.
How They Were Recovered-His Own EN-
ployes Assisted in the Dissertation.

| How They Were Recovered-His Own EN-
plOyes Assisted in the Dissertation.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
"Do you know" said Mr. James Keller, one
| of party of welknown gentlemen gathered in
favorte resort few evenings ago, that the
death of aman who has gained prominence in the
more quiet pursuits of life, such as the mercan-
tile-especially if he has been toany extent pub
lie spirited-produces feelings much deeper and
more lasting than are generally accredited}
For instance, Mr. Springer or A I. Stewart
person could hardly realize that almost eight
years have passed since the death Of MIR.
Stewart
Mr.. Keller for years has been 'buyer and
later had charge of the foreign trade of A. 7.
Stewart & Co, and was with the firm at the
time of Mr.. Stewards death. and was of course
greatly interested in the efforts to recover the
body after it had been stolen from the grave.
Mr. Stewards death and the stealing of his
body are well known TO all. 1t is not known,
however-that is, it has never been authori-
tatlvely stated-that his remains were recovered.
This fact was known only to four or five persons,
and they have pers1stently denied all knowledge
of the matter, preferring, for reasons best known
to themselves, to remain quiet. 1t was supposed
Mr.. Keller could throw some light on the sub
ject, and the following question was put to him:
Have Mr. Stewarts'friends regained posses
sion Of hisbodyl"
That question has been asked me many times.
Heretofore have either answered in the mega
tive or else pleaded ignorance. see ne reason
for not answering it now, however. Yes, 1.-THE
body recovered. l will never forget that
affair. 1t was a regular business transaction,
the body having to be purchased. Your
remember that after the body was stolen
the very best detectives in New York were put
upon the case. They went on from day to day,
presumably doing the best they could, running
down this and that clew, but making no head
way whatever. OF course, we were all greatly
exercised over the matter and the futile efforts
of the detectives had rather depressing effect
The prevailing opinion was that the body had
he4an CfO with he dao hat raYslx4
be offered for its return. Mrs. Stewart was ad-
vised right along by police authorities not to
offer any reward. After more than a year had
elapsed since the stealing of the body, it be-
coming more and more apparent every day that
the authorities would never be able TO unravel
the mystery, Mrs. Stewart accepted a suggestion
offered by well-known New Yorker, who had
some business connections with her husband
His suggestion was that the offer of a reward
and mo questions asked might have a good
effect She acted upon the suggestion and was
about to offer q reward of $4,000. He thought
the reward rather small and limited that an ad-
ditonal $50, 900 might have better effect She
accordingly made the reward 800 000 Not
long afterward she was informed by the gentle
man that man named Patrick Dwyer had
called upon him and had stated that he (Dwyer)
had been approached by certain parties who
claimed to know where the body could be
found, and who for the reward would turn it
over, providing that Dryer act as mediator-re-
ceive the body from them, and in turn pay over
asked Dwyer further exacted the promise that
if be acted his part his connection with the
transaction should never be known. In fact
sacred promises had to be made that nothing
should be SAID about the recovery of the
body. The idea rather revolving, but what
could be done2 If the offer was not accepted
the remains would never have been recovered"
well, was it acceptedP
sit was, finally. Dwyer managed the entire
affair. We never knew whence the body came;
that always remained mystery; but this much
we do know--it was brought into the city, or
one of the night trains coming from above the
city, and must have been kept some distance
outside of New York. We understood the body
was to come at night but were not positive as
to what night 1t was to be brought to the
store Some time before this Mrs Stewart had
ordered the removal Of the Wholesale store to the
retail, and we were at the time of which speak
engaged in doing this One night had been
detained AT the store rather late but was about
leaving when l was called down stairs. l got
there in time to see two men depositing large
rubber sack in one of the huge money vaults.
The sack contained the remains of MIR. Stewart"
What was then done with the body9
1T remained in the sack, locked up in the
vault for about year, until the Stewart Chapel,
of which you have probably read, was COM
pleted. 1t then removed to the chapel,
from which place it cannot be stolen"
This ended the stealing business 1 sup
pose2o
Eyes. There was another attempt made, how
ever, but this was nipped in the bud. One of the
parties connected with the scheme getting an
idea into his head that the others would dump
him. gave the whole thing away"
"Was the money paid overp
Eyes, indeed. 1t was very generally undor-
stood that Dwyer was only used as a tool. He
received $40 900 of the reward, the remaining
500 600 being divided among six other persons,
the man who suggested the Offering of a reward
being among the number, and receiving the
lions share for working the thing Several per-
sons who were not altogether strangers around
the great Stewart establishment on Broadway
in the course of time, after the body was reeov-
ered were found to te in very comfortable cir
cumstances, and had the detective got onto that
fact and worked it up there would have been
some sensational developments. We can say
nothing"
'AIr. Stewart personally, was almost an en-
tire stranger to Western people What was his
characterl"
We'll, sir he was certainly one of the very
best men have ever known-a good man with
q good heart. On one of his trips to Ireland he
brought back home with him woman and her
two daughters, whom he had known in early
boyhood days. Coming up from the landing he
rode on the outside of the carriage with the
driver, the women occupying the inside of the
carriage 1t was very diSagreeable weather, and
he was an old man, but ne rode all the way
home in that manner. The women are still |
stopping at his house.
What was his religious BELIEF"
'He never was a chuch going man. know
that while sick and just before his death he ex-
pressed a desire to die a Catholic, but whether
to him am unable to say. l know that his
funeral did not take place from Catholic !
church"
Alright Between Women Clerks.
washington Post