Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30
A WEALTHY WIDOW DEAD.

A WEALTHY WIDOW DEAD.
NEW YORK, Oct. 25.-Mrs. Cor
neIa NJ. Stewart, the widow OF the
late millionaire dry goods merchant,
A. +. Stewart, died suddenly OF
pneumonia this morning at her ele-
cant Fifth avenue mansion. The
widow of the great dry goods prince
passed away quietly in her home.
Ten years ago her husband was one
of the best known men in the coun-
try. His millions accumulated so
fast that he was supposed u be
fabulOusly wealthy. His name was
known to every dry goods market
in the world. His word was as good
as his bond IN the silk market OF
Lyons or the lace mills OF France
and Ireland. He was known
throughout the Orient for his lib
crafty and prompt pay. he died
without children. All the world
knows how his body was disturbed
in the grave. The great name Of
A. Il. Stewart is now thing OF the
past. Hrs vast fortune has been
scattered. All that remains to tell
of his greatness is the white marble
palace on Fifth avenue.
Her death was so unexpected that
her physician, DR.. j. q. Minor, who
was in her apartments at the time,
turned to converse with Miss
Clinch, sister of the deceased Mrs.
Resell, daughter of ex-Judge Hill.
ton, and Mrs. Ruddell, niece OF the
latter, and returning to the bedside
found Mrs. Stewart dead. Last
Friday Mrs. Stewart took dinner
with Mrs. Henry Hilton, and on her
way home contracted a heavy cold.
On Saturday she was so ill that she
was compelled to go to bed. She
continued to grow rapidly worse,
and the doctor remained all last
night. Early this morning there
seemed to be an improvement, butit
was only a relief from pain which
preceded the sudden but quiet end.
The funeral will be held Thurs
day afternoon, from her late resi-
dence. Rev. Arthur Brooks, OF the
Church of the lncaratiOD, will ofii-
clate. The services will be Of the
plainest description. The casket
will be covered with black velvet,
silver mounted, and will be enclosed
in a cedar box in the tomb. 1t is
said that the body will be enclosed
in a steel casket to prevent any pos
sIble chance of theft after burial.
Mrs. Stewart was the eldest
daughter of James Church, a pion.
eer merchant of this city. She was
born in 1862, in Belfast, Ireland,
and was married to Mr.. A. I. Stew
art in 1923, by the late Rev. DIR.
Mitchell. Since the death Of her
husband she has led a retired life.
In person she was small and OF
slender form. Those who are In at.
tendance say that in death her face
wears a peaceful expression. as
though she was asleep, and is very
natural in appearance.
During the past few years Mrs.
Stewart has been in such feeble
physical condition that she kept Sc
cluded almost entirely from society,
and had few visitors outside OF her
sister, Miss Clinch, and the mem.
bers Of ex-Judge Hilton's family
The ex.iudge looked after her bust.
ness affairs. and was executor OF
the vast estate of her husband. IL
is not yet known what disposition
Mrs. Stewart has made ofthe wealth
left by her, which is estimated to
be considerably over s20,0O0,0OO
The death OF Mrs. Stewart Will
recall the circumstances with the
death of her husband, and mystic
rious disappearance of the body
from the vault of st. Marks Church,
corner of Second avenue and Tenth
street. The act OF the ghouls was
a sensation for months. All sorts
of reports were in circulation. The
whole police aud detective force of
this and neighboring cities we're at
work seeking clues for the desecra-
tors of the grave, but TO no success
tul end. Slowly the mystery be-
gan to unravel, through the efforts
of the participants in the crime to
obtain fabulous sum for the re-
turn of the remains, which were
said to be in a rubber bag, aud Sc
creted in a desolate portion of New
Jersey. The family refused to pay
the ransom demanded, and renewed
efforts to ferret the perpetrators
were made. Suspicion was fastened
upon a hack driver named Kelly,
who resided on Madison street, near
Scanned Mosher, a resident Of
Sheriff street, and several others:
but the former skipped to San Fran
cisco, while MOsher met q sudden
death while making an unlimited
visit to residences on the
shores of Long Island.
The others could not be prevailed
upon to disclose whatever knowl-
edge they possessed of the plot, and
lack of evidence no legal
proceedings were taken to punish
any Of them. 1t is firmly believed
that the grand mausoleum built by
Mr. Stewart for himself and wife at
Garden City, l.. l., does not con.
tain his body, and that it still rests
in an unmarked spot in the wilds
Of New Jersey. Now that his wife
has passed away, it is said the story
of the abduction and dis
position of the body will become
known.
Those intimate with Mrs. Stew.
lrt believe that she died with the
irm belief that the remains OF her
husband rest in the spot he had Sc
ected for that purpose.