The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-10-10

land at Hampstead Plains, now
called Garden City.
He died in 1876 in the marble
palace which is now the Manhattan
Club House. He had been married
fifty-one years, and left no children,
Two sons had been born to him, but
they died in infancy. His wife was
at his bedside, and the wife and
daughter OF Judge Henry Hilton
we're with her at the time. When
the will was opened, it was found
that Mr.. Stewart had not left the
control Of his vast interests to his
business associates, of whom there
were four-Fox, Stewart, Worden,
and Libby-but that he had left all
OF his interests in charge OF Henry
Hilton.
Judge Hilton was protege Of
Stewart. He was the son OF cart
man, and studied law. He wormed
himself into Stewards confidence,
and finally abandoned all his law
practice to devote his attention to
Stewards business. Although most
Of Stewards estate was bequeatbed
to his wife, Judge Hilton was made
his executor, with bequest of ST.
000, 900 to pay him for his services.
After the death of her husband,
Mrs. Stewart, who was a recluse,
surrounded by the Hilton family,
surrendered the vast business to
Judge Hilton to pay him for his
legacy. The business was estimated
at the time to be worth S12,000O00.
To get this for legacy OF 81, 100000
was a neat turn on the part ofJudge
Hilton. He retained control of Mrs.
Stewards property during the few
years that she survived her husband.
She died in 1886 When she died,
she lett not quite half SO much as
she had received from her husband
and died owing Judge Hilton over a
million Of dollars. Her body was
placed in the Garden City cathedral
beside the spot where her husbands
body is supposed to rest, although
many people believe that it never
was returned by the ghouls who
stole the body.
After her death the surviving rela-
tives contested her will, aud alleged
fraudulent influence on the part of
Judge Hilton. The trial dragged
on for more than year. Just as
the case was about to be submitted,
it was announced that Judge Hilton
had made compromise with the
heirs.
This was supposed to be the end
OF the litigation over the Stewart
estate. But not so. Stewart always
believed that he had no kith nor
kin, but they turned up when he
died. There were Irish cousins,
American cousins, and every other
kind OF cousins fighting for their
share OF the estate, These contests
have gone on ever since the death of
Mrs. Stewart.
1t was in 1878 that Stewards body
was stolen from St. Marks Church,
where it had laid ever since his
death. The robbery took place on
the night of the sixth OF November,
in the midst of tremendous storm.
Judge Hilton announced that he
would give 100000 for the detection
and punishment of the robbers, but
not cent for the return of the re-
mains. 1t was given out after many
months that the body had been re-
turned on secret terms, but what.
was never known. 1t is not believed
by New Workers that the remains
were ever returned.
Altogether the story of Stewart
is striking one OF the vanity OF
human ambition. Here was a man
who erected colossal fortune and
many great buildings. He died
without child to inherit his for
tune. He left widow who bartered
away his millions for mess of pot