New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-13
FIcE-THE POLICE MYsTIFIEr

zled 10 account for such doir gs and have been made
angry and mortified that suct havoc could be
wrought without discovery by the police
Although there are some trees and shrubbery near
the tomb that opened in the churchyard, the
tomb Is In plain view from the sidewalk In Vesey-
st. and is only few feet from the iron railing that
skirts the churchyard. II Is only few yards from
the Trinity Corporation Building 1t Is so ola tha'
the r;arble slab covering 1t was worn down by the
rain until the inscription on the slab was no longer
legble. The tomb is about seven feet long, ana the
marble slab is raised about two feet above the
ground by brickwork covered With marble Inc
large slab prled off by the vandals and some OF
the brickwork was removed, but tho job was aban-
doned before the interior Of the grave had been
reached
one Of the bricks removed from the tomb had been
used to smash a thick plategass window in the
Office of Dr. Dix which Is In the rear of the Trinity
Corporation Building The large pane OF glass was
broken In pieces allowing the vandas to get into the
Office with ease The roller top desk In DR.. Dix 8
office overturned. and the papers which were
In It's upper part were scattered about, but the only
thing of value to thieves left there That
was "A dollar bill which had been left In an envelope.
An effort made to open the drawers of the desk
which were locked but all that accomplished in
that effort was to break of the handles of y
drawer. A valuable old clock was removed from It's
place and It's hands were broken but the clock was
found outside of the office Friday morning.
As the doors OF DR.. DlXS once were locked the
ruflians must have returned to the churchyard
through the window. They must have climbed over
the high iron railing to enter and leave the church
yard Several persons slept in the Trinity Corpora
ton Building on Thursday night Among them were
the Rev Mr. Hin and the Rev Mr.. Monk. of Trinity
Church and the Rev. Mr.. Sargent, Of St Paurs
Others were the janor and the servants. None OF
them heard the smashing Of the glass or the over
turning of the desk In DR.. Dixs Office. No police
man In Vesey-s; noticed anybody prying open the
tomb climbing the railing of the church
yard IL was until a servant went into the Office
of Dr. Dix Friday morning to set things right
and give the airing that the work OF the
intruders was discovered
When the jantor discovered the work in the
churchyard. the marble slab tilted up against
the side Of the tomb. The janitor sent information
TO DR.. Dix and to Colonel s. V. r. Cruger. Police
detectives called from the Church-st. station
and from the Central Office, but they able
righted and new pane of glass was placed in the
window of his office. The marble slab was placed
back on the tomb Yesterday many persons looked
into the churchyard and asked questions DR.. Dix
said to a Tribune reporter: Il think 1t is the work
of some fanatcal and revengeful person.
Other persons in the Trinity Corporation Building
said they thought single powerful man might have
believe that his work was the result OF malice be.
cause he had failed to get money when ne had
DRY, that some person who imagined himself TO be
an heir to estates had been searching for evil
there have been several suits against the Trinity
Corporation by persons who thought the property of
the corporation had belonged 10 their ancestors and
had been legally transferred 20 the church
One of the suits that brought by alleged heirs
OF Anneke JAMS who the wife of Dominic b.
gardus. the ground that the property of Trinity
Church embraced part Of farm which had belonged
TO her Nothing came OF the suits A search OF
old records was made yesterday in the effort TO dis
cover the name of the person who was buried In
the tomb that was pried open. but the searchers
said II was impossible this time to ascertain who
had been buried there.
Chief of Police Conlin said he thought there was
only one person engaged In the work OF vandalism.
and that person mailman No thief with any
sense would commit such depreda tons. he said.
and malice would not cause sane person to seek 10
despoil a grave in which even the bones must have
decayed years ago. Captain Westervelt. OF the
Church-st police station. however. said that mis-
chieyous person might have committed the outrage
because he had applied for charity and had met re-
fusal Captain Westervelt was required TO send 10
Chief COnlin a report. giving the names OF all the
policemen whose posts were near St Pauls church
yard on Thursday night and some OF them are
likely 10 be called to trial before the Commission
ers on charges of neglect Of duty.