The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-16
SgOIE 4 TOMBSTONE.
The Thief Left Letter Telling Why He
Had Taken II.

MOUNT VERNON. y. y. JAN 1.-THE
vestrymen OF ST. Pauls Protestant Epis-
cousl church. East Chester, are endeaVcr-
iug Ia find trace of Il tombstone that for
merlv marked the grave Of Mlss H. Pro-
vost. i'm the Provost FANNY plot IN the
church yard. .
supposed about two weeks ago. Though H.
was not missed until week ago. Inc
Itcv. ~ = corey, rector ui ~. PAU = .
the vcstrymeE ana parlshloners are en-
urely iu the dark as 10 Inc motive mat
led 10 the theft. The value OF the stone
is not deemed sufficient 10 account Ter
an act punishable by so heavy a. penalty.
The Shaft WIS OF fine Italian marble,
three feet TWO inches IN helsnt and weigh
by lilac bushes and shrub. Great care
had been used IN removing thc stone 10
chiscl 10 free from its foundltiOn, SO that
IL might not De- inquired.
LOSS KEPT QUIET.
The loss oi the tombstone WAS kept ass
quiet eos possible while the .earch for II
was going en- The loss has eriOusly dis
tur5td inc pari-EiOuers. Tor the ccme-
terry. being one o. the oidesi DO tie Unit
cd States. contains som. monuments OF
great historic interest seven thoustnd
persons have been buried iu'ie, lnclidlhb
buD Continental soldiers.
one OF the vaults is that of Comfort
I.duds built iu 1890. AuOiAcr vault con-
ttins the body of captain John Fowler,
who commanded 81 company DO the fichcu
and Indian war. The body o. his son,
Captain Theodore Fowler, Of the Cont
mental army. and the body of John Quin-
Cy Adams gIs ndsOn OF President Adams /,
members Of the Pel and many other old
Wostchester families arc Do inc cemete-
ry.
The Provost plot was laid out by Ma
iOr George Provost. OF the British army.
in 1863. The last tombstone placed 900 the
plot WAS erected "a few weeks ago 10 tho
memory OF George Provost, DIS grandson.
The Provost estate. in Pelham, COM
prises moro than Two hundred acres. The
old Provost homestead was burned down
about ten years ago. No member or the
family now lives here.
10 IS supposed The tombstone Of Miss T..
Provost was carried away in d wheclhar-
row. About two weeks age Eugene tluW-
ley the sexton, saw tho marks Of a
whecltarr0w in the snow I'm tAt cemetery.
Tie thought 10 very strange thing that
any one should have gained entrance 70
the cemetery with q wheelbarrow. but
as the tracks were Obliterated I'm places
be could not follow them Ho did not dis
cover the loss ~ the stone at the time.
STRANGE LETTER TO SEXTON.
Another peculiar feature of the affair
is that the sexton received "a few days ago
q letter. sent from station II. ~ the New
York postCfiicc. The writer said Dee had
removed The tombstone because OF am ale
teration he desired 20 make boo the letter.
ing.
he said further that as he bad lost The
design it would Doe necessary 10 lave men
do the work I'm the cemetery Hc a'.co
the sexton if De could find lodgings fer
the workmcn when they were sent to
East Chester 90 change the letters Ihe
signature 10 the letter was illceillc.
Tile address given was 40. ~ Grand
street The Rev Or. Conev went 10 mat
address but could learn nothing 90 throw
any HIGHT on the disail7-arancr Of the
tombstone. a year or moro ago SOM"
italians were caught in the act OF carry
Ing away "a tombstone. They wero Giron
a severe Gruhbng and allowed 90 go
away. Previous TO That time no dcprcdn-
lions bad been committed in the ceme-
terry for many years.
any one who would he likely 10 order
the removal OF the tombstone. no one,
IN is said would have the right Co. re-
IT. owe 1t without permit. even II author
lied by The heirs 10 tie estate. inc ,He-
cufor of the Provost estate is bcnl1-
min Collins. whose place Of business Is
SO. 90 Exchange place