The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-03
The TheftofA. 7. stewart's Body


body Of Alexander 7. Stew 1T and the un-
successful efforts to recover it SO that it
might rest in the magnificent mausOleum
at Garden City. L /. During the active
career of the merchant prince he cnrceiv-
ed the idea of having a crypt construct
ed in the splendid Cathedral he was 50 In
strumental in erecting in that quiet Leng
Island village, where his earthly remains
might repose, but fate decreed 1t other
wise, and today probably not \ vesiige
Of his body remains.
In November OF 1878. the city was s.slt-
led by the news that ghouis had LIoken
into the Stewart vault In st. Mark 5
churchyard. IN New York. and the oody
OF Mr. Stewart carried away. Mr.. Hilton
promptly conferred with the then lnsrec-
tor OF Police, William Murray. and Super
tntendent Walling, and search for the
grave robbers began in earnest.
writer in the New York Express says:
The early investigation showed that the
belfry of the church had been entered ard
diagram of the vaults stolen. SAIspi-
cion fell upon a church employee. He
proved his innocence. however, and wGs
not arrested. 1t was seen that the men
who despoiied the grave had secured the
bearings from the diagram and knew pre-
aseiy where to make an entry. They
had no difficulty in removing the body
OF the millionaire merchant from his cas-
ket In the early hours of a rainy morn
ing. 1t was placed in a canvas bag and
carried or dragged to the porch OF a
house at the end OF the cemetery. and
later was put into a carriage. driven to
the Weehawken ferry and carried over to
Jersey.
The robbers left a trail leading from
the tomb to the house porch, where the
evidence was most marked in odor, but
from this point ali trace was lost. In
spector Murray was worried. The out
rage occurred in his bailiwick, and he
remarked to the writer years after, when
he was superintendent of police:
In my experience of a lifetime in po-
lice work as detective. captain, Inspector
and head of the force, this Is the only
case in which was baffled. l fear shall
die without recovering the body Of Mr..
Stewart, or apprehending the robbers"
His prophecy passed into history, and
the palsied superintendent preceded
Judge Hilton to the grave, disappoint-
ed and almost heart-brOken man at what
he considered his life failure.
When months of search for the missing
corpse had heightened into a year. Muir
rays only hope was a recovery OF the
body. Judge Hilton offered a reward OF
SIS 900 for the recovery OF the body. with
a reservation. however, hat the arrest
Of the perpetrators of the robbery must
follow.
A few months after the grave was de-
spoiled Judge Hilton was caded upon by 4
lawyer of New York City who had receiv-
ed a letter from q man signing his name
as Romaine, at North Adams. Mass. and
offering to restore the body Of Mr.. Stew
art on payment of the reward no ques-
lions 10 be asked. AS an earnest OF good
faith, the lawyer laid upon Judge Hi
toms desk the silver plate. three SCI ews,
a piece of black clo-n that was cut from
the casket in the then tenantless tomb,
and the linen studs that were removed
from the shirt that covered the remains.
Mr.. Hilton Identified the articles sub
mitted, but declared IN emphatic terms
that he would grant no immunity to the
robbers of the grave OF his friend and
benefactor, II he ever received the body.
He was particularly severe In the part
the lawyer played, and even threatened
him with arrest. This silenced the ghouls,
and for a long time negotiations ceased.
A few months later the writer became
actively connected with the search for
evidence that might lead to rescuing the
stolen remains and have them deposited
in the crypt especially built to receive
them II became known that man by
the name Of Kelly drove the coach which
carried the body to New Jersey, and tina.
ne at once left New York for the west.
Evidence also came into the possession
OF certain parties in New York which
the police knew OF but had kept secret
proving that possession Of the body might
vet be had. 1t became known that there
were positive proofs of Identification in
the teeth and mouth of Mr.. Stewart
which were available for Mr.. Hilton and
he was offered the safe return Of the
corpse upon payment of the reward. He
however, refused to accede to the request.
The writer visited ex-Judge Hilton in
his home with undeniable proofs OF iden-
tification, and urged him to relax his de-
termination to arrest on sight the men
who might restore the remains, and give
them some time, at least, after the body 5
return. After examining closely the evil
dence submitted, together with state
menG written by a life insurance detective
who had worked quietly on the casa. Mr..
Hilton was assured that the expense OF
finding Kelly, the coachman, and the Sc
cret hiding place OF the body would be
borne by the newspaper with which the
writer was engaged. and that no money
was needed from him. The ex-judse look
ed up In surprise and remarked:
This is one of the very few instances
during the investigation OF the grave rob-
berry when / have not been called upon
to pay out money for assistance. l have
spent already over $4,000 without result.
I will go so far as this-I will not apply
for warrants for arrest until forty eigh.
hours after the restoration Of he hody.
This is the very last offer l shall make.
and IL it fails l will withdr1v the offer
Of a reward and cease further inquiries In
that direction.
The final search began. II vas learned
that the men who robbed t.Ie Stewart
grave for a big ransom were becoming
diskeartened, and hal removed the bcdy
10 Canada and secreted & IN a barge,
awaiting the payment Of the s2S.9o re-
ward A private detective was staTt6d
in search OF Cracksnan Kelly, the belief
being that a word from him would infin-
ence the cusIO3ians Of the remains 10
surrender them.
When San Francisco was reached II was
learned that Kelly had been successful
butcher IN Suffer Market, jut within a
short time had become interested in a
mine near Tucson, ATfz-
Here the detective feQ in with ex-S1rro-
gate Gideon J. Tucker. who also Il dead.
and a joint search was made for Kelly.
He was found in a mine, but he could
not speak. Death had siieoced mis- voice
only a few hours before the searchers
arrived. and his secret died, too. He had
engaged In q quarrel over a game OF cards
and was shot through the heart
Ex-Judge Hilton recalled his ofIer OF q
reward and declined 10 make any further
effort 70 recover the remains. and the sur