The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-11-18
HIS nRY'S.
MYSTERIES
WHAT BECAME OF A. T.
STEWARDS BODY?
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" on April 10, 1876, In New YORK
city, he was credited with being one.
of the richest merchants in the United
States. for his wealth was estimated
at more than $40000,0O0, including
real estate which, alone, was assessed
AT over $5,000,o00. The bulk of liis
estate was bequeathed to his widow
with a million dollars as personal
gift to the executor, Henry Hilton.
The Stewart funeral, eliminating In
the interment Of the body in st.
Marks churchyard, New York city. was
one Of the largest and most impressive
ceremonies Of its kind ever held in
the clty--and then, some two and
half years later. Judge Hilton, the
executor of the Stewart estate, cleo
trifed the police with the announce.
ment that the grave had been riIled
and Mr.. Stewards body stolen.
Upon examination, It developed that
an even greater mystery surrounded
the affair than appeared upon the
surface. During the early autumn OF
1878, Judge Hilton. learning that the
grave had been slightly tempered with
and fearing the depredatlons Of
ghouls, had caused the Stewart head
stone TO be removed to another por-
ton Of the plot, although II was not
thought wise at that time to disturb
the remains. The knowledge Of this
change was confined to four persons
but notwithstanding this. the excava-
ton had been made with almost math,
enatlcal precision. the earth having
been cut away straight down to the
lcaden case which enclosed the coffin
This case. had been opened. the lid
If the coffin had been unscrewed and
the body taken out--presumably being
carted off in wagon of which the
tracks were still visible nearby.
The most searching inquiries on the
part Of the police failed to reveal any
me who had seen the grave-robbers at
work, for they had chosen a stormy
night md 1t was not until several
hours after daylight that the watch.
man had discovered the lootlng OF the
merchants grave. The ghouls had
left behind them only newspaper.
an iron shovel and a bull's-eye lantern
--none Of which bore any distinguish.
ing marks. nor could they be traced
! hy the detectives assigned 10 the case.
1t appeared TO be impossible that the
body OF dead man could be carried
across New York city without attract.
Ing the slightest notice or that II
could be re-interred or concealed with
out detection-but this is precisely
what took place. for nothing definite
WIS ever learned Of the fate Of the re-
mains.
Judge Hilton refused TO countenance
oyertures for the return of the body,
declaring that neither he nor the es-
tate would be blackmailed and. when
a reward Of $4,000 was finally offered
Il was made with the distinct under.
standing that II was not for the body
itself but for information which would
lead TO the detection OF the persons
who had committed the depreciation.
The executor OF the estate advised
Mrs. Stewart to have no dealings
whatever with the men who had
stolen the body Of her husband and
the widow. who is said to have been
extremely affected by the blow. fol-
lowed this advice during the ten re-
manning years OF her life.
Some time after the violation OF the
snnctity Of st. Marks churchyard, the
impression was allowed to gain preva-
lence that the body had been re-
covered and that ii had been rein.
tered In the vault of the beautiful
cathedral at Garden City, Long Island
But those who attempted TO secure
proof OF this report found that they
were blocked at every turn and the
question of who stole the body Of A,
T. Stewart and what disposition was
made Of It remains unsoyed TO this
day.