Year: 1878

1a FOR THE SAKE OF REWARD.

 A profound sensation was created in New York city by the rumor that the grave of the deceased millionaire Alexander T. Stewart had been desecra- ted and his remains carried off from the vault in St. Marks churchyard, where they have lain since April 13, 1876 At first the rumor was received with incre. dulity. Men could scarcely recognize the possibility of such revo1ting crime, but the rumor proved to be only too we'll founded. When it was fully recognized that this outrage had been committed the deepest indignation was manifested by the citizens, and consider able surprise was expressed that such 8 crime could have been committed under the very eyes of the police.

 Taking advantage of the storm on Wednesday night gang of robbers eff fected an entrance into the graveyard of St. Marks Church, and breaking into the vault carried off MT. Stewards re- mains. The thieves accomplished their nefarious work without interruption, and it was not till Thursday morning that the crime was discovered. At seven o'clock Francis Parker, the assistant sexton of St. Marks Church, upon en- tering the churchyard glanced over to that part of the grounds facing Second avenue, and to his astonishment dis covered fresh earth lying in the stunted grass immediately in the vicinity of the Stewart family vault. At first he thought the earth had been taken from the Worthen vault, few feet distant but, when he ran to the spot, he saw at 8 glance that the covering had been re- moved from the tomb of MT. Stewart. He then hurried from the chul chyard, and sought MT. Hammill, the chief sex ton. The two returned to the spot and descended to the vault below.

 The first object that attracted their attention in the gloom was the heavy casket in which the body of the mer- chant prince had been enclosed. It had been removed from its resting place and was lying near the westerly side of the wall and ill close proximity to the steps. Upon examining the lid of the outer oaken box it was discovered that the screws had been carefully taken out on both sides and that the lead lining had been cut with sharp knife. It had been wrenched from it's end fastenings and had again been placed in it's old place. This was rmoved, and when the main casket was reached its lid was found to be unscrewed, and when they put their hands in they realized that the body had been taken away. The silver plate on the reverse side of the lid, inn mediately over the face, had also been pried off and carried away.

 St. Marks churchyard, the scene of the outrage, lies in the very heart of the city. It is exposed to the view of passers by on three sides, and this fact had much to do with the incredulity with which the story was at first received by the public, for no more unlikely place for the commission of such crime could we'll have been chosen, Unlike ordinary churchyards, there are neither monu- ments nor standing tombstones to ob- struct the view or screen men moving among the graves. The memorial slabs marking the resting place of some of the most honored of New York's dead are almost hidden in the grass aud the sur- face of the graveyard is as level as lawn, broken only by line of willow trees which stand back from the grave and near to the church. Even at night the situation is very exposed.

 The cur1ous feature about the stealing of the remains is that such an attempt was not unforeseen by those most in- terested in preventing it. Some months since letter was sent to the sexton warning him that such an attempt would be made, and just one month ago-on the 7th of October-the sexton of the church, MT. Hammill, noticed one morning that the earth about MT. Stewards grave had been disturbed, and on approaching nearer he found that the memorial slab had been removed from it's place. He at once notified MT. Hilton of this fact, which was carefully kept from the public in order not to excite the emulation of other possible ghouls. Precautions were at once taken to prevent any interference with the grave; but, as experience has shown, these precautions were insufficient. In order to baf1e any future attempt MT. Hilton directed that night watchman should be employed about the church for month, but that no special in- structious should be given to him in reference to MT. Stewards grave. This man was merely informed that he should prevent any one entering the graveyard at night or interfering with the church property. At the same time the memorial stone which marked MT. Stewards resting place was moved from the vault in southwesterly direction to spot where there was no vault, in the hope of misleading any grave robbers who might contemplate stealing the millionaire's remains. These pre- cautions seemed to meet with complete success, as nothing suspicious was noticed during the month of October, and MT. Hilton came to the conclusion that watchman was no longer needed !; so the man who had been engaged for night duty was discharged on last Monday. None of these precautions had escaped the attention of the rufians who planned the outrage, and who seem to L. l.: 1 sl... l. .A-