Year: 1878

STUYvESANT STREET.


l-vault where body was inferred.


place which slab removed about month ago.


s,s,e. smWliGw ~ srsns trees ss =. MARI. Church


NorE-The distance from wall Of Church to railing at
foy
were deposited h almost in the centre OF the


TRAcKs THE RoDBxns.


The finding Of HERALD Of the oath Of September
underneath plank which was laid against Of the
willow trees. and stocking serve to indicate that
the crime committed between the hours Of two
and seven 4. NJ When found both the stocking and
the HERALD dry. yet the night was . stormy one
Until two A. NJ. there . constant
drixzling fall Of rain and sleet. and had these
articles been the ground before the storm
ceased they must have become soaked. 1t is
therefore probable that the robbers selected the hours
between two and six A. N. Of Wednesday for the
carrying out of their project circumstance which
has caused some suspicion to rest on Sexton Hamin
s the finding Of rope which belongs to him fastened
round the grave slab. which moved to allow the
robbers TO pass into the vault. The explanation
which he offers Of this suspicious circumstance is
that when the discovery OF the outrage made the
rope put round the slab in order to enable him
self and his assistant to and examine the vault


A PREVIOUS ATTEMPT.


The curious feature about the stealing Of the re-
mains is that such attempt not unforeseen by
those most interested in preventing it. Some months
since letter sent to the sexton warning him that
such an attempt would DO made. and just one
month ago-on the 7th of October-the sexton Of the
church. Mr.. Hammill noticed one morning that the
earth about Mr.. Stewards grave had been disturbed.
and approaching nearer he found that the memo
rial slab had been moved from its place. He at
notified Mr. Hilton of this FACT which was carefully
kept from the public in order not to excite the emua
ton 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 battle any
future attempt Mr. Hilton directed that night
watchman should be employed about the church for
month. but that special instructions should be
given TO him in reference to Mr.. Stewards grave.
This man was merely informed that he should pre-
vent any entering the graveyard at night inter
fering with the church property At the same time
the memorial stone which marked Mr.. Stewards
resting place moved from the vault in
o southwesterly direction to . spot where
there was no vault. in the hope Of misleading any
grave robbers who might contemplate stealing the
millionnaires remains. These precautions seemed to
meet with complete success. % nothing suspicious
was noticed during the month Of October. and Mr..
Hilton came to the conclusion that . watchman was
no lOO8ex 0eeuou DO tno x0no WHO I'M Oeeu euBuBoO
for night duty was discharged on last Monday None
Of these had escaped the attention Of the
rufaans who planned the outrage. and who seem to
have laid their plans with GOODNESS and foresight


Mrxr11aENcx OF THE oHouIs.


They were not . whit deceived by Mr.. Hiltons in
noccnt srategem to conceal tho exact spot where an
TO the vault could be made; they had taken
the precaution to mark 1t with mathematical exact
ness On one Of the posts around the churchyard
there has been found written in blue pencil the letter
3D." and two pieces Of paper attached to another
post line drawn from the letter B to the pieces of
paper Crosses the vault. while second limo drawn
TO the first from tree the Second avenue side of
the graveyard ntersects the first line the exact spot
above the opening of the vault This argues an in
teligence the part OF tho robbers scarcely to be
found in an ordinary body snatcher.


DESCRIPTION or THE VAULT


Having taken measures TO insure success the
robbers doubt noticing tho absence Of the watch
man. took advantage Of the first dark night to effect
their purpose. Some idea of the difficulties which
lay in their way may be formed from the following
description Of the vault to which they had to dig
before they could enter upon the serious part Of
their undertaking.


Almost midway between the church and the Second
avenue ratings the Stewart family vault a. stated
above is located. There had been no monument-no
memorial in wood or stone to mark the place, save
the plain slab on which inscribed