New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-16
GEN. LAFA YETTES WATCH.
A GIFT PROM WASHINGTON TO GEN. LAFAYETTE
FOUND IN A PAwNBROKER'S SHOP.

A GIFT PROM WASHINGTON TO GEN. LAFAYETTE
FOUND IN A PAwNBROKER'S SHOP.
We extract from a Nashville journal the
following interesting account of the finding OF watch
presented 10 Gen. Lafayette by Gen. Washington and
stolen from him during his visit to this country forty
four years ago;
While the Revolutionary War was going on. there
lived in Philadelphia SwItzer named Wetze watch
maker by trade, OF great ingenuity ana inventive
genius Having great admiration for Gen. Washington,
he constructed watch with peculiar care which, having
placed valuable gold case, he presented TO Gen.
he might ind who deserved more OF the American
people than himself. The General carried the watch
until the efforts OF Gen. Lafayette had impressed
him with the value and distinguished character of the
man and that he had found the man designated
by Weitze in his Instructions he compelled Lafayette to
accent H. Lafayette carried the watch until his return
this country in 1928, when rs the guest OF etteIu
free people he AIDE through the country recev-
ing eyei here the paudts and welcome OF people OF
whose history he had written the brightest page While
pursuing his rumphal journey he arrived at Nashville,
ard while at that city receiving the congratulations or
the citizens OF Tennessee the watch was stolen Livery
thronehout the whole country advertised it; large
wards were offered and the detective officers IN all the
cities were ON the alert 10 the watch But in spite
Of nil that was done at the time the watch not found
and in time the matter was forgotten.
Not many days since, In Western city, a watch
exposed for sale the window Of paWnbroker attracted
much attention from people passing by ITS peculiar make
and value one day an old gentleman passing the win
dow saw the watch. and looking at 1t closely became
satisfied that he knew something about H. stepped into
the shop and requested the pawnbroker TO let him
examine t. This was readily granted After moment
the old gentleman exclaimed, this was Gen. Lafayettes
watch presented to him by Gen Washington. aud stolen
from description published at the time The pawn
broker astonshed TO hear TINS ana proceeded at
once to excupate himself by assuring the gentleman
that lie did not have the slightest suspicion that was
stolen property he had loaned some money upon TO
young girl who was in great distress, and who repre-
scented that 1t was family relic which mad been gwen
her by her mother The old gentleman insisted tna tue
her story himself. He was much excited, and re-
marked that he one OF the Marsals that arranged
the procession TO receive the great guest on the DAY le
watch stolen and his honor as wen us nt OF every
man then living the nation, was Involved sne pawn
broker said nothing was easier girl. VINO danced at
some place entertainment, occupied room IN the next
house and IL the gentleman would walk back and take
seat lie would send for the girl The old gentleman look
the proered seat and ~ lew minutes tne gd same IN
questioned about the watch dd not evnee the least want
composure but without hesitation proeeeped 70 give
born among tie mountains Of East Tennessee and when
she was about eight years old her parents removed to
went 10 ST. Louis where they lived until both her
parents ded-her father died first and about one year
after her mother died. The watch had ,s eeen IN
could reeolleet seeing IL In her youth ulsuhctyi
that her father, when importuned TO sell
1t by visitors invariably refused saying mat ad Deen
i'm his family many years he having received IL ON the
death OF his father with positive Instructions not 10 sell
or dispose Of IT, but keep IL IN the family ner mother
had charged her sell IT, but keep It, She was then
saving money 10 redeem the watch would not nave
pawned IT, but tit OF sickness had reduced her 70
such straits that she obliged to resort to the watch
TO raise money for absolute necessarles 10 sustain e
The old gentleman heard the girls story with astonsh
ment and being satisfied from her manner tnat she t0u
the truth he felt convinced that the theft OF the watch
was st mystery-or at least, would be Impossible
after so many years TO learn VINO b
ton shall be made OF tins interesting rec WIN ts SIN
guar history To whom can t De n,r " swc,te
who can legally claim lit Or should tne Unlteu states
Government forward. pay charges and place II IN
the Patent Office Museum with other relics OF the great
~ n forme gcneratOuf