New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-16
HOW MR.. FIELD RECOVERED HIS WATCH

A pENIrExr THIEF LEAVES IT IN DIR. wATKINss
CuURCK-wAs BE MOVED By THE SERMON 7
David Dudley Field has resainod the gold
watch which he long nournci as lost the rev.
Dr. w. +. Watkins feels that by bis eloquC nee
he moved a hardened thief to peiitence ana Mrs
Augustine stone OF No. "a Park-ave:, is IN low
state of mind because the reports OF the robbery at
her house, SO long kept dark have finally come out
and her name Is likely to get INTO the papers
Mr.. Field staying during tie month oil Aprh ~
Mrs Stones house aud on the third morning oil
that month awakening from his nights sleep
he glanced 1T the peg near his beds head. where
on lac hung his chTonometer before retiring. 10
his intense surprise and disgust the watch was
gone and with 1t the chain. charms and Kindred
appurtenances. Upon going down stars he was
met with the annonncement that the mousse had
been broken into during the night and large
quantity Of valuable articles distracted When
reporter attempted to learn from Mrs: Stone last
night the character and value of the articles stolen
he was repulsed toy that lady. who remarked with
great energy from an adjoining room " wont see
hlmw Therefore, the proceeds OF the burglary
must be set forth as MIR. Fields watch and lot
oil unclassifed staff. rumor is general and has
appeared in pint to- the effect that after securing
the valuable articles of the sleeping people the
thieves treated themselves to a quiet supper In the
kitchen in which some limo sherry filled promi-
neat part. but owing to Mrs. Stones unfortunate
taciturnitv this rumOr of the burglars gastronOmc
taste must remain uncOntrmed.
1t was decided t. keep the matter quiet and pr.
waite detectives instructed to look up the case
But all unusual feature IN the case DaHlti the &C.
tectivss although by it Mr.. Field regaped his time
piece DurIng the service ut the Churcn OF the
Holy Trinity on Sunday: April 4, Sexton McAster
was approached by man who stated that pick
pocket was in the church aud pointed ont young
man dressed in the extreme English style. While
the sexton was watching him. the suspected person
arose and went to the chancel with some thirty
others to partake of the Holy Communion. Think
ing tins action somewhat at variance with the or
binary habits of thieves the sexton Danlsned all
suspicion and the young man departed unmoested
after tho service Soon after lady came up to the
sexton ana hauded HIM handsome gold watch
aud chain that she had found III her pew; which
was far removed from the pew ID which the sus-
pected man had been sitting. The watch was adj
vertsed aud in day or two Mrs. Stone called and
identified it as Mr. Fields. aud it was accordingly
returned to him. Two conflicting theories exist
as tohe of the eccentric conduct OF the thief
One is that he iancied That he WAS being shadow
ed by detectives and entered the church purDosely
TO get rid of his booty The second, much favored
by DIR. Watkins is that the clergvman's eloquence
worked upon the wretched criminal that III a ht
of pentence he dsgorged tie only booty at hand.
The sexton stated last night that the sermon called
upon all who had wronged their neghbors to right
the wrong at once and when Mr. Field received his
watch Dc. Watkins wrote him claiming that the
thief had been worked upon by the eioquence from
the pulpit. Mrs. Stone. however. wonders If the
burglars pcnitence will not extend to her chattels