The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-11
FRoF. AEsRY ARRESTED.
Remarkable Story Of a Watch That
Figured in the Civn War.

From the NeI0 York Sun.
CLEVELAND, o., Feb. 5.-Prof. Elroy NJ.
Avery, Pm. D., author, educator, manager
Of the local high tariff campaign in 1855, is
a handy man with his fists upon occasion
and one of the two leading candidates for
postmaster of this city, was to-day arrested
for grand larceny on a warrant sworn out
by Henry c. Spaulding, a merchant OF
Dundee, Mich
The warrant was issued by Justice Bau-
der, and Avery at once gave bail for
hearing on Saturday. The article alleged
to have been stolen is named In the COM
plant as a gold watch of the value of $3.50.
The arrest of one of the bishops of this
city on like charge would not have caused
a much greater sensation, IS Avery stands
high in business and social circles.
Spaulding will not talk much about the
matter, but tonight he explained that in
1865 he and Avery we're both members of
the same regiment in the army that he
bought the watch of a confederate for a
greenback consideration, with the full con-
sent of the confederate, which " as not al
ways deemed essential in those times; that
Avery and companion came to Spauld-
ing's tent one evening, called him out,
threw him down, and took the watch from
his pocket. Spaulding says he made COM
plant to his captain, who advised doing
nothing till after they were mustered out,
which would be in few months.
After their discharge he demanded the
watch at Monroe, Mica. and was knocked
down for his pains. Two years later he
met Avery on a military excursion and
again demanded the watch, but Avery drew
his sword and threatened to cut Spaulding's
head off.
After thinking the matter over for twenty
three years longer he concluded to come to
r,,I, 80 for
that Avery is a candidate for postmaster
had nothing whatever to do, he said, with
making the arrest at this time
Prof. Avery's story Is much more explicit
and interesting. In April, 1865, Avery was
| sergeant major and Spaulding a sergeant in
the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, commanded
by Col. Brown, then engaged in the pursuit
OF jefferson Davis. AT Athens, Ga, the
troops appropriated large amount Of per-
| sonal property, including two horses and
very valuable gold watch belonging to P.
H. Pond, the superintendent OF a cotton
mill Pond came into camp the next day,
proved to the satisfaction of Col. Brown
that he was from the north and loyal,
| and received an order for the restitution of
his property. The carrying out of the order
was entrusted to Sergt. Maj. Avery. The
horses were found in Spaulding's possession,
and he also owned up TO the watch, which
he reluctantly returned to Pond. The latter
| sold the horses on the spot, and fearing the
| watch would be taken away from him by
the somewhat lawless soldiers before he
| could get home, he asked Avery to keep it
| for him until the trouble was over. The
colonel consenting, he took Avery's address,
which was Monroe, Mich.
Shortly after their return home Spauld-
| ing met Avery on the street one day and
| demanded the watch. A sharp alteration
ensued, which ended in Spaulding being
knocked down and pounded, for which
| Avery was fined 81 by magistrate. Avery
wrote to Pond, but receiving no reply kept
the watch, which he subsequently, lost in
| ploughed field, and it was not recovered
| until the works were ruined. Avery was
| then paying attentions to a Miss Tilden, to
whose charms Spaulding was perhaps net
| Indifferent, and their engagement had been
announced. At this juncture Mr. Pond
unexpectedly turned up In quest of his
watch Somebody had written to him chat
Avery's story of losing the watch was a
fake" and 1T had been seen at watch
makers, where it had been left for repairs.
| The same story had also been conveyed to
| Miss TIlden, and she declared the match off.
| Avery, getting Pond, Miss Tilden, and
the damaged watch together, proved the in
tegrity of his representations and got the
| girl. In this he was helped along by the
discovery that Miss Tilden and Mr.. Pond
were second cousins.
Avery and Spaulding both lived in Mon
roe until 1871, when the former came TO
this city. Spaulding shortly after engag-
! ing in the hardware business at Dundee.
Spaulding comes of a family that has
been eminent in Michigan politics and bus
| mess affairs, and has good business stand
ing.