Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-06
STORY OF A WATCH.
1t Sets Two Prominent Citizens
at Loggerheads.
A RELIC OF THE WAR INVOLVED.

! Sensational Arrest of a Prominent C,eve-
land Man at the Instance of an Equally
Prominent Michigan Citizen-An Office
and the Love of a Woman Also said to
Have a Bearing on the Matter-The
Statements of Both Parties to the Din.
Guilty
CLEVELAND, Fec 6-professor Eiroy NJ.
| Avery, Phi. D., author, educator, promi-
| inent Republican, a handy man with his
lists upon occasion and one of the two
leading candidates for postmaster of this
city, was yesterday arrested for grand
larceny or warrant sworn out by Henry
| {. Spaulding, prominent merchant Of
Dundee, Mich. The warrant was issued
by Justice Bauder, and Avery at once gave
bail on being taken into custody to ap-
| pear for hearing on Saturday. The ar.
| ticle ALLEGED to have been stolen is named
| in the com plaint as a gold watch of the
value of $40
Spaulding's Explanation.
The arrest of one of the bishops of this
| city on like charge would not have
caused much greater sensation, as
Avery has stood very high in business and
social circles. Spauliiag will not talk
| much about the matter, but last night he
explained that in 1855 he and Avery were
both members of the same regiment in
! the army; that he bought the watch of a
| rebel for a yreenback consideration, with
full consent of the rebel, which was not al
ways deemed essential in those times: that
! Avery and a companion came TO Spauld-
| ing's tent one evening, called him out,
threw him down, and took the watch
| from his pocket.
Been a Long Time Thinking.
Spaulding says he made complaint tc
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, Mich, and was knocked down
for his pa rs. 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 of. After thinking the matter over
Tor twenty three years longer he con-
cluded to come to Cleveland and prosecute
the case. But he says the fact that Avery
Is a candidate for postmaster mas moth
ing to do with the case"
Professor Avery's Side of the Case.
Professor Avery's story is as follows: In
April, 1855, Avery was sergeant major
and Spauldiag a sergeant of the Eleventh
Michigan cavalry, commanded BY Col
Brown, then engaged in the pursuit OF
jefferson Davis At Athens, Ga, the
troops appro priated large amount of per-
sonal properly, including two horses and
very valuable gold watch belonging to
z. H. Pond, the superintendent of a cot
ton mill Pond came into camp 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 or
der was intrusted to Sergt. Maj. Avery.
spauldiug Had the Property.
The horses were found in Standings
possession, and he also owned up TO the
gold watch, which he reluctantly re.
turned TO Pond. The latter sold the horses
on the spot, and. fearing the watch would
be taken away from him by the some
what lawless soldiers before he could get
home, he asked Avery to keep it for him
until the trouble was over The colonel
consenting. be took Avery's address, which
would be Monroe, Mich. Shortly after
their return home Spaulding met Avery
on the street one day and demanded the
watch. \ sharp alteration ensued, which
ended in Sparkling being knocked down
and pounded, for which Avery was fined
81 by ieuient magistrate. Avery wrote
to Pond. but receiving no reply, kept the
watch, which he subsequently lost in a
plowed field, and it vas not recovered I'M
til the works were ruined
Pond A axes His Appearance
Avery was then paying attention to a
Miss Til6en, 10 whose charms Spaulding
was perhaps rot Indifferent, and their en-
gsgement had been announced At this
juncture Mr.. Pond Unexpectedly turned
up in quest OF his watch. Somebody had
written to him that Avery's story of losing
the watch was @fake," as it had been
seen at a watc hmaker's, where it had been
left for repairs. The same story had also
been conveyed to Miss Tilden. and she dee
clared the match of Avery got Pond
Miss Tiiden, and the damaged watch to-
gether, proved the integrity of his repre-
sensations and got the girl In this he
was helped along by the discovery that
Miss Tilden and MIR. Pond were second
cousins
1t Puzzles Their Friends.
SpaulGing comes of a family that has
been eminent in Michigan politics and
Isiaess affairs, and mas good bust ness
standing OF his own. That two men of
prominence i'll their respective localities.
and with good regulations at stake. should
differ so radically in their versions of a
simple affair is puzzle that those who
know them both find it difficult to I'M
raveL The fact that Spaulding delayed
prosecution for twenty five years, and
then brought it only when Avery was a
candidate for an important position.
preJudices the case of the Michigan man
here. AYery's friends do not hesitate to
say that all there is to the case il that
Avery got the girl and licked Spaulding.
and that the latter is simply exploiting a
long nursed grudge
Michigan Investigations.
LANSING, Mich, Feb 6-The Legislative
committee sem to inYastic.ate the IarLsnn