The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-31
STOLE a BISHOPS WATCH.
Rev. w. j. Gaines Identified Two of
AIexander's Time Pieces

Bishop Gaines of the African Methodist
Church called at the police barracks yes
terday and identified the most valuable
watch in the lot recovered Saturday by
Detective Barrett from the negro, Henry
Alexander.
The Bishop also identified another of the
watches as belonging TO one of the pastors
of his district in Florida To Chief Nc
Dermott the Bishop told the circumstances
of losing the watch while visiting in
Jacksonville. The thief entered and bur-
slarized the house where the Bishop stop
ped, and in addition to getting the watch
Identified, also got the one belonging to
the preacher, who slept just across the
hallway A telegram was sent TO Jack
sonville informing the pastor of the find
and asking him to obtain warrant
against Alexander. that an officer might
be sent for him.
The Bishop said he was prompted by
Providence to stop over in Savannah and
preach while en- route to his home in At
lanta. lie pays periodical visits to Jack
sonVille to look after his church, and this
was his recent business there His wife
prevailed on him to stop in Savannah and
ne attributes the finding of the watch to
mo aSquiSScSnCt. Tie SAID ne knew the
property belonged to him as soon as he
read an account of the theft in the Morn
ing News. Going to the barracks, he de-
scribed the ticker, said he paid 500 for
II, and gave such an accurate statement
that there was no doubt either in the
mind OF Chief McDermott or the detec-
uves, that the watch blonged to him. and
1t was accordingly turned over
want to see the man. said the Bish-
op. But he win not talk about the bur-
glary," said Chief McDermott
Notwithstanding this the chief and de-
tectives accompanied the Bishop to the
guard house, and Alexander, who claimed
he purchased the watches in Jacksonville.
was taken out. Nothing was said by the
prisoner, however, and 1t seemed impossi-
Die TO obtain any further information The
Bishop asked the chief and detectives to
retire and let him talk the affair over with
Alexander. A proposition was made by the
Bishop not to prosecute If the matter was
confessed but Alexander kept an impen-
etrable clutch on what he knew The Bish-
op grew slightly impat tent when the man
persisted in his denial and pointing his fin
ger at Alexander, said with much en-
phasis:
II prayed to some day find out the man
who stole my watch. You are the man and
you need not deny itv'
Other things have been found in the
pawn shops supposed to have been stolen
by Alexander, among which is clothing
He is thought by the police to have raided
Jacksonville, and has probably slipped to
Savannah as the agent of a gang of rob
bers with the intent of raising money on
spoils. The police force there seems to be
slightly disarranged at present, on account
of changes, and the department here is
unable to get definite informa ton about
the matter.
There is little question, the police think,
that Alexander is not an d-timer He
seems to have had some knowledge of
Bishop Gaines, by reason of the fact that
his wife was a member of the church
which the Bishop was visiting in Jackson
vile. Alexander must thereby have had
ample opportunity to know something of
the valuable watch owned by the Bishop,
and the best way to get it.,