The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-06
CLEVER TOM BELL.
a Thief Whose Name Is Preserved
in an Expression Current at
Princeton.

From the Baltimore Herald.
Princeton NJ J.. May lone of the ex-
pressions heard at Princeton, chiefly
among the students, is, He is as clever
as Tom Bell" which is intended to denote
cleverness of the suDerlative degree. Stu
dents use the expression without the
slightest notion of Tom Bells identity.
Some old court documents unearthed in
Trenton the other day throw light on the
subject. Tom Bell was a thief, and the
records referred to deal with the case of
the Rev. John Rowland who was tried
for horse stealing, and that of the Rev DR..
Tenant, who was indicted for perjury
because of Tom Bells trick.
Tom Bell was an Englishman, and he
was sent over here about the middle of
the last century, because he had been
convicted of a crime. He was sold for the
term of his sentence to resident of Bur-
lington. He became peddler, ran away
from his master and wandered about,
stealing and getting in and out of Jail. He
fell in with Sarah Wilson, who had been
an under servant of the Queen, and had
been sent to America for stealing and
sold as servant 10 a man in Maryland.
She had the Queens picture, and some
jewels she had stolen, and Tom Bell sug-
gested that she should pretend to be the
Princess Susannah Carolina Matilda, and
he to be Mr. Edward Sothway, gentle
man of fortune for the love of whom he
had fled TO America. Bell secured a wig,
suits of cloth or velvet, trimmed with
gold lace, gold knee and shoe buskles and
a sword. and the woman secured much
finery. She was received as a princess,
her hand was kissed, and money was lent
to her freely. Bell showed her a Philadel-
phia paper, which advertised her as a
runaway They fled to South Carolina,
where she pretended to be the Princess
Augusta de Walgrave. Bell finally robbed
her and left her to be taken as a runaway
convict.
He next turned up al Princeton. One
day while in one of the old taVerns fire.
quented by the prominent men of the To-
cality John Stockton, a brother of the
signer of the declaration of independence,
entered. Bell somewhat resembled the
Rev. John Rowland then a leading Pres
byterian minister Of Central New Jersey.
Mr. Stockton was deceived by the re-
semblance, and accosted Bell as the Rev.
Mr. Rowland. When Tom Bell found that
he looked like a preacher he lost 20
time in taking advantage of il. The next
day he went TO the neighboring village,
of Lawrenceville, introduced himself as
the Rev John Rowland and was invited
to preach on the coming Sunday. He
was kindly received and cared for by the
family VINO took him in. and he was
taken to church on Sunday. On the way
he discovered that he had left the notes
of his sermon behind, and proposed 10
far 4 horse
of the family was riding. The owner
consented. and Bell rode away and never
returned
The real John Rowland with the Rev.
William Tenant and others, was preach
ing and organizing churches in Maryland.
on his return he was surprised TO find
himself indicted for horse stealing. AT
the trial Tenant, Anderson and Stevens
suore that Rowland was in Maryland at
the time of the theft, and he was ac-
Quilted But the owner OF the stolen
hCree was sure thatB Rowland was the
quiltv man. and Tenant, Anderson and
stevens were indicted for perjury. Mr..
Anderson conscious of his innocence, de
noan1ed a trial al the first court. He was
co,victed and sentenced to stand on the
trenton court house steps with n card on
his breast announcing his crime.
Tbe whole state of New Jersey was
SEEING thes amef ate awaiaing him, took
savantaec Of a flaw in the indictment and
secured his discharge. The Rev. Dr. Ten
nant absolutely refused to take advantage
Of any flaw. and, believing that the Lord
would deliver him, demanded that the tria.
20 on. Just before the hour Of the trial
he mot man and woman, and they
fold blrl .hat they had come from the
place in Maryland where he had preach
ed. aud that a few days before they had
10th dreamed chat he was at Trenton in
Great dstAss and that Il was in their
power. end theirs only, 10 relieve him, and
mar INC dream was twice repeated to both
of them. and SO deeply were they Impress
Ell by # that they mad come to Trenton
ard Wished to know what they could 10
To-, HIM. it is believed that this couple
came as . substitute for Bell and the VIII
son wornaa, who were afraid to come into
ne s.2ta. Nevertheless, on their evil
.bnce. Or. Tenant was abe 10 prove that
be ana Row.anl were in Maryiond at the
t.-~e Of tie ROBBERY, and he was acquit-
ted.
u7M go