The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-17
STRANGE STORY
OF A WATCH

A magnificent jewelled watch, alleged
to have been stolen in Tien-tsin, China,
several weeks ago, has just come 70
light in Woodlawn, Ala, The watch,
which is valued at several thousand
dollars, is the property or an English
officer stationed at Tien-tsin, and a
former Birmingham boy IS alleged to
have made way with it. The time
piece, apart from it's value, is treasured
very highly by the English officer, be-
cause of the fact that it was present
ed to him by an English society for
distinguished gallantry. Since it's dis
appearance the search for it has been
carried on in all parts of the earth.
The name of the Birmingham man
alleged to be connected with the disap-
pearance of the watch cannot be learn
ed, as the postoffice Inspector who
worked up this end of the case is very
reticent about the affair, but it Is
learned that the young man enlisted
in Birmingham something like six
months ago, and that the company to
which he was assigned was detailed to
do duty in Tien-tsin. The young man
was a watch maker by trade, and while
in Tien-tsin with little to do in the
way of military dtuy he turned his at
tention to doing odd jobs in the way
of watch repairing. He did good work,
and the officers, as well as others, soon
began giving their work to him. In
this way the timepiece of the English
officer came into his hands. About the
same time two other watches of unu-
sual value were given into his hands.
One of these, a dainty timepiece all
covered with jewels, the property of
one Of the English ladies connected
with the legation, also disappeared as
did another fine gold watcn. the owner
of which is unknown here
1t is charged that upon getting three
very valuable watches in his hands,
the young soldier deserted and took
the watches with him. His disappear
ance caused general commotion and
all sorts of agencies We're put in
motion in order to apprehend him, but
he is said to have made good his es-
cape
Among others who were called to
assist in the effort to locate the miss
ing watches was H. M. Robinson SUI
perintendent of the mails at TIen-tsin.
He looked over the records and found
that the young man had forwarded a
registered letter to a party In Wood
lawn, L. S. A, before he disappeared.
This discovery was communicated to
the chief of postoffice inspectors in
Washington, who at once notified the
postmaster at Woodlawn to hold the
package upon it's arrival. He then no
titled Paul E. Williams of Chattan-
ooga, postoffice inspector for this dis
trict, to take the matter up. Inspector
Williams detailed one of his men to
come to Birmingham and look into the
case, and this was done.
Upon arriving at Birmingham, the
inspector went at once to Woodlawn
and called upon the party to whom the
package from China was assigned.
This party agreed to go TO the post
| Office with the inspector, and if the
package was there, to have it opened
in his presence. The package, in the
meantime, had arrived, and when the
inspector and the party to whom the
package was addressed called. it was
opened 1t contained the English Off
GERS watch.
The watch was taken in charge by
the inspector, who will turn 1t over
to his chief Inspector Williams will
send it to his superior in Washington,
and that officer will forward 1t TO the
United States representative in Tien-
tsin, who will deliver it to the owner.
The young man who is charged with
desertion and with stealing the watcn-
es, is said to be on his way to Ala
bama--Birmingham News.