The Newtown bee., 1908-08-21
The NeWtOWn Bee
W Watert0Wn.
Newtown, Friday, August 2l. 1908.

" " eAs
 BIG HEATED THOMAS SHIELDS
 HONEST TO THE CORE.
 With the thermometer registering al
 90 degrees the editor of The Bee fount
 Thomas Shields resting comfortably ir
 an easy chair under shade tree al
 his residence. MT Shields is a bluff, big-hearted citizen. liked by everyone,
 and not having an enemy in the world.
 A warm and firm friendship has exist,
 ed between the editor and Mir Shields
 for IA or 15 years, which began in a
 strange manner. While canvassing for
 The Bee IA years ago or more in Wat errown the writer stopped at MT Shields residence andiwas visiting with Mir and Mrs Shields when the shrill cry of "Fire, Fire" was heard outside. It proved to be MT Shields barn, which was burned to the ground. MT Shields has been suffering since July with heart trouble, but is improving now under the care of Dr Martin. Mir Shields was retired from the service of the railroad company, the latter part ot June, on half pay. He was born in Ireland in 1846. He came to this country in 1866 and entered the employ of the railroad company at Winsted shortly after his arrival. He came to Watertown in 1870 and has been sec tion boss of the Watertown branch for 28 years and has been in the employ of the railroad for 42 years, or during all the time on which he has been on American soil. His association with railroad officials and employees has al- ways been pleasant and his work an ideal of thoroughness. Mir Shields record in Watertown has been one which would be difficult to duplicate. His ability as financier and worth to the community were never more in prominence than at the time the Water- town Bank became involved. MT Shields was one of the directors and had a personal knowledge of the valua- tion of the banks securities. The closing of the bank doors was sufi- cient to alarm the depositors. Mir Shields, however, was one of the few perhaps the only one-to declare that the bank would be able to pay it's de- positors in full. MT Shields always asserted there was no need of the bank winding up, and the writer and other depositors held the same opinion. His word among his townspeople was never questioned, and, although his position as director of the bank prevented him from buying any of the depositors' ac- counts, he assured the disquieted ones that he was willing to take any and all of the depositors' claims at face values. The result was those who were bemoan- ing the loss of their savings were re- assured and awaited the settlement of the banks affairs with confidence. In connection with the banks affairs some of Mir Shields's friends claim that he has lost considerable from his own savings through the unfortunate affair, but if this is so he bears his loss without complaint, and few, if any, of his friends have ever heard him dis cuss the matter. Tom Shields once went down to Washington when the late Grover Cleveland occupied the White Honse, and it is related that friends of Mir Cleveland mistook the Watertown man for the President and that Mir Shields was given several hearty handshakes by those who thought they had met the foremost cit izen of the United States. His origi- ] nality, wit and humor have made him the David Harum of Watertown. His knowledge of human nature and keen financial insight has often made him a counselor to those who were entertain ng some business transaction. No natter of public importance has ever arisen without the townspeople want ng to know what Tom Shields thought md said about it. His conversation, made interesting with personal jokes md anecdotes has delighted many. )ne of his greatest enjoyments is to get in opportunity to joke friend, but be 'ffends only when the truth hurts.