The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-05-13
Hidden Treasure.

The Pittsburg Leader says: There is
considerable excitement at UniontOwn
| Just now over the search for a hidden
treasure belonging to DIR. Braddee. whose
trial in this city for mail robbery in 1871
will be remembered by some of our citi-
Zens. Ii was one of the most interesting
cases ever tried in this section. DR.. Brad
dee was a resident of UniOntown, and was
one of the wideSt-knOwn and most success
full physicians in the State. He was high
ly respected by every body and had an
enormous practice. The Government for
some time had been aware that there were
extensive robberies being perpetrated on
the mails, but it was after long inyestiga-
ton that the Government detectives were
able to trace up the thing. 1t appeared
that DIR. Braddee, who had an extraordi-
nary desire for gain, not being satisfied
with the large amounts of money he made
by his medical practice, entered into an
arrangement with two stage drivers TO rob
the mails. The stage drivers stopping
place was on the lot adjoining DIR. Brad
dee's office, and it was the custom for the
drivers when they arrived there to toss over
mail bag into tie doctors yard, when no
one was looking. The Doctor would take
the mailbag into the office, rifle il of its
money contents, and then burn the bag or
throw it into the clubhouse. This was car
ried on for long time, and thousands of
dollars was procured by the mail robbers
in this way. DIR. Braddee and Che two
stage drivers were arrested and brought to
this city for trial. Sixty thousand dollars
bail was demanded by Judge Irwin for
Braddee, but, although there were numer-
Gus of his fellow-citiZens here ready to go
his bail, the Doctor was too high-strung
and independent to take it, and he wen
to Jail. At the trial there was great dis
play of legal talent. The prosecution was
conducted by Neil Darrah, United States
District Attorney, assisted by Mr.. Wells
and General J. b. Howell, of UniOntOwn;
A. w. LOomis, and Colonel Sam Black.
Judge Hampton had also been engaged to
assist in the prosecution, but, although he
was present during the trial, ne did not
take an active part in it. The defense
was represented by - Austin, w. +.
Austin, both of UniontOwn; Richard
Biddle, and the Hon. Wilson McCandless.
The latter, as our readers well know, is
Judge of the United States District Court,
for the Western District of this State.
The Hon. Walter Forward, who was after
ward Secretary of the Treasury, had also
been employed to take part in the trial,
Out LOT some TedSOH He WAS uudDIc 10 10
so.
The trial lasted two weeks, the stage
drivers pleading guilty and turning States
evidence, which convicted DR.. Braddee.
The drivers were pardoned from the Peni-
tentiary a few months after. Braddee
was sentenced ten years to the Penitenti-
ary, and died in prison. One of the
stage drivers is dead the other living.
1t was generally believed at the time OF
DR.. Braddee's conviction that he had bur-
led all his wealth in the ground near his
residence. The Doctor, from the time of
his arrest until his death had never spoken
a word of what disposition had been made
ef his fortune. And now, after lapse of
thirty-four years, the story of the hidden
treasure is revived. There is now in
Uniontown a Government detective en-
gagged hunting for the supposed buried
wealth. The thing has created the great
est excitement, and hundreds of persons
are collected about the old residence of DIR.
Braddee watching the search.
The detectives were put upon the track
of the matter, it is said, by an old stage
driver who knew Braddee, who claims to
know the location of the secreted money,
and who is approaching dissolution.