The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-10
Finding a Pot of Money!.
from tie Cincinnati Commercial Gaze


LEXINGTON IND, March 81. The finding of
$4,000 by Smith Stewart, farmer, residing
one and one-fourth miles east of Holman sta
ton, while preparing an onion bed on the farm
of William Sweet, has created a great sensa-
ton in that vicinity.
Stewart is a very poor man, and for many
years has barely succeeded in providing for his
large family. Some time ago he rented the
Sweet farm. and late Saturday evening he
walked to Holman, where the owner of the
premises conducts a mercantile establishments
TO learn whether or not he might remove an old
chicken house. which stood near the residence
and utilize the ground for a garden He was
told that he might do this and early this morn
ing he began TO remove the structure. He did
not find this difficult task for when one of the
slls was pulled out the building, which was
built of logs and very high, fell with a crash.
BY noon the timbers had been removed and
with spade Stewart began upturCiug the earth
for onion bed. He had not been at work
long before the tool came in contract with q
large jar, breaking the covering into several
pieces. Imagine his surprise when beuolding a
vessel containing gold and silver coins, more
than he had ever before had the pleasure Of
looking upon lie soon had his newly discovered
wealth transferred to the barn, and found upon
counting IL, that he had just $1,000 Placing
800 in his pocket he again hid the rich find
and appraised his family and neighbors of his
good luck. and started to town in company
with his daughter to purchase the necessaries
upon his landlord. Mr. Sweet, and, after pur-
chasing quantity of goods, rendered several
silver French francs in payment
Mr.. Sweet at once questioned Stewart how he
came in possession of such money, whereupon
he related what he had found. The merchant
grew excited at this startling explanation and
demanded that he be given the money claim
ing that 1t had been buried by his sister many
years ago.
When her father, Ahram Sweet an old miser
died thirty years ago, he was very wealthy and
his large family of children each received S. 900
in gold, besides valuable property Soon after
the demise Of the old man the eldest of hts two
daughters died leaving her estate to her sister
Susan. Susan was Industrious, and by priva-
tons she succeeded in adding 80 900 TO her Dos
sessions, which she invariably kept secreted for
fear Of being robbed. Often she told her
brother how much money she had, but never
divulged its location. She gave as a reason
that she knew the boys would Squander it, One
day while knitting she became paralyzad and
from that day she never uttered word
For several months she fingered etween life
and death in this helpless condition and in
1883 died, carrying with her the secret of her
hidden wealth. Her brothers often searched
every conceivable spot where the money might
have been hidden, but their efforts were never
their sisters savings was abandoned aud the
old homestead deserted
The Sweets claim the money now found, and
will attempt TO prove that II Is the same buried
by their sister. They have secured the services
of a detective
There are many rare French, Mexican aud
American coins In the collection, ranging in
amounts from silver quarters to twenty dollar
gold pieces. Some of the dollars and ffty-eent
pieces are over 200 years old. and are us bright
as thew were when arss caSaed