The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-03
DtG UP JEWELS on HIS FARM.
William Grier Unearthed Watches,
Charms and Diamonds.

Charms and Diamonds.
William Grier. a 5O-year-old negro. liv-
ing about two miles from the city. on the
Thundcrbolt road, claims ne had the good
fortune recently to find a box of jewels
while digging on his place. Reverses came
yesterday. however, and after having re-
turned the property to the owners, he was
arrested by Lieut.. R. A Gordon, of the
Griffin police force, and taken there for
further investigation as to the way he
came into possession of the jewelry.
There are several puzzling features of
the case, which do not appear clearly even
to the police. Grier claims he was at work
on his farm recently, when his hoe struck
hard substance, which. on examination,
proved TO be the box of valuables. In it
We're three or four gold watches, watch
charms and knight Templar pin, set
with number of diamonds, The box was
neatly wrapped, In order TO protect the
jeweiry. 1t was Grier's belief that those
who buried 1t were intending at some fu-
ture time to return for their spells.
Not knowing what TO do with his find
Grier consulted friends who advised him
to see an attorney as to the proper dispo-
sition to make of them. This he did, taking
the jewels with him. The name of Mr..
Henry c. Burr, president of the City Ma
tional Bank of Griffin appeared on some of
the things. The attorney advised Grier
that efforts should be made to locate the
owners. The attorney sent this letter to
Mr. Burr two or three days ago:
Il write to Tell you that there is a man
in this city who has in his possession, a
watch and Knight Templar or Masonic
watch charm, which belongs to you as
they both have your name on them. VIII
send them on receipt of SIS for the watch
and s. for the charm. The man who has
these things came by them honestly by ac-
cident. having dug them up in a field
where they had evidently been hidden by
thieves. They were wrapped carefully in
many wrappings and encased in a water
proof vessel, so that they are in perfectly
good condition"
AS soon as Mr.. Burr received the infor-
ma ton he wired the Southern Bank to pay
the attorney $50 and receive watch and
pin. The things were obtained by the
bank, after which they were sent to the
owner. Besides losing the watch and
charm, Mr.. Burr also lost $13S al the same
time. which of course, was not recovered.
The attorney declined to give informal
ton as to the man who found the jew
elry and the matter was placed in the
hands of the police Chief McDermott sent
Detective Scully to get information, but
the effort failed. The attorney said the
transaction was a matter between him and
his client, whom he believed honest and
was bound to protect. The Griffin police
were notified and were advised to come
ba
complish nothing without taking legal ac-
ton. Lieut.. Gordon came yesterday bring
ing with him number of letters to parties
in the city He first called on the police
then the attorney, who declined to give
formation as to who found the jewelry
After considerable persuasion by friends
however, and after exacting promise not
to arrest Grier, he told the story of the
finding of the jewels.
Lieut.. Gordon and the attorney went to
Grier's place. where the negro was found
1t had already been learned that he had
watch stolen from E. c. Smith of Grif-
fin. which was readily given up on prom
ise of reward. The negro made the same
statement to the officer as to the attorney,
relative to the manner in which he found
the box. When this was told, Lieut. Cor
don asked him if he had the Masonic
charm. He replied that he did not. There
was some uOuDt as 10 lnlS, however, ana
calling the attorney to one side Lieut.
Gordon said he authorized him to offer
the negro $40 reward if the charm was re-
turned in good condition. Scarcely had
the proposition been made before Grier
showed up with the charm, but the dia-
monds had been taken out, which took
away it's value. On account of suspicious
circumstances, it was decided by the lieu
tenant to arrest the negro and take him
to the barracks for closer questioning.
Chief McDermott questioned the negro
come time, but no satisfactory answers
were obtained. He claimed that he found
the things as stated. Greir said no one
was present at the time and that he lad
not told any one of the find. Efforts to
develop whatever facts lay beneath the
surface failed because the negro had little