The age-herald., 1901-11-20
FARMER FINDS A
 HIDDEN TREASURE
WHAT SEEMED TO BE THREE GRAVES TURNS OUT TO BE BURIED TREAsURE-NEW DE. eATuR ITEMS.

New Decatur, November 19.--(Special.)- One day last week while out hunting near Chattsville, in Limestone County, farm CT discovered four graves in the midst of a pine thicket, located in the barren region of Limestone County, and several miles from any residence Upon nves- tigation the graves gave every evidence of having been there for many years. The mounds were sunken to the depth of two feet and the rough stone slabs, which bore no inscription, were moss-covered and weather-worn.
 Inquiries were made as to who was buried there, but no one in the surround ing country was able to throw any light upon the subject.
 One old man, over 80 years of age who had known the vicinity from his boy hood, had no recollection of any one hav- ing been buried there
 At last it was decided to open these unknown graves and upon doing so a most startling discovery was made. In place of finding human bones the work man found several guns, a number of silver spoons, knives, forks and other articles of silverware, besides quite a sum in gold and silver coin of United States mintage. The amount of money found could not be ascertained, but it is believed to be several hundred dol lars.
 It is supposed that this property was buried there during the civil war, and that this unique way of burial was re- sorted to so that any person who might by chance pass that way and discover the fresh dirt would not suspect that a treasure lay beneath As to who buried the property will perhaps remain a mys- tery for ever.
 The Long Distance Telephone Company are putting in line to connect the De- caturs with Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Moul- ton and other towns west.
 Circuit Court adjourned Saturday after disposing of a large number of cases. Judge John c. Eyster made a record, as solicitor for the state that has never been surpassed in the history of the county, as regards the number of cases convicted, and he is doing much towards reducing crime in this county.
 The criminal term of the County Court convened yesterday morning with Judge William D. S. Skeggs presiding
 The first case disposed of was the state vs Claude F. Drake for assault and bat tery. Drake plead guilty and was given the lowest fine, $1 and costs.
 It was alleged that Drake had assault- ed H. E. Hildreth, local editor of the New Decatur Advertiser, on the streets of this city a few months ago. Drake at the time of the difficulty was editor of the Decatur Vitoscope.
 Drake was fined $50 in the Mayors Court at the time, and this latter case he appealed to the Circuit Court, and in that court last week a jury fixed the fine at $30 instead of $50.
 Reports from seven different counties in this portion of the state show that only about 10, per cent of the cotton crop remains in the fields unpicked, and that the crop this year is fully 25 per cent less than that of last years crop. It is also shown that large per cent of the crop has already been sold. The corn crop is rather light
 The majority of the farmers in this section have made some money notwith- standing the short crop.