The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-10-28
GOLD FINDER GOES TO JAIL.
Raised $4,000 From the Credulous.
Failed to Locate Treasure.

Abbeville, La, Oct. 2O.-1 am go
ing to the penitentiary because they
say l lied when l said I found pl-
rates cave containing S90,OOO,OOO in
treasure, but l was not lying and
when 1 am free man again | will
penetrate the marshes of this parish
and find that money! said Joseph
Choate, known as the Pirate Treas
ure King" before he left here for
the State penitentiary in the custody
of two officers.
Choate advertised his project ex-
tensively, selling shares in his COM
pany and obtaining more than S12,-
900 from men and women who were
impressed by his statements.
"Sure the money is there" contin-
ned Choate. Several years ago l
was hunting in a district near Little
Lake. The marshes were thick and
I got lost. 1 had been cropping and
stumbling through the high grass for
hours and had almost fallen down In
exhaustion when 1 ran upon the cave.
Found Great Chests Of Gold.
'I penetrated it and found great
chests of gold and silver, coins and
jewelry. 1 had almost decided l
would lie down and die, but the sight
of the treasure stimulated me. 1
plunged back through the marshes,
and after few hours walking came
to the road. I marked the place where
crossed the highway and resolved
to organize an exploring party to re-
turn and obtain the treasure.
Il took a few into my confidence.
My statements were received with in
eredulity by most of those whom I ap-
preached. ! then resolved to go into
the marshes again and obtain some
Of the treasure. I brought back as
many Spanish doubloons as / could
carry. After that had no trouble
in securing cooperation.
81 raised about $4,000, which was
devoted to building roads and canals
through the dense swamps. 1t was
my plan to bring the treasure by
means of boats and barges."
"How do you know the treasure
was valued at s90,0O0,000?" he was
asked.
May Be S10O,0O0,OO0.
"Why, the treasure was contained
In 1S0 chests in tomb-like apart
ment within the cave" replied
Choate. 81 examined the contents. of
every chest, and I'm sure there was
not less than 100000 in each. How
ever, the treasure may be worth more
than one hundred millions"
There are many who believe that
Choate is absolutely sincere. Pre-
yious to the time he obtained the
$4,000 his life had been above re-
proach. He had been a hard work
Ing man, good citizen and was held
In high esteem in this community.
Even now he has hundreds of friends
here. Comparatively few of the resi-
dents of Abbeville believe he should
have been punished.
Many hundred feet Of roads and a
long stretch of waterway had been
built at the time Choate was arrest
ed. Those who were backing the pro-
ject believed it was time the treasure
was materializing and accused Choate
of leading them wild-goose chase.
He insisted that he would soon IND
the trail and declared that his con-
fusion as to the exact location of the
millions was natural, as no man could
be expected to know the swamps even
though he lived in them. Finally the
hackers grew impatient and had
Choate arrested.
One of those connected with Choate
was Charles Broussard, brother OF
Robert Broussard, Louisiana con-
gressman, who occupies a conspicu-
GUS place in his party's ranks at
Washington. During the trial OF
Choate it developed that he was much
aggrieved at Charles Broussard be-
cause he had bought in his own name
the land supposed to contain the
treasure instead Of Jointly in the
names of Broussard and Choate.
Whether it was a coincidence or
not is not known, but it was at this
time that Choate began to lose his
bearings and led the explorers almost
In q circle.
"Were you under the impression
that Broussard had mistreated you?'
Choate was asked.
well, 1 don't think was treated
exactly fair" he replied, "but that
did not make me want to cheat any
one"
g WQSu CuOdto Woo oSAISASSo IN
thanked the judge. -.
II know you think I am guilty,
he told the court, "but am not. l
am going to be model prisoner,
have my sentence reduced, and when
] get out go for that treasure. will
send you some doubloons as SOU
venir."
Choate has wife and bright lit
tie boy.
"Will you saook for the treasure
yourself?'' Mrs. Choate was asked.
''No," she replied my little boy
and I will wait until Mr.. Choate
comes back"
Union Meetings.
Union Meetings Of the Barnwell
Baptist Association will be held at
Mount Calvary, Aliens Chapel and
Bethesda churches Saturday and Sun
day, October 30th and 31st.
PROGRAM.