Democratic messenger., 1910-08-27
WAS IT LOOT OF
A BOLD ROBBER !?
Generally Believed That ASbury
Hammond Found Buried
Treasure.

From The ITicomico News.
1t seems pretty certain from develop
ments which have happened since
Asbury Hammond found the hidden
vault in the field near his home on
the old Hammond Farm, that there
was treasure buried in the vault, al.
though Hammond refuses to talk. Some
say he is afraid that the treasure will
be claimed by the relatives Of former
owner of the property and others say
that Hammond has the idea that the
Government can claim the old gold coins,
neither Of which is true, however, but
up to the present time there can be no
evidence produced to show that Mr..
Hammond has placed any large sums
Of money in any of the Banks.
One thing is certain, however, and
that is there was gold found in the
vicinity of the hidden vault many years
ago. Uncle John Hammond says when
they were digging the big ditch across
the property forty years ago, that in
digging across the 'Island" on the
place, an uncle of Mr.. Hezekiah Shock
ley, who was helping tol do the work.
found tea kettle filled with gold coin
on the "Island." The hidden vault is
on the Hammond farm, which has been
owned by Uncle John Hammond for at
least 20 years. The place formerly be-
longed to man by the name Of Baynum,
who had house on it without windows
and, who was known far and wide as
robber chief. He was man Of mystery
and made expeditions all over the coun-
try, returning to his home and bringing
mysterious packages with him. 1t was
always believed that the man was a
robber chief and that he brought his
loot from his expeditions and secreted
them on his premises. The kettle of
gold found on the "Island" forty years
ago was supposed to be gold hidden by
the robber. 1t was always thought
that there was some secret cave or
hiding place on the farm or in the woods
where more plunder was hidden, and
1t is now thought that Asbury Hammond
found the real spot when he opened the
hidden vault.
Mr.. Hammond has received hundreds
of letters from all over the United States
asking questions about the find and
wanting to know about his ancestry.
Many of these letters claim relationship
with him and lot of others lay claim
to the fortune found. One lady in New
York is sure that the gold belonged to
an ancestor of hers. MIR. Hammond
says a man came to his place on Sunday.
July Sd, claiming to be government
official and asked him thousand or so
questions, putting down his answers on
some blanks he had with him. For this
reason 1t is believed that Hammond is
afraid to make known his find for fear
someone will claim his wealth.
The whole affair has shade of mys-
terry about it which has caused much
comment in the neighborhood. Column
after column has been written about 1t
all over the United States. and it is said
that several strangers have been seen
in the neighborhood recently with digg-
ing outfits, probably trying to locate
some other hidden vault. Hammond re-
fuses to say whether or not he found
any treasure, but the belief is general
that he made a rich haul. II he did, the
money belongs to HIM. and no one could
get cent of it. The treasure was most
" in gold coin, Spanish and old English
gold and some American gold of ancient
date.