The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1927-01-28
SOME ONE LIED ABOUT
THATBURLED TREASURE
And Tommy Jones Will Have to Step Into the
Annanias Club Because There Are Three
Hinton Brothers Against Him

lHIcc udyS ol HeCllC exClle.
ment; the revival of countless
tales Of buried treasure; doz-
ems of folk planning to dig at
spots where legend has it pir.
ate treasure was hidden, and
all northeastern North Caro-.
lima marvcling at the story of a
fortune unearthed in Edenton.
And then Eastern North Caro-
lina's latest treasure story goes on
the rocks. Under the corner Of an
old barn, back of the Bay View
Hotel at EdentOn, lay a rusty and
unpretcntious old iron box. 1t had
lain there for many years. Nobody
had paid any attention to 1t.
Tom Jones, the proprietor of the
Bay View Hotel broke 1t open Fri
day. Water had seeped in cover
ing the contents. He called the
owners of the property, the Hinton
Brothers of Pasquotank County. a
crowd gathered around, the con-
tents were hastily covered up and
carried away. That night some
body smashed the old iron box to
bits A reward of $50 was offered
for the arrest Of the perpetrators.
Then countless versions Of the con.
tents were woven and peddled thru.
out the section.
Jones Said The Gold Was There
Tom Jones, the proprietor OF the
Hotel. interviewed over long dis
tance by u reporter, stated that the
box contained three heavy leathern
bags of gold coins of English and
American mintage, weighing about
20 pounds, a rusty old pistol. a half
dollar dated 1927, an eyeglass from
an old time set of spectacles.
wad of notes Of the Bank or Eng'
land three inches thick, and q bond
of 1880 on the City Of Baltimore
of the denomination, OF $500: ThA
entire find was estimated by Mr~
Jones as being worth around $780,
600. In addition he said there was
an old letter apparently addressed
70 Il Miss Eliza or Elizabeth
the surname being illegible from
age. The letter is said to have been
postmarked in England.
Mr. Jones stated that the Hintons
took away the gold, and on Satur'
day carried it to Norfolk, return
ing with the news that it, had been
expressed to Washington Tor ap-
praisal and Norfolk people had esti.
mated its value at $4,000, aside
from the numislnatic value Of the
coins.
A visit WAS made 70 the home OF
r. l.. Hinton on Monday, but Ar.
Hinton was not at home. A colored
man on the premises when asked
about the money. stated that 1t had
been shipped TO Washington. Mr.
Jones had stated that the find was
witnessed by Ernest. Ed. and Lucian
Hinton. wealthy Pasquotank farm.
crs who own the Bay View Hotel
property. and their negro chauffeur
Wright Brothers.
The Hint0D's Deny
On Tuesday the Hinton Brothers,
each for himself deuied that any
gold coins were found in the chest.
The IIinton's are known as up
standing, truthful, businesslike and
exact men. They say they have
shipped no gold.
Mr.. Jones, who is to operate the
new Hotel. was questioned again.
Are YOU sure about the gold" he
was asked. Il saw the bags" said
Mr.. Jones, but if Mr.. Hinton says
il wasn't, there il wasn't he eyad.
cd.
But il public interested in the dis
covcry Of buried treasure. hates to
give up so fancifrll and interesting
Il story. Some do not hesitate to
express the belief that the Hintons
are being cautious, for althO the
find was on their property, there is
the possibility Of many claimants
coming forward to attempt to secure
the rumOrcd wealth.
EdcntOn has been busy this week
trying to ascertain who might have
owned the chest. Miss Elizabeth
VI. Moore. Il maiden lady beyond
her three score and ten, is advanc-
cd as the rightful owner. Some OF
the older citizens believe the chest
TO have been left by her late broth
or. Judge w. A. Moore of Edenton,
who lived bachelors life In the
old building back Of the hotel.
Judge Moore is said to have been
appointed rs representative OF
the American Government to the
Paris Exposition back in the SOS,
and to have spent considerable time
in England. Many people believed
him man of much wealth. But he
died suddenly, Of stroke Of apop-
lexy shortly after returning to
America. He was speechless, nor
had he the means OF making known
(contingnd o. p-Es signt,