Three men arrested in 1889 after 'gypsies' direct them to buried treasure

Capt. Thomas Mercer Riley

Monroe County, Ala. has changed in many, many ways over the past 125 years, and those changes are easy to notice if you ever take a glance at back issues of The Monroe Journal newspaper. Recently, I looked through the archives at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville, and closely examined the four editions of The Journal printed 125 years ago this month, way back in February 1889. Here are some of the news highlights from those papers, which were produced by Editor Q. Salter.

FEB. 1, 1889

“Six Cent Calicoes! LADIES – The CALICOES from New York are now open for your examination – and they are regular beauties – just such goods as we have been selling at seven cents.

“Come early if you want any of them. Then we can show a beautiful line of CHRISTMAS GOODS that will gladded the hearts of all the little folks.

“Come to see us.

Yours very truly,

“Roberts, Locklin & Co.”

“H.B. Williamson, DENTIST, Office at Burnt Corn, Ala. Will practice in Monroe, Conecuh and adjoining counties. Calls in person or by letter addressed to me at Burnt Corn will be promptly answered.”

“Dr. J.T. Russell, Physician, Surgeon & ACCOUCHEUR – Prepared to treat all kinds of Acute and Chronic cases. Patients who have paid their former accounts will be waited upon in preference and at reasonable charges. Those who are in arrears are requested to come forward and settle up and thereby place themselves on the Preferred List.”

FEB. 8, 1889

“Robert Horton, who has been confined in jail for several months, charged with the murder of Virginia Williams near Mount Pleasant, made his escape Wednesday morning. He had been removed from the iron cage, into a room occupied by two other prisoners, on account of the extremely cold weather, several days ago, and Thursday night while his fellow prisoners were asleep, he burned the wooden frame into which was fastened the iron catch that held the bolts of the door lock.”

“We are requested to announce that an entertainment will be given by the Dramatic Club in the Masonic Hall at Pineville on Friday night, Feb. 15.”

“Superintendent Thames called a meeting to organize a Board of Education last Saturday. Prof. W.M. Webb of the old board and Prof. R.J.H. Simmons accepted appointment to the new.”

“Capt. T.M. Riley of Riley was in Monroeville this week.”

“We learn that a small township school house was burned near Mr. J.J. Autrey’s one night last week.”

FEB. 15, 1889

“The new bell for the Baptist church is at Repton. It will be put up as soon as the belfry can be built.”

“The post office at Watson, this county, has been discontinued by the Post Office Department, mail to River Ridge.”

“The mystery, an account of which we published in a recent issue, has been clearned up.

“It seems that some gypsies passing through the county some time ago, in telling a man’s fortune, represented to him that a large amount of money buried at a certain spot in Parson Skinner’s garden, which he could get by going and making search at a certain time.

“The man let two other men into the secret in order to obtain their assistance. Mr. Skinner did some pretty sharp detective work in discovering the parties, who were arrested, tried and dismissed with a small fine.”

“There are 33 names on the pauper list of Monroe County and the pay roll aggregates about $300 per quarter.”

“Mrs. M.S. Dickenson has been commissioned post mistress at Pineville.”

FEB. 22, 1889

“Robert Horton, one of the men who escaped from jail last week, was captured near Hunter’s Mill Saturday and brought back.”

“The Buena Vista High School is still booming, notwithstanding the mumps are abroad in the land.”

“’Tacky Parties’ are becoming a popular feature of Monroeville society.”

“Capt. T.S. Wiggins visited Perdue Hill Monday on professional business.”

“Capt. H.M. Graham, an old citizen of Monroe, writes from Bay St. Louis, Miss., where he has recently moved, that he is doing well and is pleased with his location.”

“Capt. T.A. Nettles, ‘Enterprising Tom,’ was in to see us Friday.”

“Married at the home of the bride’s mother, near Oak Grove on Sunday, Feb. 17, Mr. George Stacy and Miss Jennie Wiggins, Rev. B. Sawyer officiating.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for today. Next month, I’ll take a look at the events of March 1889 in Monroe County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s history yourself, take advantage of the Monroe County Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get your started.