Published in Georgia Times Union, South Georgia's version of the Florida
Times Union, Friday, August 24, 2001 - Off Associated Press wire
This is the article in its entirety - please pass the info on to all and any
lists to which you might be subscribed. We need to stop people who do this
kind of desecration.
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Missing county documents found for sale on Internet
RICHMOND HILL, GA - Historic documents ripped out of books stolen from the
Bryan and Thomas county courthouse have been recovered after authorities
found them for sale on an Internet auction site.
A Richmond Hill man was selling the documents he had gotten from a Savannah
man, authorities said.
"The best we can determine is that he got it from someone, who got it from
someone, who got it from someone who buys and sells items like that," said
Thomas County sheriff's investigator Joe McMurray.
McMurray said the books, which contained priceless documents, have been
missing for more than 12 years.
Although the men were not charged, McMurray said it was unlikely they did not
know the documents were stolen.
"Any normal person would know that official documents were stolen, but I
don't think thay had anything to do with it," McMurray said.
Each page of three large books was auctioned on eBay for as much as $150.
Thomas County Probate Judge Sally Hart said document buyers should have
realized they were stolen.
"This is part of the county's history that was stolen," Hart said.
"The documents included marriage certificates, property deeds and catalogues
with the names of slaves and slave owners dating back to 1837," McMurray said.
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Not only have they stolen priceless history documents but they have stopped
family history researchers in their tracks or at least derailed them and made
the search that much harder.