Hood County News from Granbury, Texas • Page 1

wm mm More than a newspaper, a Granbury, Texas 76048 Hood County legend since Sunday, April 1, 1984 1886 2 Sections 32 Pages Published Thursday and Sunday 25 cents $18 Million Treasure may lie beneath courthouse 4 I mill i i Si.iV 1 yv. f' what happened to his comrades. From a map included in the papers, Saxony has estimated the band of soldiers must have been surrounded near the site of the present courthouse which was built in the late 1800s. Saxony's research may help clear up some puzzling events which have occurred near the courthouse in recent years. Persons with metal detectors have reported strange readings on their machines when they got close to the courthouse, but efforts to dig up whatever was making the readings were unsuccessful.

Strangely enough, when the courthouse was built, excavators may have been just inches from the treasure when they dug into the earth to make room for the basement area. Digging is, of course, prohibited and there are no plans to dig up the treasure, according to county by GARY BRUCE Staff Writer A history and family tree researcher at the University of Virginia has discovered that an $18-million Confederate gold shipment may be buried deep beneath the Hood County Courthouse. Dr. John P. Saxony said that in reading personal papers of Captain George C.

Green a band of Confederate soldiers crossed the Brazos River in March of 1887 with two wagons full of gold which had been intended to fund war supplies for the south before the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox. Shortly after crossing the river, according to Saxony, soldiers were attacked by Comanche Indians and were forced to bury the gold and escape. All but one of the soldiers was later killed by the Indians. Only Captain Green escaped, but he never returned to claim the gold, for fear of the Indians and memories of High bond set i i "fJBMt City officials have chosen the Church of Christ building on U.S.

377 West as the new City Hall. Officials say the church will have six New City Hall months to find a new location. Officials felt the existing structure would offer room for expansion of city services. The property will be hamas. However, courthouse, sources close to the situation said they felt the expansion would be readily accepted by the public and there would be virtually no opposition to the plan.

One person said if there is any Jail to add pool 9 Jacuzzi and track taken by eminent domain, according to officials. HCN Photo public opposition, it will be because the jxTsons just do not understand the situation." An official agenda was posted for the commissioners' workshop in the County Courthouse in Dade County, Florida. Local men charged in Austin incident Police locate fugitives An investigation into a domestic disturbance by members of the Granbury Police Department has revealed that Bonnie and Clyde may not have been killed on a rural road in the 1930s. The notorious couple robbed banks across several states before supposedly being gunned down by law officers. A popular movie in the late 1970s depicted the life and death of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker.

Granbury police responded to a disturbance in the southwestern portion of the city Wednesday night and found a man and woman arguing outside the residence. During the incident the woman was reported by officers to have called the elderly man "Clyde" and he called her "Bonnie." The couple apparently moved to Granbury several years ago, became active in civic affairs and even joined an area church. The years have taken their toll on the couple as they bear very little resemblance to the famous pair. Police refused to release the names or address of the couple until it can be confirmed they actually are Bonnie and Clyde. The statute of limitations has also expired on many of the crimes committed by the pair and identification might not be allowed by law.

The couple is well into their 80s, according to officers, and have been no problem since moving to Granbury. It is likely that the couple's identity will remain a secret, according to officials. VN 4 Shake-up hits area 4A-4 coach roster Hood County News Editor Roger Enlowand Staff Writer Gary Bruce were arrested Thursday on warrants from' the Travis County Sheriff's Office charging the men with criminal mischief in several thousands dollars damage to the Creek Golf Course in Austin. Enlow and Bruce were booked in the Hood 4Kounty on tne charges. A request made to Justice of the Peace George Smith to release the men on their own recognizance was turned down and bond set on the charges at $100,000.

Bond was posted by News Publisher Jerry dwell after the two had spent five hours in jail and promised to remain in the county pending trial. Officials in Austin stated that Enlow and Bruce had played a round of golf on the course Friday, March 23 while in Austin to attend a sr. by GARY BRUCE Staff Writer A jail expansion plan being considered by County Commissioners will include an indoor swimming pool, a first-class weight room, a Jacuzzi and a jogging track, according to reliable sources inside the courthouse. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards reportedly suggested to commissioners improvements to insure the health of prisoners who are being kept in the jail for longer periods of time. Cost of the jail expansion is estimated at between $10- and $20-million according to a contractor who has been contacted about the project.

Funds from revenue sharing will pay for part of the project while fees for private-citizen use of the health facilities, and fund-raising projects carried on by the prisoners will cover the remainder of the cost. The commission also suggested that a game room color TV and first-run movies also be considered to make the prisoner's stay in jail more comfortable. They labeled present conditions of the jail as "cruel and unusual punishment." County Judge Milton Meyer and commissioners could not be contacted for response because they were attending a work session on Grand Cayman Island in the Ba John Helsley One patron told officers the man "had to be on dope." Polk Chief Don Steele said late Friday that officers Saturday morning would go to the area vher the object was reported seen. Chamber president reports creature Texas Press Association news seminar. Divots "the size of moon craters" were reported by club officials and sand traps were blasted empty by the pair.

Other players on the course at the time reported problems with the Granbury pair as they were hit by golf balls hit from adjoining fairways and tee boxes as the pair raced back and forth across the' course in a golf cart. There were no injuries in the incident although one man was reported to have suffered chest pains after the pair scraped him with the cart. Sheriff Edwin Tomlinson said he regretted having to make the arrests but that 'the law is the law for everyone, including news people. "The sheriff said the pair will be transported to Austin to stand trial when the case is heard, in about 10 years. three other motorists reported i ing the object described by Helsley.

Helsley told the News that he pulled over on the side of the road and watched the object for about four minutes before zipping to the law center. "It was too dark to really make out what the thing was, but I' 11 tell you one thing for sure, it was no black Angus cow," Helsley assured. Helsley said the object would move slowly' for several seconds and would then stop for about minute. Helsley said the figure appeared to be headed for the water when he sped off. Two other witnesses also notified law authorities about the figure Helsley described, but they said they didn't stop to watch.

Another witness, a truck driver from Lubbock, told patrons at the Pitt Grill about the mysterious object, but persons the around-the-clock restaurant didn't believe the man. by ROGER ENLOW Editor A shock wave rippled through the athletic offices of the District 4A-4 coaches thispast week after a major scrambling of coaches. Granbury Pirate head football coach Billy Mitchell will leave his alma mater to take over the head coaching reins at Brown wood High School. Legendary Brownwood coach Gordon Wood turned in a surprise resignation after guiding the Lions to a slew of championship seasons. In another development, Crowley and Joshua varsity boys' basketball coaches switched jobs.

Mitchell who was in his first year at the Pirate helm, turned in his resignation Friday afternoon in a called meeting of the school board. Mitchell told the News late Friday, "I regret leaving Granbury High School, but I feel this is an opportunity I can't pass up." Mitchell declined to disclose his new salary for the record. Granbury School Board President Ike Thomas said school officials would start immediately searching for a new coach. He said he expects some Pirate assistants to apply for the job. Mitchell said he would probably recommend hiring a couple of his assistants to Brownwood school officials.

Wood reportedly suggested that Mitchell become the Brownwood coach. The two rival coaches have become close friends, sources say. by ROGER ENLOW Editor Several motorists, including the president of the local chamber of commerce, reported seeing a mysterious large objec Friday night roaming the banks of Lake Granbury. According to the Hood County dispatcher, chamber president John Helsley rushed into the law enforcement center about 9:30 p.m. to report what be described as "a strange-looking, animal-like figure that looked as big as the county courthouse." Helsley said he saw the mysterious figure while driving across the U.S.

Highway 377 by-pass bridge. He said it was about a half-mile south of the bridge in the field near the lake. Unit were dispatched to the scene, but officers said they found nothing unusual. However, at least Granbury head coach Bitty Mitchell heads for new position at Brownwood.