The Shelbyville Republican
Wednesday, June 29, 1932
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OLD CEMETERY HOLDS MYSTERY
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New “Grave” In Long Abandoned Burial Place
Excavated; Nothing Buried There
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COUNTY OFFICERS PUZZLED
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Hole Six and One-Half Feet Deep,
Four Feet Square, Dug In Cemetery Near Flat Rock
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Why anyone should invade what is probably the oldest abandoned cemetery in the county, dig a hole four feet square and six and one-half feet deep at a point where there had never been a grave, and then throw all the excavated dirt back without burying anything or, to all appearances, removing anything from out of the ground, remains a mystery to Sheriff Elisha Crosby and Deputy Sheriff Lorin Thurston.Wednesday, June 29, 1932
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OLD CEMETERY HOLDS MYSTERY
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New “Grave” In Long Abandoned Burial Place
Excavated; Nothing Buried There
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COUNTY OFFICERS PUZZLED
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Hole Six and One-Half Feet Deep,
Four Feet Square, Dug In Cemetery Near Flat Rock
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The facts remain to be explained. The cemetery in question is located on the Jacob Girton farm, about two miles northeast of Flat Rock, about half a mile away from the road and bordering on Flat Rock River. It covers more than an acre of ground, and there are numerous tombstones and markers, the latest date found on any of these markers being September 12, 1812, this inscription being seen on a stone slab over the grave of Harry Keever.
Work Done At Night
Allen Girton, son of the late Jacob Girton, lives on the farm and was, therefore, among the first to discover that someone had dug the hole in the cemetery. He notified Sheriff Crosby yesterday, and in the afternoon the sheriff and deputy went to the Girton farm to investigate. Allen Girton said that the cemetery invasion had occurred last week, during a night. Men were plowing an adjoining field during the daytime throughout the week and would have seen any trespasser at work in the cemetery, had he made his visit during the day.
Mr. Girton aided the sheriff and deputy in re-excavating the place of the mysterious digging. There were suspicions of cached liquor, hidden treasure, and any number of things-but after the shoveling by the officers had progressed to the point where hard gravel indicated that the previous digger had stopped his activities and had decided to fill up the large hole again, nothing at all interesting had been discovered by the officers. They were left mystified and they are still wondering.
The most plausible solution, it appeared, was that someone had been looking for buried treasure, like the men who were apprehended in a similar act near Fountaintown about three years ago.
Contributed by Barb Huff
The Shelbyville Democrat
Monday March 9, 1925
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COURT ORDER LIFTED
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A restraining order against Fred H. Girton
in the Shelby circuit court
has been dissolved on agreement between Mr. Girton and his wife, Mrs. Elva L.
Girton, who recently filed a complaint against Mr. Girton for a divorce. The
restraining order was issued at the time the suit for a divorce was filed. Mrs.
Girton is asking for the custody of their child and for support.Monday March 9, 1925
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COURT ORDER LIFTED
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Contributed by Barb Huff
The Shelbyville Democrat
Thursday January16, 1925
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ORDERED TO PAY SUPPORT
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Fred H. Girton, defendant in the complaint filed recently by Elva
L. Girton for a divorce, has been ordered to pay $5 a week for the support
of their child. The order for support was issued in the Shelby circuit court on
the petition of Mrs. Girton.Thursday January16, 1925
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ORDERED TO PAY SUPPORT
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Contributed by Barb Huff
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