Clay County AlArchives News.....Skeleton found near Cragford April 22, 1928
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 March 2, 2023, 5:14 pm

The Atlanta Constitution April 22, 1928
The mysterious death of a man in Randolph County, Alabama, adjoining Troup 
County, has been revealed with the discovery in a cane brake near Cragford, Ala. 
last week of the bones of an unidentified person. The remains of the body, which 
had apparently been lifeless for several weeks at least, were found by a group 
of boys hunting a crow's nest, according to reports received here. The boys 
notified T. G. Edmondson who resides nearby, and he communicated with Sheriff G. 
B. Payne. A coroner in quest was held but no evidence was uncovered as to how 
the man met death. The skeleton was practically all that was left of the body. A 
small quantity of gray hair was found and led to the concussion that the man was 
a white and middle aged. A hat coat, overalls and portion of underwear were 
discovered. The coat is said to have been some distance from the body, and in 
the pocket was a calico bag containing a sum of paper money. Silver money was 
found at the spot where the bones were discovered, total amount of money being 
$26.30, according to reports. In pocket is said to have been found a small 
notebook which, however, gave no due as to the identity of the dead man. There 
was also found a small brass pocket piece bearing the initials H. H. I. Co.  
Solicitor C. H. Vann is making investigations in the case but so far as have 
been learned here Saturday no new evidence had been unearthed. It is a said a 
small Ford coupe bearing a Georgia license was found on streets of Cragford, 
near here the skeleton was found about Christmas, and is still in the hands of 
authorities unclaimed, but there is no evidence to connect the automobile with 
the remains of the dead person.

Lineville Headlight Jun 14, 1928:
The mystery that has shrouded the finding of a human skeleton near Cragford 
April 12 has been cleared. Last Sunday John Zachey and wife, colored, of Glenn, 
Ga., came to Roanoke to see the chief of police, stating that they had heard of 
the finding of the skeleton and thought it might be that of John Kelly, a 
colored man 71 years of age, who had left their home, where he had been staying, 
and started early in October last for Talladega, his home. Zachery had recently 
learned that Kelly never arrived at his desired destination. Zachry and wife 
described as accurately, as could be expected the clothing of the dead man and 
the man himself and stated that he left with $25.00 in a wallet to walk or beat 
his way through. They were then shown the hat and clothes and the skeleton 
itself and were positive in their identification. The wallet found with the 
skeleton contained about $25.00 in it. It is believed the man died natural 
death. Coroner Dennis empaneled a jury this morning and a verdict was rendered 
that the deceased was John Kelly colored, cause of death, unknown.

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