Douglas County GaArchives News.....Human Skeleton's Found in Mine Shaft; Thought to be Mary Bagwell . ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace (Teal) Gravelle http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00023.html#0005680 April 9, 2007, 8:26 pm "The Carroll County Times" . Carrollton, Carroll Co., Georgia NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, MARCH 24, 1882 LOCAL News HUMAN SKELETONS FOUND There has been a good deal of talk in town this week about the discovery of two human skeletons in an old copper mine, near Villa Rica in Douglas county, the latter part of last week. The following account of the discovery we take from the Douglasville Star of last Tuesday: A big sensation was created in Villa Rica last Saturday by the finding of two human skeletons in an old copper shaft on the Hill farm. This old mine has not been operated since the commencement of the War and lately it was sold as a portion of the estate of W.B. Hill, and was purchased by a northern company. This company at once began work on the mine and on Saturday in cleaning out one of its shafts, the workmen found the skeletons of a woman and child. It seems that much dirt and rubbish and about two wagon loads of rock were found upon the skeletons. The skeleton of the woman seems to have been found with the head down. The people of the vicinity are much excited about the matter, and it is generally thought hat the skeletons are those of a woman and her child who suddenly disappeared in 1865 or 1866 and who has never been heard of since. This woman was a "black sheep in the flock" causing her family much trouble and at the time of her disappearance, was supposed to be enceinte by a negro. Many think that this negro was hired to dispose of her and that she was killed and her body thrown into the shaft. As we go to press, the coroner is holding an inquest over the remains, and we will give a full and thorough report of the proceedings in our next issue. It is said that when another shaft in the same mine is opened, that the remains of a negro will be found, who was thrown in it during the civil war, because he tried to induce other negroes to go to the Federal Troops and also piloted these troups to some horses that were hidden in the woods. * * * * * * * Since the above was put into type and just before we go to press, we receive the following note from Squire J. M. Cobb, giving the substance of the coroner's inquest: The jury holding the inquest over the skeletons taken from the copper shaft near Villa Rica, returned in substance, last night, the following verdict: We, the jury, find the remains to be those of a female, also that they are the remains of Mary Bagwell and her unborn infant, and further find that she came to her death by being thrown in what is known as the Hill copper shaft by Barney Hargroves and some other unknown parties. We further find that Willis Bagwell, Wiley Bagwell and Charley Bagwell were cognizant of the fact and kept it concealed form the officers of the law. March 23rd, 1882 ----------- NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, MARCH 31, 1882 THE VILLA RICA HORROR A letter from Douglasville to the Atlanta Constitution, after giving the developments which we have already published concerning the Mary Bagwell mystery, says: "Among the remains were found a gold breast-pin, an old style guttapereha puff comb, and a silk neck ribbon about one yard long and two or three inches wide, in a perfect state or preservation except being somewhat faded, all of which were recognized by the old associates of Mary Bagwell as being her property. The coroner issued his warrant for the arrest of Barney Hargraves and the three Bagwells. It is understood that the negro, Hargraves, accidentally shot and killed himself some two or three miles from Atlanta a few years ago. The Bagwells were immediately arrested by Deputy Sheriff W. J. Kilgore and placed under $1500. bonds for their appearance at the July term of Douglas Superior Court. - - - NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, MAY 19, 1882 The Douglasville Star says that rumor is in circulation at that place that Willis Bagwell has received a letter from his lost daughter Mary and that she is now in Kansas City, Mo., to which place he has gone for her. We cannot vouch for the truthfulness of the rumor, but we know that Mr. Bagwell passed this place last week on his way to Atlanta, but for what purpose, we cannot say. Additional Comments: 1860 Census – 2nd Dist, Carroll Co., Georgia; P. O. Villa Rica; pg. 443B & 444A HH #110-110; lines 34-40 & 1-2 Enumerated June 9, 1860 - HH as of June 1, 1860 Bagwell, Willis, 45, W M, Farmer, $2600 / $1200, SC - - - Emily, 45, W F, house, GA - - - Mary, 21, W F, house, GA, attn'd sch - - - Wiley, 20, W M, farmer, GA, attn'd sch - - - Margaret A., 18, W F, house, GA, attn'd sch - - - Amanda M, 16, W F, house, GA, attn'd sch - - - Chas. N., 14, W M, GA, attn'd sch - - - Saml. J., 6, W M, GA - - - Ahaz R., 2, W M, GA Starke, H. H., 23 M W, farm laborer, GA File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/douglas/newspapers/humanske2201gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.4 Kb