Hope You Don't Mind My Sharing....

[riki727]

I was doing a little internet research on a local "gang" that operated in this area in the late '70's. My husband had told me about them briefly years ago and joked that the millions they stole had never been recovered. The senior gang members murdered the junior gang members and buried them on a property not far from where I grew up (Chadds Ford, PA) (Anyone see the movie with Christopher Walken "At Close Range"? - very loosely based on this gang).

When my husband and I were building, one of the original gang members broke out of State Prison and was on the run for just over a week. Helicopters few over our land hourly and state troopers were pretty much camped out along our road. I asked my husband and, not wanting to worry me, he said it was rumoured that the gang member was heading back home and might cross this area. (when captured he was about 10 mi away).

Anyway, as I said, I remembered my husband joking about the money not being found, so I started doing some internet research and found a newspaper article which rumoured at least 4 murder victims...maybe more...were buried in a secluded area just down from a certain inn. The inn named is the one at the bottom of my road...just a mile away! Then I suddenly remembered an odd comment made by an old local man I met a few years ago. He asked where I lived and when I told him he said "Oh, the graveyard..." At the time I thought he meant as in "junk yard"...but now???

I called my husband and he admitted to me that growing up people knew not to come down our road because it was "out of bounds". It wasn't until the gang were all dead or put in jail that this area became popular for parties and fishing....late '80's.

Sorry for the long post...but thanks for letting me share!! WOW...my very own legend quite possibly right in my own back yard.

Anyone have any suggestions on where I might do more research? I guess newspaper articles? Does anyone know how I would search land records for previous owners?

[Arkwater]

Your best bet would be to talk to some of the long time residents from the area. If it was in the 70's, there should still be a lot of memories.

[riki727]

I've actually considered doing that, but a lot of the locals still seem rather scared. I know one of the former members is still in town, working at a local company, going by the same name (even though he was in witness protection for a long time) and I'm wondering if people are scared about stirring up trouble. As I understand it, there were a lot of locals involved and a lot of lives threatened. After reading about the viciousness of some of these men...I'm almost wondering if it's not best to just leave well enough alone???

[PAPPY]

Go to the Court House and the Register Of Deeds Office and trace the land to past owners...

[anne]

How exciting

[pris]

Wow! Great story Riki. Maybe you could talke to Bert Bert or Boobie about dowsing a map of your property for the money?

[riki727]

Originally Posted by boobieinPa

Does anyone ave any idea how much money is involved?

According to newspaper reports, if you can trust them....millions!

[julieburger]

I am with Pris. I think dowsing would be your best bet.

[riki727]

Hmmm, never thought about that option before, but definitely something to think about. I'd like to do a bit more research first, narrow down the speculation and rumours, gather more maps of the local area...find out if the "buried millions" might be an actual possibility. I'd hate to have a map dowsed, go digging, and find a corpse instead

Thanks for the ideas!

[PAPPY]

Riki, you would NOT be dowsing for a corpse....You would be dowsing for the money, Unless the money is buried with a corpse.