Good Video on Stolen Historical Documents. C-SPAN program airs March, 31.

C-SPAN video highlights the 10,000 items that were recovered in 2011 including rare documents from Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Full Program Airs March 30, 2013 9:30am & March 31, 2013 4:30pm ET – For More Information: http://www.c-span.org

Artifacts still being discovered at wreck of Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha.

Participants in the Atocha Dive Adventure will join the effort to recover artifacts and treasure from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha. In 1985, shipwreck salvager Mel Fisher uncovered an estimated $500 million of the Atocha’s treasure

Read more hear: http://www.sportdiver.co.uk/News/Latest-News/Divers-invited-to-hunt-for-treasure-on-1622-Spanish-galleon

Rembrandt valued at £20 million found in Sir Francis Drake’s home

According to TheCourier.co.uk, the painting, which was kept in storage for the first 18 months it was at Buckland Abbey as there was nowhere to hang it, is now one of the National Trust’s most important.

It has been given a value of £20 million — although, as the trust holds items on behalf of the nation forever, the organisation said it can never be sold.

read more here: http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/uk/painting-found-in-sir-francis-drake-s-home-confirmed-as-rembrandt-1.77039

 

Villain or Hero? The truth about Alexander Hamilton Stephens, Vice President of the Confederacy.

According to Wikipedia, During his 32 years of practice, he gained a reputation as a capable defender of the wrongfully accused. None of his clients charged with capital crimes were executed. One notable case was that of a slave woman accused of attempted murder. Stephens volunteered to defend her. Despite the circumstantial evidence presented against her, Stephens won an acquittal for the woman.

According to access Atlanta, People who have seen “Lincoln” may little note nor long remember the appearance at mid-film of a character named Alexander Stephens. But put down your popcorn, Georgia. Stephens, portrayed as a bit of a weasel in the movie, was a product of the Peach State, the vice president of the Confederacy and an aggressively pro-slavery white supremacist.

As it happens, he also is one of the two Georgians whose statues grace the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. Each state was asked 150 years ago to send statues of two of its most illustrious citizens to the Capitol, there to stand in honor for the decades and centuries to come.

Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_H._Stephens

In 1884, Leroy Pope Walker defends Frank James who was acquitted of all charges.

Huntsville’s Trial of the Century

On April 17, 1884, the trial began. Frank entered the courtroom accompanied by his wife, young son, and an all-star legal team headed by veteran Huntsville lawyer, Leroy Pope Walker who also happened to be the former Secretary of War for the Confederacy. Leroy Pope Walker saved his most brutal cross examination for the government’s star witness. Liddel was portrayed as a liar and career criminal, who was destroying the character and reputation of an upright man like Frank, so he could avoid going to the gallows for murder.

Governor Smith could see his case slipping away. He tried on redirect to reestablish some of Liddel’s credibility, but in the end it did no good. After a parade of witnesses by the defense who swore that they saw Frank in Nashville on the day of the robbery and a brilliant final summation by Leroy Pope Walker, the jury reached its verdict.

Frank James was acquitted of all charges. He walked out of that Huntsville courthouse a free man. He returned to Missouri and, for the most part, lived a quiet life. The James Gang was no more.

Read More from About.com: http://huntsville.about.com/od/people/ss/frankjames.htm

Over 7,000 stolen historical documents uncovered. Letter written by Benjamin Franklin was lying on an ottoman.

National Archives Stolen Documents Recovered.Investigators took 7,000 documents during that initial search and had to go to an office supply store across the street and buy more boxes.

Read more here: http://azdailysun.com/news/national/national-archives-discusses-stolen-documents-case/article_485f54bc-f417-5862-a903-c8566c70975d.html

SS Gairsoppa Shipwreck – $38 Million In Silver Recovered

The British warship SS Gairsoppa was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat 300 miles off the coast of Ireland during World War II. 48 tons of silver treasure was recently recovered lying 15,420 feet deep in the North Atlantic. The British government reclaimed the cargo with the help of Odyssey Marine Exploration. Odyssey nets 80% of the proceeds.

See fantastic photos here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/ss-gairsoppa-shipwreck-38-million-silver_n_1683505.html#slide=1243164

Illegal Artifact Ring Broken Up in Florida

A group of thirteen individuals—11 from Florida and two from Georgia—were arrested February 27 on 400 felony counts for trading in illegal historical artifacts, many of them Native American, taken from state-owned lands in Florida.

Read and see more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/03/14/illegal-artifact-ring-broken-florida-148181

Rare Persian rug is worth £5million

A PERSIAN rug that measures 8ft 9ins by 6ft 5ins is set to sell for £5million – or £92,592 per square foot.

Persian rug is worth tidy pile of £5million

Art found in N.Y. garage appraised at $30M

read more here: http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/free/20130307new-york-art-garage-pinajian.html

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