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Stolen Headstone Recovered

The Hugo Daily News October 21, 2004, page 1
    Volunteers caring for 20 sick and starving horses northwest of Hugo discovered a grave marker which had been reported stolen a number of years ago.
    Jack and JoLynn Self took time Wednesday to take hay and feed to the 20 horses which have apparently been abandoned by their owner.
    While searching for the horses' source of water, the Selfs found an old cemetery headstone which they assumed marked a grave where it laid.
    After checking with area genealogist, Ron Henson, it was determined that the headstone marked the grave of George Battle buried next to his wife Mary in the Speer Cemetery.
    Also Wednesday, relatives of the horse's owner showed up at the property and reportedly contacted officers of the Choctaw County Sheriff's Department to discuss the animals welfare.
    A number of callers contacted the Hugo Daily News inquiring as the possibility of adopting or rescuing one or more of the horses.
    Those callers were referred to the sheriff's department.

transcribed by Ron Henson
photos by JoLynn Self