Turn Of The Century Documents Still Not Claimed - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane County Sheriff's Office is still trying to locate the owners of several documents and letters that date back to the Civil and Revolutionary Wars.  

Detectives found the vintage letters and photographs while retrieving stolen items from a home during a recent burglary. The office has checked records back to 2008 to try to locate any victims reporting them missing, but were unable to find any such report.  

Officers typically recover electronics or jewelry after burglaries, so this was a first for Deputy Craig Chamberlin. 

"It's extremely unique," Chamberlin said. "This is the first time I've ever personally had to find the owner of documents I think are this valuable to somebody."

Chamberlin says he has received several calls from people across the country trying to help locate the rightful owners.  One of the letters did have a certificate attached to it that led him to a woman across the country, but she still was not the current owner.  

"I spoke with her and she told me a couple years ago she had actually auctioned off the letter, which was a revolutionary war letter."

Although she did own the letter at one point, she was not able to identify the person she sold it to.  

At this point, the sheriff's office will continue searching for the owner.  

"We just want to find the owners of these because we know that these are extremely important and extremely valuable to somebody," Chamberlin said.  

Anyone with information that could lead to the rightful owners can contact Deputy Craig Chamberlin directly at 509-477-6612 or go online to the Spokane County Sheriff's Facebook page. The office has posted pictures of all the letters and photographs. There are also pictures on the page of other recovered property that has not yet been claimed.