(Versailles, IN) – The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office says a significant piece of local history has come home.
Jeremy Brown of Anderson recently came into possession of an antique deputy sheriff’s badge from Ripley County.
Brown found the badge while hunting for treasure with his metal detector.
When he recognized its potential historical value, he returned the badge to the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office so that it could preserved and researched.
Sheriff Rob Bradley and the Ripley County Historical Society conducted research to determine the badge’s origin.
It was discovered through historical records and archived materials that the badge belonged to William F. Bagot of Milan, who was elected Justice of the Peace in Ripley County in 1889.
Bagot’s Last Will and Testament stated that his sister, who lived in Anderson, was appointed executrix of his state when he passed away in 1935.
Additional research indicated that Bagot was documented in historical records as an eyewitness to hangings that took place in Versailles in 1897.
The badge took on historical significance when a written statement from Bagot was discovered, providing a rare firsthand account of those events.
“The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere appreciation to Mr. Brown for his honesty and commitment to preserving local history,” reads a statement from Sheriff Bradley. “His actions have helped return an important artifact to the community where it originated.”
Bradley says the badge will be preserved at the sheriff’s office to ensure its story is maintained for future generations.
