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Relic hunter steals Civil War shell (Petersburg)

A relic hunter has been charged with stealing an intact Civil War shell that was embedded in a downtown brick building and was one of the last visible artifacts from the 10-month siege of the city.

Timothy Clary, 49, of Chester was arrested Tuesday and charged with three felonies — destruction of property with intent, grand larceny and the use of explosives, according to police and court records.

Clary was charged with stealing a federal Hotchkiss shell — roughly 7 inches long and 3 inches in diameter — from an empty building at 127 W. Bank St. The shell was eventually recovered by police, but had to be destroyed.

Read entire article at http://www.progress