Section 43.2b[edit]

In 1982 a mysterious watch became the sensation of a nation. Audiences were captivated while glued to their television sets and radios, watching and listening to the clues unfold, as this most peculiar path of events unraveled one of the most elaborate, devious, and mind-boggling secrets in history. The conspiracy involved hidden treasures confiscated by the Nazi Regime and included U.S. state officials, dignitaries and went as far up the ranks as the President of the United States. The resulting fallout led to a reorganization of ownership in the United States as we know it, changing the way possessions were deemed property, and finalizing with the creation of Section 43.2b, The Common Laws Doctrine of 1982.

Summary[edit]

This page recaps the events of a watch John L. Smith III had inherited from his grandfather. His grandfather, John L. Smith, had been a Major in the military during World War II, and came in possession of a watch that had combinations inscribed on the back to lock box codes in Swiss banks containing repossessed riches obtained by the Third Reich. Through a mailing error, the watch ended up in the hands of a widowed seamstress...

The Beginning:[edit]

It all began with the death of John Smith in 1981.

The Discovery[edit]

John Smith had served in our nation's military for 40 years and was a celebrated and decorated pilot in the U.S. Marines, earning the rank of Major, the Medal of Honor and the title Ace Pilot with his 19 confirmed kills, during WWII. Nearly days after the surrender of German troops, John was included in a search and rescue for several of his men, a search which lead to a hidden concentration camp, Sachsenhausen, buried beneath the streets of Berlin. Although a horrific and life changing experience for John, while detaining one of the Nazi officials, the German handed John a watch with only one instruction, "Dies ist wichtiger als Sie oder mich. Dies ist wichtiger als irgendetwas. Schützen Sie dies mit Ihrem Leben..." The official was subsequently hurried into a service patrol van before John could get his name or procure any more information.

Forgotten, but not lost...[edit]

Once home and swept up with the chaos that ensued following Nazi Germany's surrender, John stored the watch and nearly forgot about its existence. In 1979 John was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and decided to live his life to its fullest before his death. His first priority was to go through all his belongings he had accumulated throughout the years and find anything of importance to pass on to loved ones. He started in his attic and before too long he stumbled across a small box wrapped carefully in a soft, purple velvet cloth...

The Treasure[edit]

The rediscovery of the timepiece brought back a tidal wave of memories to John of that horrific dreary overcast day so many years ago. But even more drowning than those memories was the sudden flood of thoughts that enveloped John as he began to wonder of this mysterious enigma sitting in his lap. The words started to repeat over and over again in his head, "Dies ist wichtiger als Sie oder mich. Dies ist wichtiger als irgendetwas. Schützen Sie dies mit Ihrem Leben..." What possible secret could this little watch hide that would cause an unknown enemy to pass along its importance to his captor without even the slightest hesitation?

John opened the box and took out the watch. It was a beautiful gold pocket watch with a long gold chain and a tiny picture locket attached.