HOMER, Ga. — There’s a mystery in Sheriff Billy Carlton Speed’s backyard.

Somehow, the border between two rural Georgia counties abruptly moved behind Speed’s house a few years ago, a curved line that puts his residence in Banks County, where he’s the chief lawman, rather than in Franklin County, where he’s not.

The shifting boundary unleashed allegations — none proved — of mapping manipulation, corruption and fraud in this county in the northeast corner of the state. Known as the birthplace of baseball Hall of Famer Ty Cobb, Banks County is about 85 miles northeast of Atlanta

Disgusted by what he sees as “an unethical attempt to falsify a county boundary,” the recently elected county commission chairman is trying to restore the border to a straight line as it was mapped until early 201

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