News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-08-05
ECCENTRIC MARTIN WAITE.
After all His Worry he Had to Leave his
Money Behind Him.


Martin B. Waite. an eccentric charac-
ter recently died at Centre Cambridge,
Washington County. He was born near
that hamlet, but went West when a
Young man. He married a Western
woman, but procured a divorce when
their first and only child was five years
old. Waite returned to his native
place about thirty years ago. A few
years since, finding himself old and
feeble, he began to make preparations
to will to his two nephews securities
worth $13, 900 and his residence, if they
would provide him with home The
offer was accepted, but disagreement
soon occurred. He returned to his resi-
dence in Centre Cambridge, which was
then occupied by young man named
Davenport and his wife. To them he
made the same proposition that was
made to his nephews, which was also
that of being robbed. His wealth was
bonds and gold in his possession. Last
fall he settled down with Mr.. Daven-
port to spend the remainder of his days.
The bedroom assigned to him and in
which he died was remodelled into a
burglar-proof apartment. A door lead
ing from 1t into the kitchen was made
of heavy oak timber, three inches thick,
with bars and bolts. The only window
was a netting of iron bars, with two.
inch oak shutter and portfolio throu h
which he might defend himself from an
attack by burglars. These bars were so
arranged that no one but himself and
Mrs. Davenport could remove them eX-
cept by tearing down the castings. In
his room were constantly kept brace
of pistols and a rifle, and he never ven
tured out of his house without couple
of seven-shooters. 1t was not uncom-
mon to see revolver drop out If his
Iocket as he climbed a fence.
A short time ago Mr.. Waite. while in
White Creek, invited one of his neph-
ews to come home with him, remarking
that perhaps he could make "a raise.
They drove to this village, and enter
ing his wagon house, with the assist
ance of his nephew, the old man began
digging in the dirt. Reaching a depth
of four feet, an iron kettle was un.
earthed. From this he lifted a cover
and drew forth So, 500 in gold, with the
remark that he thought best to take it
up DGlOIC no uICu w lldG llC ulu VIII
the gold no one appears to know. A
few weeks ago the old man ordered an
expensive monument and a metallic
casket. He also had dug a grave about
eight feet deep. On the bottom was
laid marble slab, and the sides and
ends for three feet from the bottom
were marble, with cemented joints. On
top of this and five feet from the surface
was placed heavy marble slab, with
iron rings in which to hook ropes or
CHAINS to raise or lower the cover. AT
ter his remains were placed in the lower
receptacle, his order was to close the
massive cover, cement it, and fill the
grave.
DR.. Ashton attended the subject of
this sketch during his fatal illness, and,
as the aged man realized death ap-
preaching, he summoned Mr.. and Mrs.
davenport to his bedside. and appoint
ed Dr. Ashton executor, he made his
last will and testament, bequeathing
his all to the young couple. The In
structions Waite gave concerning his
burial were carried out. His son, whom
he claimhd to never have seen, is alive,
and relative are trying to persuade him
| to contest the will.