The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
FOUND HIS TREASURE.
IN THE POsT-OFFfCE AVID NOR nv
THE GROUND.
Pension Examiner sdman Finds o,
Case at Piitsburg-StudIts tn.
Seven Books of Moses"

Special Examiner Of Pensions sldman
has returned from Plttsburg. where he
has been investigating alleged pension
frauds.
One OF the cases brought 20 his notice
ard which will soon be investigated Ia
that OF an old man who Is drawing a Den.
sion Of N2 month for total blindn.ss
Mr. sidman had occasion to talk with
several men who are acquainted wiz ths
pensioner and learned the circumsfanc.,
under which he became blind. Thar tbes.
were unique the following win sbo~
The man, VINO IS about nfty ye,rs o,
age ana hVes near Plttsburg. made i
Known that ne mad been appraised in a
dream or the existence Of great tre,,,,-'
somewhere on the mountain side 49,
cluded himself from the res, y,
the world In little dungeon-llke roo,r
where he would sit through the nlrbt ,,-'
ing over the Seven Books OF Moses . a.,
the rant tickering lighg OF "A tallov, df.
Inc ghostly appearance OF the MAN.,
httle hut az night made the neiebbo..
AFRAID OF him. The more yent,r.e,r,-
would go near and watch him as b..-.
searching the seven Books" for fbe i,..
treasure. He continued this Tor vsa-.
his little plat OF land yielded him is,,
ana less as the seasons came and Non,
.or ne was becoming dreamy and worked
but little He finally became totally Ma
IL Is said, however that ne searched ,n-
books" as long ms he could distr,1.,-s
Hight from darkness. when he ceased h,,
midnight porting over the books of 5i,,-.
ton his strength returned
lie was so impressed with the bofiaf tt,.
ne had located the treasure that De ALI
several OF his acquaintance. who bo5 D..
come superstitious enough 10 pisco 90.
dence I'm the old mans story. 10 tbe.
would take him 70 certain place on a
nearby mountain This they consented
TO do. He had ordered his followers o.
take with them their picks and shove's
mus equipped for work they proceeded
to the valuable" spot and dug until
nightfar
For many days they dug. the ola man
always working with them Finally AZ
Ter months Of labor. the men rehclleI and
threw up the search f0r wealth.
Ihey had become the laughing stock NJ
the community and were smartiur urfer
these strong rebukes when. one 1,v
they were advised that the old man h5a
found his treasure. Remembering thot hs
had promised them half for division
among themselves II he should find the
hidden treasure. they lost no time ip call
Ing upon him. The old man denied hav-
Ing found the treasure
Soon. however. his little farm began m
take on a new appearance The crous
were planted and cared for by hired mon.
After n time he went away one dar.
about a year later there returned fine.
looking old gentleman 20 the little farm
He walked with n familiar gait but no
one seemed 20 know him until N was
noised about that old Blind Seven" AS
he was called. had recovered his sieht
Then the familiar walk was coupled with
the old man they once knew. but who
now was far above them-at least I'm this
worlds goods. Everybody thought that
he had really discovered the treasure f1r
which he had sought
Later II was learned that the treasure
he had found was On reality pension
the back pay Of which amounted 20 5000
How he secured 20 no one knows That
be used his blindness as HIS cause for
,laim cannot be doubted, but who advised
lm2
Mr.. Sidman says that ne will not BE-
surprised If he unearths n clever piece of
that Is as Interesting as A. rs
ascally The fellows whose credulity all
owed them 20 be so easily hoodwinked
I'm cling 10 the belief that they are en-
tiled 20 the treasure that "Bliud Seven
ad been looking for I'm the Seven Books
II Moses