The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-23
feathers IDENTIFIED.
THE ROMANCE CREATES A SEN
sATIoN AT THE INFIRMARY.
A Lively Scene When One of the
Inmates Read the Herald Article
AIoud-Mr. Luce Calls at the
Farm.

The male population at the county
poor farm was in state of great ex-
element yesterday. 1t all resulted
from the story published in the news
papers that in their midst was a man
of wealth, and that the probabilities
we're considerable money was buried
about the grounds. Such a. story might
cause a sensation among men better
equipped financially than the county s
wards, and it was not surprising when
the rumors reached their ears and be-
came common gossip that they should
at once set out to search for the shin
ing ducats.
When the story of J. G.. Leathers.
who has now become known as the
wealthy pauper, appeared in The Her
aid it was deemed advisable to keep
the papers away from the inmates for
obvious reasons. Unfortunately, how
ever, old Mike" an ex-soldier, went
up town Friday, and there he heard
the story about Mr.. Leathers. He hob
bled over to a news stand bought a
Herald, which he carefully slowed
away in his inside pocket and took
the first car for home.
Mike read the article over several
fided to a few of his closest friends,
and intimated that the matter be kept
secret until the following day that he
and a few others might go hunting
for the money that might be buried
about the premises. 1t was too good
to keep, however, and after supper 1t
was the only topic of conversation.
They were careful not to talk aloud
lest Mr.. feathers should be disturbed,
but finally the paper got into the hands
of Walter Porcher. who is looked upon
by the other inmates as a -sI:rt of
leader. When everybody was nerved
up to a high state of excitement it
was insisted that Mr.. Poreher should
read the article aloud in order that all
might hear what it contained. Mr..
Porcher was not slow in complying,
and mounting a chair he began to read
slowly, but in tones that would have
done credit to a base ball coacher.
Then the fun began. The opening
lines had not been read before Mr..
Leathers surmised what would follow.
He straightway went to his apartment
and returned with an ACCORDION, which
he began to play on to drown the words
of Mr.. Porcher. The latter tuned up
his vocal machinery, but the accord
con in the hands of Mr. feathers was
on hearing the article, but feathers
would not have it that way. Finally
the superintendent was called, and af-
ter some talking succeeded in Subduing
the turmoil
But sufficient OF the story had been
learned. 1t is believed all went to bed
that night dreaming about heaps of
gold eagles hid away under rocks, in
crevices, and about the yard every
where. At any rate yesterday MORN
ing the poor farm presented an ami
mated appearance. Old men and Wo-
men could be seen walking about the
grounds poking their walking sticks
and crutches into mother earth in the
hope of recovering some of feathers
alleged buried gold. No one reported
any success, however and it is be-
lieved the hidden treasure is still safely
slowed away where none but the own
er can uncover it.
1t was learned from good authority
yesterday that Mr.. Leathers exhibited
a receipt for taxes on some property in
Maine. This is something the officials
have not been aware ofibefore. Should
there be truth in this story his proper
ty holdings in Maine must be valued
at several thousand dollars
j. j. Luce, the mining engineer, Wis
tied the infirmary yesterday and posi-
lively recognized Mr.. feathers as the
former member of Sweeny 6, Co.'s
large furniture establishment in Pu-
eblo, Colo, about fourteen years ago.
Mr.. Luce is of the opinion that Leath-
ers is now a poor man. however. but
this is entirely in conflict with recent
developments from which there can be
no mistake.