The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-16
BURIED GOLD.
Thousands on Thousands of
yellow Boys" Hidden Away
On Luther WoodfOrd's Farm,
Seven Miles From Topeka.
FULLY $4,000 DOLLARS
In Money and Bonds Hidden
Somewhere.
Luther Woodford Died Without
Telling Anyone
WHERE WAS HIDDEN
WHERE WAS HIDDEN
Large Sums of Money He Was
Known to Have.
Now a Force of Men Are Hunt
ing It With Spades.

Luther Woodford, pioneer and hermit
died two weeks ago at Christ hospital of
Inflammation of the bowels. He was II
years old and had lived in Shawnee
county since 1856.
His death was announced and little was
said about it because the man was not
we'll known to the hospital authorities
and physicians. He was buried in the
cemetery at Keene. Wabaunsee county,
near where his brother lives upon farm
His farm is southeast of the city: about
seven miles, near the Denham school
house.
People who knew the man say that he
must have had, when he died, at least
$4,000 in money and bonds. and the
sum may amount to $75,0U0 Some
where in the earth on his farm seven
miles east of Topeka the enormous for
tune is buried. and Luther Woodford took
with him to the grave the secret.
He left no clue behind to the
hiding place of his fortune and when
secret he said: sob, if only had it all
where 1 could set fire to it and burn it
up. Do something to relieve me of this
terrible pain. 1 ask nothing more"
This is the nearest he came to
telling where the money is buried.
When he was in health he never
talked about his wealth and
ject he would not answer. He kept his
secret we'll in life and when he died it
went out of existence with his life
Today men are searching the place
for money. They are prying up stones
and digging here and there with pick
and shovel in the hope of finding where
the treasure is buried. Every corner of
the old stone house has been searched,
every piece of clothing has been exam
ined, every suspicious place on the farm
has been investigated but the treasure
has not been found. In his life time Lu-
ther Woodford said that he did not want
his relatives to get his money and the in
dications are that his hope will be real :
lied.
Two or three times a week Woodford
would leave the house just at dusk and
go through the timber west of his house.
This was when he was about to deposit
money or take some from his store to use.
If one could have watched him then he
would have seen him draw the precious
box from its hiding place, unlock it, and
carefully take out the money.
1t is known absolutely that Woodford
had many thousands of dollars in gold
which he hid about the premises, In 10
peka.
In Dudley's bank there is to Wood
ford's credit $1.100. He has had an ac-
count with the bank almost ever since he
was in Kansas, and it has varied but
little. Sometimes he would come into
the bank and check out the entire
amount but in about two weeks he would
return and again deposit the money. AT
one time Woodford sold 1880 worth of
steers but the bank account did not grow.
Some of the neighbors have seen huge
sums of gold in Woodford's possession .
When Woodford died Probate Judge
Wood appointed G. P. Bolmar admins
traitor of the estate, Mr.. Bolmar took
charge and was given bunch of keys
which Woodford always carried. He
went to the house but failed to find a
clue in the treasure. lie found diary
which had been kept by the man up to
January 1, and in this were nota-
tions showing that he had purchased
| bonds at different times but nothing
else Mr.. Bolmar thought that some
where about the house there is a dia-
gram showing where the money and
bonds are buried, but if there is it is wei!
hidden.
Administrators Bolmar and three OF
four other men have been at the house
several days. They haue been searching
the premises in the hope of finding the
money Woodford was known to have.
81 hope to find diagram which will
give us clue" said Mr.. Boil
mar, but unless we find that 1 do
not see how can find anything.
know the money is to be found some
place but no one on earth knows the
whereabouts of that place. I shall con-
tinue the search"
Mr.. Bolmar and the men have turned
over several heavy stones near the house
and have dug at'various places on the
farm.
Administrator Bolmar said, in speaking
of the protection of the place: 81 know
the law of trespass, and l will enforce it.
While consider it my duty to continue
the search, the public had better satisfy
themselves with the present information
and keep off the premises"