The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-19
BURIED GOLD MYSTERY
PECULIAR SUIT OF DETECTIVES
AGAINST FARMER STOUT.
Hobbs and Williams Claim They Re-
covered $4,000, but Stout De-
mics Their story.

Attorneys Van vorhis and Irwin, acting
for Robert d. Hobbs and William H. VIII
liams, of this city, have filed two suits in
Rush county against David M. Stout,
well-to-do farmer. who formerly lived in
this county, and against whom Hobbs and
Williams claim a big fee for detective work.
The case is one of a peculiar nature and
which is shrouded in considerable mystery.
Hobbs and Williams decline to discuss it,
and their attorneys tell just enough about it
to leave the mystery as deep as ever.
According to Mr.. Van Vorhis and the COM
plants filed in Rush county, David M.
Stout when he lived west of this city on
farm buried 5000 in gold in his cellar When
he went to get it it was gone He came to
town and engaged Hobbs as a private de-
tective to aid him in recovering the money,
agreeing by written contract to pay him %
per cent. of all the money recovered. Hobbs
worked on the case for some time, and then
Mr. Stout grew anxious and arranged to en-
ploy Williams to help Hobbs, agreeing
verbally to give the two men half the money
recovered. The money was lost or stolen in
1893, and in 1895 Williams was taken into the
case. After working together nearly year
the detectives located the money it is
claimed, and by some means induced the
persons having it to return it to Mr.. Stout.
They told Stout in advance to keep a look
out and he would get his money back.
In the spring of 1896, the detectives claim,
Stout's money was returned to him. They
will not disclose by whom or by what
means, nor do they make this clear in their
complaint, but they say they will be able to
convince court and jury of the fact They
demanded settlement from Stout, and, ac-
cording to their story, Stout not only re-
fused to SETTLE but denies having received
his money.
April 3, 1896, Stout moved a part of his
household effects to Rush county, and on
April a suit was brought against him here
and service was had upon him. but the case
was thrown out of court on the ground that
Stout was not resident of this county
The filing OF tho cases in Rush county is the
sequel. One suit is brought by Hobbs and
demands the payment of his fee under the
written contract. The other is brought in
the names of both detectives and demands
judgment for $4,000.
Mr.. Van Vorhis says that there are a
number OF circumstances which would CON
money. While the detectives were at work,
he says, Stout told several persons that he
had lost every dollar he had on earth and
that he borrowed small sums of money from
the detectives and others. After the time
the detectives claim the money was returned
he went to Rush county and bought some
land, but denied it when he came back to
this city, but the detectives traced the mat
ter down and learned that he had purchased
the land and paid gold for it. When he
finally moved to Rush county. the detectives
say, he made deposit of gold in bank, and
that since his residence there he has been
looked upon as well-to-do man financially.
They say that Stout claimed to have re-
ceived 900 from another source after 60
ing to Rush county.
Mr. Van vorhis says that Stout has now
changed his story and admits he received
his 5000 back, but declares that it was not
through the work of the detectives; that it
would have been returned to him without
their assistance and that they are not en-
titled to fee.
The detectives refuse to tell how they ac-
complished the return of the $1,000, but de-
clare they will establish the fact when the
cases come to trial.