The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-03
TALES OF b D GOLD
WEIRD STORIES RELATED IN 4 CIR
CUT COURT CASE.
An Attempt to Prove that Clark Wait
Was Mentally Weak Other
Matters i'm the Courts.

The story of a hidden treasure was told
in the Circuit Court yesterday in a will con-
test case that was heard by Judge Allen.
The plaintiff in the suit is Harriet West
fall, the only surviving child of the Oldest
child Of Clark Wait, whose will is being
contested. The suit is brought against the
other heirs, who inherited all of the prop
erty which is valued at $1,000 or 5000. 1t is
charged that Clark Wait was OF unsound
mind when he made the will and was un-
duly influenced. The will was made fif-
teen years ago, and the old gentleman has
been dead about two years.
The witnesses brought out the story Of a
supposed hidden treasure that is said to be
located somewhere north of Oakiandon.
this county. According to the testimony
Clark Wait was one of the principal seek
ers after this treasure and put in consid-
cradle of his time wandering about the
farms in his neighborhood endeavoring 10
locate it. His belief was that a pot OF
gold was buried somewhere in the neigh
borhood and is said to have used what he
termed a charm i'm locating ii. His guide
to the treasure was a charmed ball and
string which he carried with him. By GER
tain manipulate lions of this ball and string
and by holding it in certain positions, he
claimed the ball would direct him to the pot
of gold. There was a proviso, however. i'm
working this charm, and that was abso-
lutte silence. If anyone spoke the charm
was broken, Indians with brandishinS
~tomahawks would rise before him in a
threatening manner and he would be COM
PEELED TO start the whole procedure over
again. 1t was also said that at one time
the old gentleman claimed a heavy mill
stone. weighing tons. was suspended by a
string over him when the charm was
broken, and a man held a knife ready to
cut the string. 1t was with the utmost
difficulty that he succeeded I'm getting out
from under this stone. 1t was also said
that when the charm was broken by any
one speaking 10 him the old gentleman
would become very angry and censure
those who Interrupted him. This testimony
was introduced by the plaintiff i'm an at
tempt to show that her grandfather was OF
unSound mind. 81
Other testimony developed the fact that
Clark Wait was not alone In his mission
OF seeking a buried treasure. 1t Is said
that several other persons have engaged in
this exciting hunt and many shovelfuls OF
earth have been turned over I'm the at
tempt 10 discover the coveted gold. IL seems
that for forty years there has been a sort
of legend about a treasure having been hid
den I'm the vicinity by some person UNI
known and not a few nave placed enough
creCsnce in the story to try TO find IL. To
many of the residents of the neighborhood
this legend was partially confirmed. About
fifteen years ago a party of detectives
came there from Kentucky and said they
had information from a prisoner they had
arrested that there was hidden gold on
one of the farms north of Oaklandon. They
asked permission from one of the farmers
In the vicinity to make an investigation,
which was granted. but the search de
veloped nothing. However, those who had
placed faith in the original story became
more convinced that there was something
III 1t and more than one farmer has since
endeavored TO find the gold.
The case Is now only fairly started and
more interesting tales are looked for about
the hidden treasure.