Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-06
Misery RecIuse Who Was
Burned to Death Saturday
Kept Money in Wood Box
WEALTH TO SISTER
Known That on Ono Occasion, When
Sister Of Mercy Visited the Aged
Woman, Lap Was Filled With Shin
ing Double Eagles Taken From Kit
ohen-No Inquest-FuneraI Held.

That Mrs. Honora Mcknight, the
aged reclu.se who met horrible fate
by burning and suffocating to death
in her miserable little hut on South
First street some time Saturday pos
sessed not long ago abundant wealth,
is known by a few to be fact. Rela-
tives Of the woman ridlcule the Idea
that Mrs, Mcknight possessed wealth
excepting what was in the hands Of
her brother, Martin Griffin. OF Sa-
wanna, Ill. who reached the city SAT-
u lay in response to a telegram an
nouncing his sisters death.
!. Despite athe claim on the part OF
relatives there are many who have
known her for years who believe. just
as firmly as they believe her to be
dead, that somewhere about her prem
Uses is hcrded an abundance of gold
coin, and that II there We're a modern
Huckelberry Finn Ind Tom Sawyer "
would not be long until the treasures
would be, unearthed.
Showed Lapfui Of Gold.
Several months ago Mrs Mcknight
fell and broke her hip, She was taken
to the hospital, where she might re5
ceive proper treatment. She was a PAT
tisnt there four months, and despite
her age, made a recovery. The penurs
ious qualities OF the woman were made
apparent on every hand, and altho she
had ample means to defray her ex-
penses she was practically q charity
patient. suid kept begging from the
hospital visitors doctors and attend-
ants for and 10 cents. In order that
she might be able to return home ION
the street car when discharged,
The sisters, nurses and doctors
treated the old woman as they would
the richest patient, and did everything
for her comfort. Her.mental condition
was realized, and she received all ana
more pity than was really due her. !.
After returning home one of the sist
tiers of the hospital, who had taken an
interest In the woman because OF her
age and infirmities. called upon her 81
her shanty one afternoon. The sister
took occasion to mildly upbraid the
woman for her niggardly actions, ana
Sintimated that she could we'll afford ~
spend her remaining days in comfor@
rather thin in the saualor that was a
parent on every hand.
Eli The woman laughed the laugh OF one
insane, and, stealthily moving, to corr
ner OF the kitchen, leaned over her
wood box, peering over her shoulder to
see that her movements were not de-
tected. She returned to the sister hold
mo q IF hnr or nYd without
a word, dumped into the sisters lap
the aprons contents. Imagine the siss
ter's surprise when she found the jing-
ling noise made by the fwoman's action
to be caused by sparkling $40 gold
pieces, so many that they could not be
counted at a glance. They were shiny
and showed the marks of much hand-
ling. Mrs. Mcknight laughed as tho
greatly pleased at the effect of wonder
ment shown by the sisters counte7
nance, picked up the gold, careful to
see that not one piece was missing, and
returned them, to their corner In the
wood box, where she covered them over
with faggots.
inquest Not Held.
In the absence of Coroner Nichols,
Justice Of the Peace I. S. Willard. to
whom the case OF Mrs. Meningitis
death was referred to for coroner's ac-
ton, decided that an inquest was not
necessary.
Mrs. Meningitis funeral was held
this morning from st. Mary's church,
and was largely attended. The services
were in charge OF Rev. ]. ]. Fitzpatrick
Only Saturday morning at. s:15 DIR.
Fitzpatrick had called at the Mcknight
home to administer the Easter COM
munion given at the homes Of aged
members of the church who are not
able to attend to their obligations on