Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-14
SISTER DENIES
MURDER STORY
Mrs. Benson Repudiates
Testimony of Mrs. Maria
Benson.
WILL TAKE WITNESS
STAND FOR DEFENSE
Declares There Was No Murder Com
mitted on the Siam Farm at tho Time
Stated by Her Sister in Her Testi-
mony-knew Nothing of Band of
Taylor County Bandits-Samuel
Anderson Is First Witness Today.

Bedford, July 14.-Interest remained
tense in the Siam double murder and
treasure chest hearing today and the
crowds which attended the initial ses-
sion before Judge NJ. A. Sawyer last
night, when Mrs. Maria Collins Porter
told her story of the alleged crimes, IN
September 1858, were on hand when
court opened at 80 o'clock this morn
ing.
Samuel Anderson. whose proposed
suit against Samuel Scrivner. Bates
Huntsman and John and Henrypame-
wood, was responsible for the lnNestl-
CATION which led to the arrest OF the
four aged men, was the states nrst
witness today. He told of having come
into possession of the farm on "hich
the murders of Nathaniel Smith, the
Macon Mo-. cattleman, and ms son,
are alleged to have taken place. ana
the years of digging for the treasure
chest supposed to have contained S9o,-
900. taken from Smith by the Taylor
county outlaws.
1t was expected the hearing would
consume the greater part of two more
days. The case of Bates Huntsman Is
now before the justice. w. w. Buiman
Of Charlton. who is assisting the coun-
ty prosecutor, and who has been the
chief figure in the investigation, SAID
this morning he would insist on the
other three cases being disposed OF at
this time.
Repudiates Sisters Story.
Mrs Elizabeth Collins Benson, "luoW
of Jonathan Dark. whose name h1d
/ been frequently mentioned In connec-
| ton with the alleged murder OF Ma
| thaniel Smith. arrived here this morn
ing ana declared she would take the
/ stand II. the Bates Huntsman hearing
for the defense She declared that
there had been no killing on the Siam
farm at the time her sister. Mrs. Maria
| Collins Porter, stated In her testimony
las, night; that there had been no Sc
cref cave; that she had never heard or
ANY buried treasure. and tnat she
never knew of a band Of Taylor county
outlaws.
Concerning the killing Of Dark, her
; former husband. Mrs. Benson said he
did not come to their home in Missouri
to kill Maria Collins, but had objected
to another sister, Matte. going with
man he did not like.
Matte Collins, Mrs Benson said, was
tried for the murder Of Dark. and was
acquitted on the plea OF insanity.
Dramatic Answer to Questions.
Attorney Flick, representing the de-
PENDANTS, brought forth dramatic an
swer from Mrs. Porter, when on cross
examination he referred to the fact
that DR.. c. r. Huntsman, Dr. A. e.
Goliday and Jonathan Dark. who the
witness claimed were participants IN
the murder of Smith had since died
"You can repeat what those dead
men said, can't you?" he asked. But
you cannot repeat what those living
descendants said?"
"Yes, I can" replied Mrs. Porter.
quickly, as she pointed a finger to
Samuel Scrivner, one of the defen-
dants. Sam Scrivner said Let's d.
vide the money now.' and Jonathan
Dark said No let's wait"
Scrivner smiled at the reply.
Date Of Crime Confused.
Mrs. Porter, in her testimony last
night, fixed the date of the alleged
murder OF Smith and his son. as some
time after the death Of her father,
Floyd Collins. in September. 1876.
| "probably in 1877" Warrants. on which
| the four defendants are held, charge
| that the crime was committed in 1868.
ATTORNEY Bulman said these would be
/ amended
| John A. Mckenzie, an Omaha attor-
! ney. who is assisting the prosecution.
| followed Mrs. Porter on the stand and
, told of having seen the tombstone of
Floyd Collins In Siam cemetery. He
said this tombstone gave the date Of
| Collins death as Sept. 2. 1876.
Samuel Anderson on Stand.
| Samuel Anderson, the aged pioneer
who was the cause of four of his neigh
bors being brought into court on
charges of murder took the stand at
IL o'clock, and his evidence was expect
ed to take up the greater part Of this
afternoon. The witness story on the
stand did not vary greatly from that
which he told in public statement re-
Gently. He detailed his almost continu-
GUS efforts during the last twenty years
to dig up the treasure on his farm.
which was the scene Of the alleged
murder of Nathaniel Smith and his son
in 1877.
! An important development of tho day
was when Mrs. Elizabeth Benson, Of
4 Dover, Okla, the widow Of Jonathan
Dark, who Is alleged to have figured in
the Siam farm murder and robbery
case, told Attorney General Cosson that
her sister, Matte Collins McAlester,
was acquitted Of the murder Of Jona-
than Dark Of Independence. Mo-, on the
plea of insanity. Mrs. Benson is to
take the stand for the defense, and
will, It Is said. deny the statements of
her other sister, Mrs Maria Collins
Porter, the states chief witness, made
| IN tho hearing Last night and this
morning.
! F! Daily Thought.