Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-10
Mrs. Porter Tells
Story Of Bedford
Double Murder

Syultman, MO-, July IV.--MrS.
Maria Porter, who rs a girl washed
the bloody quilt which band OF
counterfeiters had wrapped about
the body Of a rich cattleman they
murdered in Siam. Iowa, in 1868,
today told the story of events that
led up to the crime, described the
hiding Of the, chest containing
large sum of money which the cat
tleman possessed, related the
shooting OF Jonathan Dark, her
brother-in-law and member of
the gang, by his wife, following
dispute over the treasure, and de-
clared she had held the secret so
many years because she feared the
threat of the murderers that they
would wash their hands in my
blood" would be fulfilled If she
talked.
Gang Lived in Cave.
Mrs. Porter is to go to Bedford,
Iowa, Tuesday to testify at the
trial of the men held there in con-
nection with the murders.
Mrs. Porter, whose maiden name
was Collins, said she lived with her
brothers and sisters and their wild
owed mother on the farm where
the crime was committed. Near by
in a cave lived five counterfeiters.
Jonathan Dark, one of the gang,
came often to their home and final
ly married one Of Mrs. Porter's
sisters.
Early in September, 1868, she re-
II
learned that wealthy cattle buyer
and his son were on their way west
to buy cattle.
Did Not Sec Killing.
II did not see the killing" said
Mrs. Porter. Il had been asleep
that night. heard noise about
midnight. Five men carrying some
thing wrapped in quilt were
coming down the road. 1t was
moonlight and they soon saw me.
They came up and told me that
if ever told what had seen they
would wash their hands in my
hearts blood. I was terrified and
promised to keep their secret. They
put the body in an old we'll near
the house and then made me wash
the quilt which had been wrapped
about the body, and their bloody
clothing.
I'm the moonlight saw wagon
drawn by an OK team standing in
the road. In the wagon was a
chest. The men took the team
away and I afterward found out
they had buried the chest in a To-
Gust grove. The body of boy who
was with the cattle buyer also
was buried in a shallow grave near
the same spot"
Jonathan Dark's Death.
Some time after Mrs. Porter and
an elder sister came to Quitman,
where Mrs. Porter has lived more
than forty years. Jonathan Dark
became fearful lest the secret be-
come known and came to Quit
man to kill her, he said.
Dark said we did not treat him
right" she said. "My sister took
my part and my sister shot him as
he drew his pistol
Did Not Tell James Boys.
The family became acquainted
with Samuel Anderson, who now
owns the farm where the treasure
was buried. Anderson heard Of the
burial Of the money and that Mrs.
Porter knew something about it.
Anderson soon married Mrs. Por-
ter's daughter. Mrs. Porter says
Anderson tried for fifteen years to
secret to her husband. She says
Anderson tried for fteen years to
locate the treasure chest and was
not successful. Her story is
vouched for by her grandson, John
Anderson.
1T is not true that I told Frank
James about the treasure chest"
said Mrs. Porter II knew the
James boys but did not tell them.
told no one but my husband,
and that was twenty years ago."
Mrs. Porter said that her sister
Matte, after her trial and acquit-
tai on the charge. of having killed
Jonathan Dark, married Bob
Little, the Oklahoma outlaw leader
and one time member of the James
gang. She Is now the wife Of a
man named McAlester.