The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-09
Arrest Of Prominent Men at Bedford
Iowa and Unearthng Of Buried
. Treasure Furnishes Real Sen.
sation In State.
is LIKE OLD ROMANCE
Alleged Crime For Which Men Are
Being Held Was Said To Have
Been Committed Back In
1868.

| BEDFORD, Iowa. July 9-Bates
Huntsman, aged seventy. a member of
prominent family in this section
was arrested here on charge of
murder growing out OF the recent IN
earthtnG on farm near Siam, Iowa.
Of treasure chest. said to contain
$4,000. The alleged murder is said
to have occurred in 1868, when a
wealthy cattleman and his son were
killed.
Henry scribner, a wealthy farmer,
was arrested late in the day in con-
lnection with the murder charge
against Bates Huntsman. He was re-
leased on bond Of $1,000. Huntsman,
unable to give bond, went to Jail. A
third warrant yet remained to be serv-
led.
The money taken from the cattle
after years it was said, by officials to-
day. Frank and Jesse James made
several visits to the scene Of the
crime in an effort to locate the treas
ure.
Result Of Plan to Sue.
| The murder warrants are the d.
rect result Of the plans Of Samuel An
against Huntsman and his alleged ac-
complies, to recover fourth part nj
the buried treasure. Anderson claims
to have been employed to dig the
money up about twelve years ago and
told HIS attorney, w. w. pullman OF
Charlton, that he had kept silent
about it because Of inability to reach
an agreement with the three men re-.
garding a division.
In preparing for the trial the 1t
torney disclosed facts in connection
with the operations of notorious
icounterfeiters gang which In 1868, IL
supposed to have been responsible for
/ the death Of the cattleman. The ideD-
tity Of the victims was never disclos-
led
| The evidence secured was placed
before the attorney generals Office In
Des Moines and it was the latter who
ordered the arrest of Huntsman yes
terday afternoon The warrant was
served by state policeman, Bronson.
History of the Crime.
DIES MONIES, Iowa, July AT
|torney General Cosson yesterday as
signed c. A. ..obbins of his office to
take personal charge Of the investisa.
ton at Bedford, Iowa. Of the alleged
murder of wealthy cattleman and
his son by gang Of counterfeiters
in 1868, which resulted today in the
issuance of warrants for three men
prominent In the vicinity.
Mr.. Robbins said that investigation
had developed that in 1868 a gang Of
counterfeiters, composed OF five men
had operated near Siam, Iowa. They
held ten acres of land directly ah-
joining that subsequently occupied by
Samuel Anderson, who dwelt in a
frontier cabin.
In 1868 this cabin was occupied BY
q widow, Mrs. Floyd Collins, and her
children. Nearby dwelt her daughter,
who had married Jonathan Dark, q
member Of the gang. The counterfeit !
ers used as a rendezvous a cave near.
by.
Buyers Visit Expected.
Early in the fall Of 1868 the gang
began to talk of the expected visit OF
a wealthy cattle buyer, who was COM
ing into that section to buy cattle and
hogs, build immense corrals and fat
ten the stock for market. They knew
he would bring the cash with him a.
there we're no banks in that vicinity
in those days. They also knew he
would make an overland trip as no
railroads invaded the territory.
On a moonlight night in September, !,
the Collins children heard a disturb |