The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-09

Bedford, Ia, July 9.-Further de-
.velopment in the case that has come
to be known as the mystery of the
murdered cattleman and his son, or
the 100000 buried treasure, came to-
day with the arrest of James and John
-Damewood, brothers.
The story of the murder of the I'M
known wealthy cattleman and his son
back in 1868, came to light yesterday
with the arrest here of Bates Hunts
man, 10, member of a family promi-
nent in this section. and Henry
Scribner, a well-to-do cattleman.
Scribner was charged with being an
-accomplice of HUntsmanS who, in ad-
dition to being charged with the muir
der, faces the allegation that he was
connected with a notorious counter
feiting gang that operated in Iowa in
the years Immediately following the
war.
Brothers in Jail.
The Damewood brothers, both nearly
, so years old, were in Jail in ClarindL
yet this morning and were to be
brought here today. They, like Hunts
man and Scribner, were arrested on
warrants issued by the states attor-
ney generals office. Samuel Ander-
son, whose contemplated civil suit
against HuntSman to obtain a fourth
of the $50, 900 treasure, said to have
been buried on farm near Siam, Ia,
attorney general today and cleared up
several points concerning the treasure
chest. 1t was reported yesterday
that the chest had been dug up twelve
years ago.
According to Anderson's story to-
day, the counterfeitinS gang, after
killing the cattleman and his Ion,
buried the chest with the intention of
digging it up again after the excite
ment over the murders had died away.
Anderson, who in the meantime had
come into possession of the farm on
which the treasure was buried, was
asked twelve years ago to make
search for the treasure, the plans of
the gang fixing it's location having
been lost in a fire that burned the
house in which the document was hid
den.
Quarrel Over Spells.
Anderson asserts he was digging
for the treasure when he was stopped
by his employers and a quarrel en-
sued. The employers took charge of
the work and refused to make any
deal with Anderson for a division of
the money, which as yet has never
been located. 1t was after this that
Anderson took the case to an attOr-
ney.
The one witness to the murder of
the catt4ernan and his son, who at
the time was little girl, is said to live
now near Quitman, Mo. She was Ma
ria Collins She is the one who is
said to have told Jesse and Frank
James, che notorious outlaws, about
the treasure. with the result, it is said,
that Frank James made several visits
to this part OF the country in the years
following 1868. making efforts to To-
cate the place of concealment.
The four men, Bates Huntsman,
Samuel Scrivner and Henry and John
Damewood will be arraigned in
the district court here next Tuesday.
Maria Collins to Testify.
Villisca, Iowa, July &C. A. Rob-
bins, assistant attorney general, to-
day in connection with the Bedford
murder case, announced that Maria
Collins, who is now Mrs. Maria Porter
and who lives in Quitman, Mo, will
be at Bedford next Tuesday to testify
for the state against Bates Huntsman,
Sam Scrivner and John and Henry
Damewood. %She is the woman who
as a young girl is alleged to have
witnessed the killing of the wealthy
cattleman and his son by the counter
feiters' gang.
Mr.. Robbins said that he had alb
solute proof that at least $4,000 of
the contents of the treasure buried on
the Collins farm near Siam Iowa, had
been dug up in the last twelve years
Mrs. Porter, the states chief wit
ness, is said to be a gray haired wom-
0P