Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-10
WOMAN WITNESS
OF SIAM KILLING
LONG AGO TO TELL
Mrs. Maria Porter of ouitmsn, Mo-,
Who Saw Killing Of Cowman
and Son Threatened with
Death if She Talks.
STATE OF IOWA GUARDS HER
-Four Men Now Under Arrest on
Murder Charges in Case Involv-
ing Hidden Treasure.
GOLD PLANTED BY JAMES BOYS

BEDFORD, Ia, July 9.-With
four men nder aurrest for alleged
completely in the murder of a
wealthy stockman and his son at
Siam, Ia, in September, 1858, and
arrangements made for the protec-
tion of the states chief witness,
representatives of General Cosson's
office tonight said they were pre-
pared for the next phase of Taylor
county's double murder and buried
treasure. This, they said, would
come up Tuesday, when the prelimi-
nary hearing of the defendants
Bates Huntsman, Samuel Scrivner
and Henry Damewood, will be called
in the local court.
c. A. Robbins. assistant attorney gen
eral, left tonight for Des Moines for
a conference with mis- chief Attorney
General Cosson, after arrangements had
been made to insure the appearance OF
Mrs Maria Porter of Critman, Mo-, at
the hearing Tuesday.
witnessed killing.
She Is the woman, who, as 14-year-
old girl, is said to- have witnessed the
killing of the cattleman, believed to have
been Nathaniel Smith of St Joseph, Mo-,
and his son, and the subsequent burial
of $4,000 on the old Collins farm near
Siam.
Samuel scrivner, the wealthiest man
among the defendants. in an interview
here today characterized the whole pre-
ceeding as huge joke" The Dame
woods, Notwithstanding. they declined to
treat the matter seriously.
Another version Of the treasure story
came to light. when old residents said
the money had been buried on the farm
by the James boys, after they had robbed
a bank. This was said to account Tor
their interest in locating It in after years.
The loss of the plat in fire which
burned the house on the place and the
death of Joathan Dark, the only mem-
ber of the gang, who knew where Il had
been buried, II was claimed, made neees-
sary the search that extended through
SO many years.
Damewopds Arraigned.t sf :
The Damewoods were arraigned here
and, after pleading not guilty, were re-
leased on bonds OF 5000 each.
Scrivner, the most prominent of the
quartet is 20 years old and reputed to
be very wealthy. He is leading mem
Der Of the Masonic order in this section.
Huntsman is a white-bearded man of u
years of age. who is said to have lost
most OF his fortune in seeking to find
the hidden treasure. The four vigorously
denied the charges against them. They
have been respected citizens for nearly
a half century. Among their friends
and acquaintances there appeared today
TO be a tendency to treat the whole af-
fair as a joke. Assistant Attorney Gen.
erai Robbins, however. insists that HIS
Investigation shows that the case will
prove strong one when it is called for
trial,
Smith came to Siam from st. Joseph.
Mo-, we learn" said Mr. Bulman. "a
the time he was engaged to a girl whom
he later married This girls son is nov
in Bedford. We have found $4,000 OF thu
treasure"
Says sne Will Testify.
QUITMAN. Mo-, July s.-Mrs. Marie
Porter. wife of Henry Porter. a Goa
miner here, ADMITTED today she wit
messed the killing of the wealthy cattle
man near Siam, Ia. and declared she
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