Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-11
MRS. PORTER TELLS
STORY OF MURDER
OF IOWA COWMAN
Woman Forced by Iowa Bandits to
Wash Bloody Quilt Reveals
= Long Hidden Crime of
Mystery.
MONEY CHEST BURIED IN GROVE
Witness Describes Burial Of Treas
ure Possessed by the
Cattlemen.
MONEY CHEST BURIED IN GROVE
CITES CLOUD OVER HER LIFE

QUITMAN, Mo-, July 10.--Mrs.
Maria Porter, who as girl washed
the bloody quilt which a band OF
counterfeiters had wrapped about
the body of a rich cattleman they
murdered in Siam, Ia. in 1858. to-
day told the story of events that led
mp to the crime, described the hiding
Of the chest containing q large sum
of money which the cattleman pos
sessed, related the shooting of Jona-
than Dark, her brother-in-law and a
member of the gang, by his wife,
following dispute over the treasure,
and declared she had held the secret
30 many years because she feared
the threat by the murderers the
night of the crime that they would
wash their hands in my blood"
would be fulfilled II she talked.
Mrs, Porter Is to go to Bedford. Ia,
tuesday to testify at the trial Of the
men held there in connection with the
murders
Mrs Porter whose maiden name was
Collins. said she lived with her brother
and sisters and their widowed mother
on a little farm near the scene Of the
crime. Five counterfeiters lived in a
cave. Jonathan Dark, one Of the gang,
cane often to the Collins home and
finally married one of Mrs. Porters
sisters.
Early in September. 1858, Mrs Porter
related, the counterteiter gang learned
that a wealthy cattle buyer and his son
were on their way west to buy stock. The
news quickly became common knowledge
In the neighborhood.
Body Wrapped in Guilt
ct did not see the killing" said Mrs.
Porter. IT had been asleep that night,
and 81 must have been about 12 o'clock
when heard noises outside and went
out. Five nens carrying something
wrapped up In a quilt, were coming down
the road. II was moolight and they soon
saw me. They came up and told me that
II ever told what had seen. they would
s'wash their hands in my hearts blood.
was terrified and promised 10 keep their
secret, They put the body In an old well
near the house and then made me wash
the quilt which had been wrapped about
the body, and their clothing which was
Dlood-spattered.
Tn 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 ! afterwards found
out II at they buried the chest In locust
grove The body Of boy who was with
the cattle buyer also was buried in
shallow grave near the same spot.
Some time after the murder Mrs Porter
and an elder sister came to Missouri, to
ouitman, their present home, whore Mrs.
Porter has lived more than forty years
Jonathan Dark, her brothsr-in-law, be e
came fearful lest the secret would be-
canie known and came to Quitnnan to
kill her. she says.
Dark Killed by Wife
Dark became angry because he'tbought
we did not treat him right and said he
would kill me-. Mrs. Porter said. MY
sister took my part and as he reached
for his pistol she shot him. Dark died
with his head in my lap"
About twenty years ago. Mrs Porter
said, the family became acquainted with
Samuel Anderson. who now owns the
farm near Siam. Ia, where the counter
feiters buried the chest. Anderson heard
Of the burial of the money and that Mrs.
IOrIef KNEW apOub IL
derson soon married Mrs. Porter's daugh-
ter.
Mrs. Porter says Anderson persuaded
her to tell the secret to her husband.
She says Anderson tried for fifteen years
TO locate the treasure chest end was
not successful. Her story is vouched for
by the son. John Anderson.
"It is not true that tol1 Frank James
about the treasure chest" said Mrs.
Porter. 'T knew the James boys. but |
never told them did not tell anybody
but by husband. and that was twenty
years ago"
Mrs. Porter said that hor sister Matte
after her trial and acquittal on the charge
OF having killed Jonathan Dark. married
Bob" Little. the Oklahoma outlaw
!, leader and one time member Of the James
Continued on Page Two, Column one)