The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-10
TELLS OF TRAGEDY.
Woman Who, as Girl, Saw Slayers
Glad tn TJnburtlen Conscience.

ST. Joseph, Mo, July 10.-Mrs.
Maria Porter, who says that as a
girl in 1868 she was witness to thu
murder of a cattle buyer by band
of counterfeiters at Siam, Iowa, to-
day made a statement of the details
The pleasant-faced woman, who says
that she has carried the secret of the
crime in her bosom all these years
because she was afraid she would be
killed if she revealed it. told the story
of the killing without hesitation, and
as though it had taken place five years
instead of almost half : century ago.
Shared in IH-Gotsen Gains
Mrs. Porter dwelt upon the days of
her girlhOod in the frontier cabin,
when she and her brothers and sisters
lived with their widowed mo-he:' and
elxed cut an existence from their :iny
farm. Near the farm five counter
feiters lived in a cave. The few neigh
bors knew them for what they were,
as did the Collins family, Ut 'cnathan
Dark had married one OF her s'~tL.'s
and oftentimes the gang helped the
widow and her family by their ILL
gotten gains.
Early in September, 1868, the coun-
terfeiter gang learned that a wealthy
cattle buyer was on his way west to
buy stock. The people roundabout
knew it and knew that he would have
money.
I'VE children heard tho man was
coming, but paid no attention" said
Mrs. Porter. 81 did not see the kill
ing had been asleep that night and
it must have been about IL o'clock
when / heard noises outside and went
out. Five men carrying something
wrapped up in quilt were coming
down the road. 1t was moonlight and
they soon saw me- They came up
and told me that if 1 ever told what
1 had seen they would wash their
hands in my hearts blood
Terrified by Threat.
being a girl, I was terrified, and
promised to keep their secret. They
put the body in an old well near the
house and then came back and made
me wash the quilt which had been
wrapped about the body and then
their clothing which had become blood
despatched
I'm the moonlight, I saw a wagon
drawn by an OK team standing in the
road. In the wagon was a chest. The
men took the team away and l after
wards found out that they had buried
the chest in q locust grove. The body
of a boy who was with the cattle
buyer also was buried in shallow
Despatched.
From that night of the murder
until about twenty years ago, 1 never
told Il soul about the murder, fearing
that If 1 did so some member Of the
gang would kill me About twenty
years ago, told my husband
Dark Tries to Kill Her.
Porter and an elder sister came to
Missouri. to Quitman, their present
home, where Mrs. Porter mas lived
more than forty years 1t was after
they had gone to Quitnlan That JON
>athan Dark. her brother-in-law, he
came fearful lest the secret would be-
come known and came to the house
to kill her, she said.
Dark became angry because he
thought 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. 1 did not care any more
than I would for dog
About twenty years ago Mrs Porter
says the family became acquainted
with Samuel Anderson, who now own:
the farm near Siam, Iowa, where the
counterfeiters buried the chest, o!
money taken from the murdered cat
tie buyer. Anderson heard of ths
burial of the money and that Mrs
Porter knew something about it. An
derson's son married Mrs. Porter!
daughter.
Gives Up Her Secret.
Mrs Porter says Anderson per
suaded her to tell the secret to he.
husband. She says Anderson tried TO
fifteen years to locate the treasur'
chest and was not successful. He
story is vouched for by the son, JOIN
Anderson, who declares that ever.
night while they lived on the farm h
and his father dug for tho treasure
For years this secret has been
heavy weight ON my conscience" SAT-
Mrs Porter, land 1 am glad IT ha