The courier-index., 1919-10-31
HUNT LONG FOR
 BURIED FORTUNE
Hidden Treasure Has Lured Men to Foil for HaH Century
 on Iowa Farm.
TRAGEDY WOVEN IN ROMANCE
Murder of Man 46 Years Ago Brings Strange Characters Into Court--Mystery Yet
 to Be Solved.

Bedford, Ia.-The mystery of hlu- den treasure, mystery that has pug zled the people of southwestern Iowa for half a century, has been brought nearer solution by an investigation which has shown how little group of picturesque characters of that sec tion of the state toiled for years in quest of riches buried, according to tradition, on the Klondike farm. The evil spell the buried treasure has worked upon those intimately connect ed with it has held to the last. One by one the fortune hunters are pass ing from the stage, their dreams end ing in misery or poverty.
 Lying 15 miles southwest of Bed ford, Ia., is the Huntsman farm, and adjoining it is the Anderson home stead. Fitted with holes and scared with many excavations, the farms prove the arduous toll of men driven by dreams of gold. First it was pr. c. R. Huntsman and his brother, Bates, who searched for the treasure. Now it Is Bates and his two sons and their families.
 Searching for the Treasure.
 Samuel Anderson moved to Iowa In the early seventies. Soon after he To- cated on the farm Anderson received a call from the Huntsmans, who told him that there was a lot of gold buried on the place and that they wanted to dig for 1t. Anderson was asked to aid in the work. For nearly quarter century the three dug, plowed and ex- cavated.
 One day IT years ago the searchers uncovered three stakes set in direct line pointing to a spring. Anderson, inspired by the vision of his share of the fortune, dug on feverishly. He first came onto some white sand that he knew was not common to that part of the country. Anderson then uncov- cred a big rock. under which was metal box. One of the Huntsmans told Anderson that he could go, prom ising him his share of the fortune when the money was counted. He never saw the box again nor learned of its contents.
 Soon after the discovery of the metal box the elder Huntsman died suddenly. Samuel Anderson, weary ing of long waiting for his share of the treasure he believed he had uncov- cred. filed suit against Bates Hunts man, asking pay for his years of toll. So peculiar was his story that state officials became interested. An inves- tigation followed, and other persons acquainted with some of the circum- stances of the affair were found. One of these was Maria Collins Porter of Quitman, Mo. who spent her girlhood in the vicinity.
 The w0man's story seemed to throw clear light on the source of the treas ure the Huntsmans had sought so long. The story, too, seemed to link the treasure with the hoard found in the cabin of old nr. A. M. Coll Jay of Bedford, whose body was found in his cabin II years ago. It was a story of a murder gang, of stolen thousands, of . crime committed so far back in time that even the identity of the victim was a matter of uncertainty.
 Held on Murder Charge.
 Following swiftly upon the story of Maria Collins Porter came the arrest of Bates Huntsman, Sam Scrivner, a rich farmer, and John and Hank Damewood. They were charged with the murder of man of unknown iden- ttty, presumably a rich cattle buyer from Missouri, 46 years ago. Even be- fore the trial began speculation as to the identity of the murdered man be, came rife. Although there were found to be many contradictions in the evil dence presented by some of the wit nesses the case of the state might have proceeded further but for one of the primary technicalities of the law of homicide. The state could not es- tablish the existence of the man al- legged to have been killed. The young attorney for the aged defendants only had to move that the case be dis.