Year: 1871

| For startling sensations Clarke county
is the champion county of Indiana We
are scarce recovered from the sensations
of the Park family murder and the hang
ing of the negro murderers, when another
extraordinary affair, of an entirely differ
ent character, however, startles us by its
strangeness. Rev. Rein Hammond was
noted local preacher of the Methodist
Church, and resided for many years at
Charlestown Ind. He died some four
weeks ago. after a'lingering illness. Dur
ing his lifetime he had been prudent,
economical man, but by no means miserly
IN disposition, for be gave literally t. all
commendable objects.


1t was known that be was quite wealthy
in real estate his wealth being the result
of the advance in the value of bis lands.
which were judiciously purchased in local
tiles where improvements were steadily
going forward But at the time of his
death not very large sum Of money was
found among his effects; nor had his fam
lily any knowledge that he had other funds
than what his bank account and his pock-
etbook showed


The administrator of the estate was pro-
ceeding by due course of law to settle its
affairs, and this made an inventory of the
contents of his late residence in Charles
tawn necessary This inventory was be-
ing proceeded with on Thursday last, when
an old, but tolerably large trunk was found
slowed away in closet under pair of
stairs on the first floor of the house, and
within the bedroom occupied by the de-
ceased during his lifetime. This old
trunk was drawn from its dingy quarters,
and was literally covered over with dust
and cobwebs. Its great weight. however,
attracted particular attention. and as no
key could be found with which to unlock
it, the lock was broken.


And now comes the singular part of the
story. On raising the lid of the trunk it
was found that the body of the box was
literally filed with gold and silver coin
and government bonds. a grandson Of
the deceased informs US that there we're
twenty-five thousand dollars in gold and
silver, and ten thousand dollars in govern
ment bonds. Mrs. Hammond, who sur
wives her husband, says that during the
raid of Cen John Morgan through Indl-
ana. Mr.. Hammond drew all his money
from the bank anil other sources, and
placed it together in this old trunk, which
he sccrcted where it was found. She had
supposed. however, that after the danger
from Morgan and his men had passed. he
had again deposited the money from
whence it had been drawn; and although
it was known to her that the trunk was in
the closet, she never dreamed of the i'm
mense treasure it contained ,,, ,,f +.


The money was counted by the proper
parties, and then carried to Jacksonville,
where it was deposited for safe keeping in
the Citizens National Bank. At the time
of his death Rev. Mr. Hammond was prob
ably the wealthiest Methodist minister in
the West, except, perhaps, Bishop Ames
We arc informed that his estate is esti-
mated at not less than three hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. 1t is not often that
a minister of the gospel has 50 fortunate a
run of luck in the accumulation of wealth
Mr.. Hammond several times, few days
before his death, attempted to tell his
family something that seemed to bear with
weight upon his mind but he was too de-
bilitated either to talk or write. Several
times he was noticed to point anxiously
toward the closet, and it is now thought
bis desire was to communicate to his fam-
lily the place where his treasure was hid
den.-Louiscine Ledger