T H E W A S H IN G TO N C O U N T Y N EW S,
Old John Harding’s
M oney
l X
Í ü h
e
[C o p y rig ht, 190!. by C. B. L e w la ]
There was a buzz of excitement
throughout almost a Whole county be­
cause old John Harding was dead and
a search of the house had failed to re­
veal his money. He was an old bach­
elor, living on a farm with his broth­
er Henry and his sister Hannah, and
It was known that he had been hoard­
ing for forty years. He died in his bed
without giving an alarm and without
leaving any message us to where he
had hidden his wealth.
1 was Interested in the case as a dis­
tant relative, while scores became In­
terested through curiosity. We had to
hire men and arm them with guns to
keep the searchers off the farm, and
there were many among them who
would have kept every dollar of the
treasure had they stumbled upon 1L
Where to search after the house had
' been fruitlessly gone over was the
question, and it was a puzzling one.
Put yourself In old Mr. Harding's
place and tell me where you would
hide that money. Not in the bouse, for
fear of robbers first and a search later
on; not in the barn, because the build­
ing was liable to be struck by lightning
and burned. He wanted to keep it
away from his relatives, and yet ho
wouldn't want it lost for good and all,
nor would he wish it to fall Into the
hands of strangers. That is simply hu­
man nature. It is a paradox, but it is
human nature as well. You wouldn’t
throw- it down the well, because the
wedl would be searched. There would
be tile same objection to sheds and
stacks as to the barn.
Both Hannah and Henry felt sure
the old man had buried the money. I
felt just as certain to the contrary. He
had brought It home in installments,
and he would not run the risk of open­
ing and closing a cache seven or eight
different times. Much of the lost mon­
ey was drawn out of bank two weeks
previous to his death.
Whenever he went to town, he wore
a pair of boots. On all other days he
wore a pair of old shoes, which were
soft and easy on his feet. He did not
change back to bis boots as soon as he
reached home, but only after he had
returned from walking about the farm;
hence it might be inferred that he had
to pass over bad ground.
The woman brought me his boots
Just ns he had pulled them off for the
last time. There was dried mud on
them. It could not be mud from the
highway, because when he went to
town last the roads were dusty. The
sole of the right boot was considerably
worn, and in a crevice I found a little
sand. Again, on that same boot, stick­
ing to the mud, were several blades of
grass. She brought me the suit of
clothes he had worn that day and for
three or four days subsequently, and I
found cockles and burs on the trousers
and bits of rotten wood in one of the
coat pockets.
To the west of the house and half a
mile away was the forest. To reach
it he had to pass through the orchard.
Between the orchard and the forest
was a creek. On the east side of It,
where, I judged, he would naturally
cross, was a bed of sand. On the other
side was a muddy spot, but with a log
to walk on. The forest covered eighty
acres of ground, and but little of it had
ever been cleared of underbrush.
In going from the house through the
orchard and across the creek and back
I got plenty of cockles and burs on my
clothes, and had I made n misstep at
the log 1 should have fallen into the
mud and water. Granted that the old
man had hidden his money in the
woods, what particular spot should I
look for? The brother had not hap­
pened to see him go beyond the or­
chard. but on one occasion, when he
had need of a certain tool and went to
the shed to find it. it was missing. Two
hours later It had been restored. It
was a mallet that he wanted.
Going on the theory that the old man
had used the mallet, 1 went to the shed
and looked at all the tools. Most of
them were rusty with the dampness.
There was rust on a certain auger and
on a certain chisel, but it was fresh
rust. The point of the auger also re­
tained some bits of the last wood it
had been bored into. These bits I was
assured by several persons had a
beecliy taste. Therefore I reasoned
that the auger had been bored into a
beech tree. I had no doubt that he had
Used mallet, chisel and auger to make
r hiding place for his money.
The first move was to go through the
forest In search of what might be call­
ed eligible beech trees. I marked off
twenty within ten minutes' walk of tbe
creek and then began a close inspec­
tion of each one. I did not look at tops
or trunks, but on the ground. There
were plenty of brush and limbs and
dead leaves, but at the end of two days'
steady search I found chips and splin­
ters in pawing around and then knew
that the quest was ended.
Never did a man hide his money in
t safer place or with more skillful
hands. The tree was a double one for
the first four feet from the ground.
Where the two came together was a
decayed spot. It wasn't larger than a
man’s fist when Harding discovered IL
and funguses had taken root and were
thriving. Everything looked so per­
fectly natural that I was a good hour
getting at the keyhole of the treasure
box. Had I not found sure evidence«
of his work in a few chips and splin­
ters the tree would have been put down
on the list of failures. He did not in­
tend to leave those evidences behind
him- As fast as he cut out the wood
be placed it aside, and as be crossed
tb« -rock on hla way home he threw
tbe chips into tbe water, as I after-
a-nrd ascertained.
Well. I have nothing more to tell,
t'-.e money was found and divided a c
ording to law.
M. QUAD.
FOREST
GROVE, O R E , J U L Y
31, 1903.
Pag« T h rM
Guardianship of W. L. Curtis, incom­
petent. Guardian authorized to sell
real estate at public auction, and re­
quired to give bond for 31600.
Estate of Mary J. Wilkes, deceased.
Final account, and report filed. Mon­
day, August 2?. 196s. at 10 o’clock A.
M., set for hearing objections to final
settlement.
R E AL E S T A T E TR A N S F E R S .
C IR C U IT C O UR T.
Judge McBride held court until
Tuesday of this week, when the court
was adjourned until Friday. The fol­
lowing cases have been disposed of
since the 23d inst.:
Friday, July 24, 1903.
A. W. Ocuback et ux to H. E. Noble.
S. E. *4 sec. 20. W. V4 of S. E. >4
Sec. 26. T. 1 S„ R. 6 W. W. M.; *5.
Christian F. Kempin et ux. to Aug­
ust H. Kempin et al., 60 acres in T.
1 N„ R. 2 W. of W. M.; $2,700.
B. F. Purdy et ux. to Nellie B.
FOR T H E M OST POPULAR LODGE
W A S H IN G T O N C O U N T Y .
Storey. Lots 1, 2, 3. 8. 9 and 10, in
block 2, in Purdy’s Add. to town of
This beautiful gavel, bearing the emblem of the order and appropriately engraved, will be presented by
Dilley; $250.
Lavlna A. Nelson et al. to J. M. Cof­ The News on September 1 to the lodge receiving the largest number of votes from its paid subscribers as their
fee. Lots 3 and 4, in block 1, Weh- choice of the most popular lodge tn Washington County. The word lodge is intended to Include granges, courts of
Catholic Foresters, camps of the Woodmen, posts of the G. A. R., and every local branch of any secret, fraternal,
rung’s Add. to Hillsboro; $575.
M. Bisbee et ux. to Riley Boyd, lots benevolent or insurance order represented in the county.
The gavel is of ebony, of finest workmanship, and costs $30.00, so that it will be worthy to be used by the
7 and 8, block 20, in S. P. Add. to For-
est Grove; $250.
! presiding officer of so distinguished a lodge. Every subscriber who has paid, old subscriber who pays up or new
William W. Beardsley to Helen paying subscriber, is entitled to vote for the lodge he designates as follows: Five votes for a yearly subscription;
Beardsley, S. half of S. W. quarter of two for six months; one for three months. These may be divided among different lodges if preferred. Send your
S W quarter of Sec. 8, T. 2 S„ R. 2 name and postofflce address with your votes, so that it can be seen that you are entitled to vote. The News has
W.. W. M.; 20 acres; $1.
.passed the thousand mark in actual Washington County subscribers, and takes this means of hastening the time
Carl Schmid to David and John when It shall have 2,000.
Tschabold. 38,175 acreB in E. half of ________________________
S. half of S. E. quarter of Sec. 33, T.
2 N.. R. 2 W.; $2,000.
W. N. Barrett et ux. to Philip Mas­
ters. Lots 4 and 5, block 1, North Side
Add. to Hillsboro; $175.
|
Philip Beal et ux. to Eva Beal. 30x
200 feet in lot 4, block 8, Forest Grove; '
Edgar A. Milner vs. Margaret Mil­
ner. Demurrer to plaintiff’s petition
to modify decree, sustained and peti­
tion dismissed.
Christian Rosenthal vs. Mary A.
Jackson et al. Decree of confirma­
tion rendered.
Annie M. Seaman vs. Jas. A. Sea­
man.
Decree of default entered
against defendant. Cause referred to
Chas. E. Runyon to take and report
the court.
Sarah E. Crow vs. Samuel T. Crow.
Decree of divorce rendered.
Christian A. McMillan vs. Ernest
Grandgenge. Dismissed without costs
to either party.
$ 1 . 00 .
|
Herman Boehme vs. Maria Boehme.
Philip Beal et ux. to Eva Beal. Part
Decree of divorce granted.
of lot 1, block 8, Forest Grove.
|
Saturday, July 25, 1903.— Fifth Judicial
Mary Wilson et al., to Jennie
Day.
Chapman, acreage in Fairview Add. to
David Fisk vs. J. S. Hare. Set for Hillsboro; $150.
j
trial Tuesday morning, Nov. 24th,
John Zois to Carl Schmid. E. half
1903.
of S. half of S. E. quarter, Sec. 33, T.
Oliver C. Hiatt vs. Thomas Brown. 2 N„ R. 2 W.; 40 acres; $200.
S--t for trial Friday morning, Nov. 27,
1903.
For fine work in enlarging, Pacific I
Elizabeth Shute vs. E. L. Thomas et Gallery.
al. Set for trial Saturday morning,
Nov. 28th, 1903.
A D M IN IS T R A T O R ’S N O TIC E .
I
Sylvester Vaughn vs. L. J.Glshwiller.
Notice Is hereby given that the un­
The use and occupancy of the property dersigned has been duly, lawfully and
in question fixed at the sum of $7.00 regularly appointed executrix, with
per month, pending appeal to Supreme will attached, of the estate of Philip
Court.
Beal, deceased, by the County Court
In the matter of the estate of Wm. of Washington county, and State of Or­
Porter, insolvent. Assignee authorized egon, that all persons holding claims
to sell hal finterest in real estate for against said estate will present them
$55.00.
to me, legally certified to, at the of­
A. E. Maxson vs. J. N. Hoffman et fice of W. M. Langley & Son, my at­
ux. Plaintiff allowed $200; Pete. torneys, at the City of Forest Grove,
West. $125 in full for all services per­ Washington County, Oregon, wi
formed for plaintiff. Said $200 to be six monthB from the first publication of
paid to plaintiff within 90 days from this notice.
this date, and to be lien on the prem­
Witness my hand, this 14th day ol
ises until paid. Sale of the premises July, 1903.
to be confirmed, the purchase price
CLARINDA BEAL, !
of said premises having been wrong- Executrix of the Estate of Philip Beal,
fuly paid, the $125 to be deducted from
Deceased.
the purchase price of the premises.
ar.d that neither party recover costs.
J. B. MATTHEWS,
Rothchild Bros., a corporation, vs.
Artistic Paperhanger and Painter.
R. and C. Nellie E. Smith. Confirma­
Varnishing. Sign
tion.
Forest Grove
Tuesday Morning, July 28, 1903.— Sixth work a specialty.
C A T T L E IN T H O U S ­
ANDS ON T H E
HILLS.
Ten thousand cows,
fifteen thousand sheep
and six thousand goats
have their home In
Washington county. As­
sessor Wilcox has re­
cently stated to the Im­
migration Bureau at
Portland that the aver­
age prices are cattle $30
and sheep $5.
The
manufacturers of Car­
nation cream at Forest
Grove are making prep­
arations to largely In­
crease the number of
dairy cattle, as their
condenser wants milk
from 3000 cows while It
has but 1000 now con-
contributing.
Judicial Day.
Jessie Niles Burness vs. James Bur- M. F. Nixon.
R. P. Nixon.
ness. Default allowed against defend­
NIXON F O R E S T GROVE
BIG “ S M A L L F R U I T ”
ant.
L A N D C OM P ANY
j — OREGON GOOSE­
B. Scholfield, assignee, vs. Alex. Large and Small Farms, City Property
BERRIES.
Chalmers. Judgment for plaintiff.
and Timber Lands for Sale.
J. A. Abbot vs. Albert Friday. De­
Loans Negotiated.
Though
they
are
murrer overruled by consent of de­ Main Street, Forest Grove, Oregon. classed among "small
fendant's counsel and defendant al­
fruits,” three gooseber­
lowed until first day of the next term
J. J. WIRTZ.
ries, by no means excep
of this court to file his answer.
tional, which are on the
Confectionery,
Cigars
and
To­
Michael Rahn vs. Henry Dick. De­
editor’s desk as he
bacco. Fancy Soft Drinks. Ice
cree for plaintiff, each to pay one-half
writes, measure 2 % , 2 %
of reporter’s fees.
Cold Soda Water.
and 2 % inches res pec. t-
F'ine New Ice Cream Parlor.
| ively. Five acres in the
Forest Grove county produced 10,000
P R O B A TE C O U R T.
; quarts this year.
Guardianship of Guy F. and Cora
May Wilson, minors. Report and resig­
nation of the guardian filed, and ap­
Dentist.
proved. Resignation accepted. Guar­
dian allowed $30 for his services, and Upstairs. Wagner Building.
Forest Grove, Oregon.
thhat he turn over $250 balance on
hand to the County Clerk. Guardian­
ship closed.
MAYNE A B B O TT
Estate of Asa Williams, deceased.
Graduate of Parson’s Horological In
Petition filed for order to sell real
stitute.
estate. Citations ordered issued to per­
EXPERT OPTICIAN.
sons interested, requiring them to ap­
pear at court house on Monday, Aug. Eyes tested and fitted
31. 1903, and show cause why order
Forest Grove, Ore.
should not be granted.
Guardianship of Wm. H. Lee. Sale
BALDWIN & KING,
of real estate confirmed. Guardian
Real Estate Exchange.
authorized and directed 1o execute a
convervance for said Jremises.
Choice Homes and I-ands in every par»
Guardianship of Bessie Woodham et
of the County.
als. Inventory and appraisement filed
Pacific Are., off Church Square.
and approved. Valuation $600. Report
Forest Grove
of guardian filed showing that Bessie
Woodham is of legal age. and that her
share has been paid to her as per re
DR. 8. T . L I N K L A T E R ,
ceipt.
Report approved. Guardian
discharged from liability as to Beast*
Physician and Surgeon.
Woodham.
Estate of W. E. Smith, deceased.
Hillsboro, Oregon
Final account filed and approved. Ex­
ecutor required to pay clerk of court
«1 earh for S^arin Turner. Alva Tur­
ner and Edmund Maxln. That she pay
to Mrs. T. R. Cornelius $166 20. Resi­
due to be turned over to widow, and
estate closed of record.
Estate of I-eopold Fuchs, deceased.
H -adqua t t n F o r
Final account approved. Property on
LU M B E S IN ROUGH
hand ordered turned over to legates
according to will.
Executrix dis­ R. F. D Route I.
ForestOrove, Ore.
charged and estate closed of record.
I
W. H. Williams <2b
i Son I
1
S U R F B A T H IN G A T Y A Q U I N A .