Danville, Indiana ; Sarah Sabina Cummings 1919.

[jeff of pa]

Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]), 07 Dec. 1919.



https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...xt=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=73

 

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[ken135]

This murder-treasure legend actually occurred in Hoopeston, IL, near the Indiana border and was reported by many newspapers in Indiana. Thus, the reporting in the Omaha newspaper from the Danville, IN. newspaper. Also, Hoopeston, IL is just north of Danville, IL

Below are a few clippings from several Indiana newspapers. Was an interesting murder that was still unresolved as of 1922. I didn't research any further to see if they found the murder(s). Perhaps someone from Illinois could further research the story.








June 6, 1922

 

[Legacy X]

Couldn't help myself on this. Attached is a pic from plat map 1915 for the exact area. The line outlined is Thompson east which is talked about in the article. After reviewing what you two shared it seems she lived just right outside the city limits off Thompson and she in fact did own the home. Also we should be able to see her daughters property about a half mile away from hers with her married name. Of course the issue is this plat is 1915 and this happened a few years later but with them saying she owned it and spoke about other attempts over the years because everyone in town knew it kind of gave the impression she was living in the same place for a very long time. One thing I did notice is her husband passed 7 or 8 years before so I guess its possible that after he passed she moved to the area off Thompson therefore that is why I can't find her.

Anyway if you guys want to take a look at tell me if I am missing anything let me know. Like I said this is 1915 plat focused on the exact area her name and a few others in the article should be listed on. I would love to run my detector across that yard let me tell you haha. I LOVE the found cache leads almost more than the lost cache leads. Just because pre tech it would be so damn easy to miss another cache. Hints the thousands of articles we all find about caches found by accident years later. This is the latest plat I could find for the area that was in timeframe we need.

 

[Legacy X]

Here is link to that can pull up the plat and be able to look all around the county etc...

Grant Township, Atlas: Vermilion County 1915, Illinois Historical Map

 

[ken135]

Rich - thanks for posting map.

I did a little more digging and found more info. Not sure if it helps. I always worry about the validity of info given to reporters.
This article mentions finding two pots of money buried in the back yard. So this would be a great place to metal detect.




This article mentions that Sabina Cummings owned 800 acres of farm land somewhere else. Not necessarily with another home site.




Now the interesting part from a neighbor. Her brother died in the same house seven years earlier and they found hidden money, also.
Supposedly, Sabina inherited it.




But did she inherit the house? If so, then we probably should be checking for her brother's name on the land, also. He died ~1912. Or did another family member inherit the house?
On the 1915 map, right where we would think the house would be is a piece of land with Ben Berkley as the owner. Fred's brother? May have to go to the county records to solve this mystery.




Since I can still edit this post, I'll add these additions here.

There was a son-in-law Fred arrested after the murder. But I couldn't find anything about her brother Fred.


Thanks to Jeff for posting this on the Illinois thread.


But I did find a brother Benjamin in the 1900 and 1910 census. Being listed as the "Head", he probably owned the house.




If anyone gets a chance to hunt Ben's land, please update this thread.

 

[CanSlawKing]

Not related to the land, but found this from a South Dakota paper (Mellette County Pioneer), dated April 16, 1920.

Can't seem to insert photo or upload as an attachment. Here's what it said:

"Acquitted of Murder Charge
Danville, Ill. - Fred Buehler, Mary H. Buehler and Sophia, their 24-year-old daughter, were found not guilty by a circuit court jury of the murder of Mrs. Sabina Cummings, of Hooperston, Ill., the aged mother of Mrs. Buehler."

 

[ken135]

Found a map view of Hoopeston 1915. Shows Ben Berkley' land better.




Also came across this 1901 article which might be of interest while you're in Hoopeston.

 

[jeff of pa]

Not related to the land, but found this from a South Dakota paper (Mellette County Pioneer), dated April 16, 1920.

Can't seem to insert photo or upload as an attachment. Here's what it said:

"Acquitted of Murder Charge
Danville, Ill. - Fred Buehler, Mary H. Buehler and Sophia, their 24-year-old daughter, were found not guilty by a circuit court jury of the murder of Mrs. Sabina Cummings, of Hooperston, Ill., the aged mother of Mrs. Buehler."

couldn't find that one but