Sign Up  /  Login

Alice DeGarmo, Queen of the Big Top LbNA #53663

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:May 24, 2010
Location:
City:Derby
County:Perry
State:Indiana
Boxes:1
Planted by:downwithapathy
Found by: christmas6
Last found:Dec 28, 2013
Status:F
Last edited:May 24, 2010
Alice DeGarmo, Queen of the Big Top:

Born in Derby in 1881, Alice Martin left her hometown at 17 to attend college. After her graduation two years later, Alice moved to New York and began her career as an aerial gymnast. She took the stage name Alice DeGarmo and enjoyed a long career as a trapeze star in circuses and vaudeville circles. Beginning in 1910, she spent a decade touring Europe and South America, followed by almost exclusive vaudeville work.

After her father's death in 1929, Alice returned to Derby, most likely to settle his affairs. She remained on her father's farm for five years, though she intended to eventually return to the stage.

Meanwhile, rumors circulated about Alice's supposed fortune. Whether it had been lost in the stock market crash was debated. One man who believed in the Alice DeGarmo fortune was Ernest Wright. He was employed briefly on the Martin farm but had gone unpaid, possibly due to the loss of a wagon. In a dispute over wages, Wright clubbed and murdered Martin on her farm in 1934.

Locally, it was called the crime of the century. After the murder, Wright told the authorities that Ms. Martin had returned to New Jersey, leaving him in charge of the farm. He later stated a mysterious man had arrived at the farm and killed his former employer. Police were unconvinced and whisked Wright away to Evansville, leaving behind a crowd of 200, all trying to catch a glimpse of him. Wright confessed in Evansville after he was advised (falsely) that his fingerprints had been found on the murder weapon.

Clue:

Traveling eastward on IN 70, turn right onto 66 where 70 ends. Continue for about a mile and a half. Then turn right at 9A Tide Road. Continue on Tide Road for about 3/10 mile. Then turn right at 317A S Cummins toward Lower Cummins Cemetery. The cemetery is at the end of the lane.

Once parked, look around for some of the cemetery's older and more unusual monuments. Near the cemetery entrance, you will find Ms. Martin's grave site. Next to her is farm tenant and friend Frank Sandage.

Locate the memorial birdbath and bench at the cemetery's edge. From the bench, take three steps into the wooded area. Look to your left and find a tree with four trunks. The box is nestled between them and covered with leaves. Please rehide as well as or better than you found it. Please be respectful of nature and the cemetery space. Do not leave trash or disrupt wildlife habitat.

Fair warning: This is my first carve ever, apart from my signature stamp. I can't claim artistic talent, but I definitely had fun carving it! :)