The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-08-28
The Witch Cummings Embroglio.


As much has been said in regard to
the recent troubles between the editor
of the Ozark Banner and l.. L. Witch,
ESQ.,, OF Ozark, we are furnished the fol-
lowing facts in the case for publication:
Since the canvass of last year there
has been hald-feeipgs existing between
the above named gentlemen, and on
several occasions Witch has offered
insults to Cummings that he has passed
without notice, until some weeks ago,
when Witch wrote letter and signed
several names of citizens to it, saying
that they would assal him the first time
he came upon the streets. The parties
informed Mr.. Cummings that they had
nothing to do with it, and that Witch
wrote it; he aiterward acknowledging
it. This called forth the piece in the
Banner, which you doubtless read in the
last issue of the paper. Witch had
had Cummings arrested for libel on
Thursday, the day the paper was issued.
He afterwards dismissed the suit, be-
cause he knew Cummings was going to
prove every allegation set forth in the
said article. On Saturday evening,
about dark, Mr.. and Mrs. Cummings
were out walking, Witch following
them, with the intention of doing them
some bodily harm, so they were inform
ed, and were advised by some of the
citizens to have him bound over to keep
the peace, as they thought the said Wit
itch might shoot Cummings in the back,
or something of that kind. Acting on
the advice, they had Witch arrested.
On Monday morning, when the case was
called, to see whether or not there were
sufficient reasons for believing that Wit
itch should be bound over to keep the
peace, Mr.. Cummings having become
satisfied that there was no danger of
Witch shooting him, unless he did it in
the dark, and in that case bond would
not prevent it, had the suit dismissed on
his own motion. When that was done,
Witch struck Cummings in the back
with large walking-cane. The city
marshal at once took charge of him aud
Cummings. If he had been disposed to
have returned the blow, he could not
have done so. Witch then called
Cummings a coward, etc, and kept it up
until Tuesday evening, when they met,
for the first time after Witch struck
Cummings in the courthouse. Witch
went to the depot with his family, and
was going off to Misso ri with them.
When he got to the depot, he saw Cum
mings there, and returned to town and
got a pistol aud remarked at the same
time he got it that if Cummings was at
the depot when he got back, he was
going to shoot or kill him. When he
got back to the depot, he found Cum
mings whore he had left him, and with
out Cummings saying a word, or doing
anything, Witch advanced toward him,
drew a pistol, and said, pointing to
Cummings, "Kcep cocl, yonng man "
Mr.. Cummings then started to Witch
and was caught. Mrs. Cummings caught
Wittich's pistol, who soon got loose from
her. She then struck him over the head
with her paraso. Cummings, by tins
time, had loosencd himself, and was on
Witch, who still had his pistol in his
hand, and succeeded in preventing Wit
itch from shooting him, and gave Witch
a good whipping before the city marshal
could pull him off. Witch returned
home, and has not been on the streets
since. | understand that Witch had
some circulars out, making some very
serious charges against Mr.. and Mrs.
Cummings. The circulars have never
appeared on the streets here, but were
scattered around in Alma on the even
ing that Witch was whipped, so it was
| reported here. The charges he has, or
may make against them, will not by any
means injure them with persons who
are acquainted with Witch Il