The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-22
JIM CURRIE'S CAREER.
The Murderer Of Benjamin Porter
Cincinnati Boy.

To-day there fingers in murderers cell
at Marshall, Texas, shuddering at the omir-
GUS mutterings of men outside who are ia
miliar enough with the informal execu-
tions Of Judge Lynch, a man who eighteen
years ago ne t month enlisted in the army
from this city, and went away to the war
as u valiant and true-hearted young soldier.
James Currie, whose name has flashed over
America within the last two days as tho
assassin OF Benjamin Porter, and the would
be murderer of Maurice Barry more, of the
Ward Barrymore Diplomacy" combira-
ton, was, up TO the beginning of the war; n
resident of Pendlctnn, then suburb of this
city. lie was railroad engineer OF good
reputation, running an engine on the Little
Miami Railroad. At the breaking out of
the war, he, with some twenty OF his rail
road associates enlisted under Captain J.
ID. Wallace, in Company j." Twelfth Reg
iment Ohio Volunteers. He served with
credit, and was promoted soon to nom
commissioned Office but the fact that he
was entirely uneducatcd probably pre-
vented him from getting commission.
His comrades i'll arms state that he was OF a
very quiet and even disposition, little given
to sprccs, and one of the most reliable men
on scout. He was a splendid man physi-
cally, OF commanding appearance, and cx-
ceedingly fond OF boxing and other manly
sports.
Sergeant Currie served out his term of
three years hunorably, and at its explra-
ton returned to Cincinnati. Mr.. r. NJ.
Shoemaker and his son were at that time
engaged in the construction Of railroad
III Kansas, and Currie being an engineer
whose abilities were known to and appreci-
ated by them they employed him to run an
engine on the road. During his employ
ment on this line the first indications of
the desperate traits in his character were
developed. He came TO be known as
something of bully, respected by his
friends but deeply hated and feared by his
enemies. One day he ran an excursion
train from Leavenworth down to Lawrence,
and in wandering about the latter town he
stopped in a saloon Here he was quickly
surrounded by gang of his tiercest foes,
and desperate atfray ensued. jim fought
with the ferocity of a tiger and vanquished
the whole party, then cutting loose horse
that was hitched ut the curb he mounted
the steed and galloped to the outskirts Of
the town, where his engine awaited him.
Here he concealed himself in the bushes to
evade the mob of Lawrence rowdies who
were on his track for vengeance, and re.
manned until his fireman returned to town
and gathered up the excursionists. AS the
train came back Jim mounted his iron
horse again and snapped his fingers in the
faces of his pursuers.
Some time after this he had an encounter
al Junction City with man about q
woman, which resulted in his shooting and
killing his antagonist. Subsequent to this
he killed another man in an aff'ray the par
ticulars of which are not known. This
ended his career in Kansas, and giving up
railroading, he joined the regular army as
scout He served for a long time and on
many expeditions with General Custer, and
his services are said to have been peculiarly
valuable. Finally he drifted to Texas,
where Sam. Bass and his famous band of
train-robhers we're having full swing TO a
great degree the capture and final destruc-
tion OF these men, Us well as many more of
the same class, are due to the shrewdness
and extraordinary excr:ions of Jim Currie
He Is remarkable man with remarkable
history and it is a source of sincere regret
not only TO his many old friends in this
city, but to the many friends he has made
in his better days elsewhere, that IN
ment of drunken frenzy he should have
committed an act which will certainly cost
him his life.
Currie is now about forty years old, a
splendid-looking man. if dissipation has
not broken him down, and unmarried.
There was not better soldier in our
regiment" says one of his old companions
i'll arms, "nor a man from whom we wo,sld
less expect mean act or a adesperate deed"