Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-02
CUMMINGS CAUGHT.
Reported Arrest of Noted Member of
the James Gang in Caldwell County,
Kentucky.
st. Charles, Mo-, Special to st. Louis Repasb-


st. Charles, No., Special to st. Louis Repas6-
licGn.
A few days ago Governor Crittenden re-
ceiVed letter from an official Of Caldwell
county, KY, stating that man supposed to
be the famous Jim Cummings, of the James
boys gang, was residing in that region, and
asking that very accurate description OF
the outlaw be sent there. The description
was sent without delay, and yesterday the
Caldwell county authorities arrested the
man In question, who, they say, corresponds
with the description In every particular, and
whose movements and surf ouudings have
been In keeping with the character of the
train roober. He is now In jail at Princeton,
Caldwell county, and steps are being taken
to determine positively his identity. Should
1t prove to be Cummings, the capture is one
OF immense importance, and he will doubt
less be brought at once to Missouri.
Cummings first came prominently before
the public at the time that George Shep-
paTd rode iutO Joplin, Mo-, with bullet In
his leg, which he alleged had been fired by
Cummings after he (Shepprd) had shot Jesse
james through the head In Southwestern
Missouri. Sheppard at the time stated that
Cummings pursued him nearly two miles,
and finally succeeded in shooting him
through the leg. Cummings was an init
mate companion OF the James boys, the
Millers and Wood and Clarence Hite. There
Ia no doubt but he can be convicted OF COM
plicity In at least three robbeTies. Tucker
Basham testified that he was in the first
Glendale affair, and the evidence at differ
ent trials OF other rob5eries, showed
that he was member of the
who executed the Winston robbery, the
murderous participants Of which were Jesse
and Frank James, Wood and Clarence Hite,
Dick Little and Jim Cummings. Hardly
had the country time to recover from the
shock Of the murderous robbery, than it
startled by the commission of another. This
time the Chicago and Alton Railroad Com
pany was the victim of the band. The
affair took place on the evening OF Septem-
Der z. 1881, at Blue Cut, within a mile or
two of Glendale, the scene of the former
exploit. The usual tactics were employed,
but falling to get enough from the express
company, after having half-murdered Fox,
the express messenger, the passengers were
robbed. The particulars of this-which it
may be concluded from Jesse's death is the
last robbery Of the James boys gang-are
too fresh in the memory of the general
reader to need recounting.
He Is described as a fearless rufian, and
has been exceedingly lucky in eluding the
officers of the law. During the time the |
gang was in Kntucky, living in the neigh |
borhood of old man Hlte's, Cummings was |
with them, and made many acquaintances
In the neighborhood. 1t is very probable |
that after the killing of his leader he went |
back to the old rendezvous, and from there |
wandered into Caldwell county. George |
Sheppard states that at the time that Jesse |
James killed Ed Miller, Cummings took an |
oath that he would kill the murderer. He |
went around for week looking for Jesse, |
but the latter made a satisfactory explana- |
ton to mutual friends and they again made |
friends.
Cummings is well known in both Clay and |
Jackson counties, and his reputation is that
of desperate outlaw. OF late years he has
most frequently been heard of In Southwest
ern Missouri and the Indian nation.
Gov. Crittenden says this is the first infor-
nation he has had Of Cummings wherea-
bouts for more than year. Both Timber
lake and Craig consider him the most adroit
member of the gang. If, as the Governor
thinks, this is the man wanted, the capture
but points out the Nemesis that is on the
trail Of the cutthroats that have defied the
law for years. Cummings first made his de-
but on the criminal stage in the role of
horse thief, and then graduated to the plane
OF train robbery. Dick Little states that he
(Cummings) could steal more horses In a
week than any man west of the Mississippi.
He considered horse stealing very amusing
and when not engaged in robbing
passengers spent most OF his time in that
pursuit.
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