The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-10
cAronr TIE wRoNe NAN.
Remarkable Case OF Mistaken Ideu'
IIty-NoI James Gang Bandit.

CAUGHT THE wRoNG MAN.
A Remarkable Case OF Mistaken Ideu
IItJ-NoI u James Gang Bandit.
= Princeton Ky COR. Louisville Commercial
!, The latest sensation, which ELECTS NOR
than ordinary interest in this section, is l
suit brought in the Federal Court in Louis
vile for $4,000 by ]. A. CuuluninS, o
Wells Point, Texas, against Joseph Olive
and r. d. Pickering, SheriiIs, respectively
Of Lyon and Caldwell counties, damage,
for false imprisonment. 1t will beremem
bered that Cummins was arrested on The
18th day Of October last, charged will
organizing band to rob the Chesapeake
Ohio & Southwestern express, and also tC
rob the principal business houses in Eddy
vile, and on suspicion Of being the Jim
Cummins' member oil the James gang
The affair caused intense excitement at
the time Of the arrest in both thus county
and Lyon, and for several days the pubic
was yislbly disturbed BY the supposed
presence Of member OF the James gang
in the vicinity, and by the capture oil The
deputiEed leader Of the movement, anu II
was not until 4 detective sent by Governor
CrilIenden, OF Missouri, declared the OIL
ticers Ut fault, that all fear subsidized. Many
did not seem satisfied then, M tic descflp'
, ton was so exactly answered in the person
Of Cummins.
j. A. Culnmins was born in Lyon county,
and when quite small removed with his
parents, about twenty live years hgor to
BonhauI, Texas, where his father still re-
sides, and where Cummins himself COntin.
. ued 10 live until last spring, when he went
to Missouri and obtained au agency 10 sell
u patent quilting inluIe. Tue family LETT y
large connection IN Lyon county, many oil
whom are OF much influence and embrace
ing come Of the best families In the county.
But little wins heard OF the emigrating fam.
lily fora long period, and in alter years
when "Jim Cummins' became u name Of
terror as one Of the most daring and des.
peTate Of the iuvincible gang, bis deeds Ui
daring and wild exploits discussed in wills.
pered consultation around the hesrthsiones
OF the numerous families who claimed kin.
ship with the Texan, ]. A. Cummlns, and
all agreed in thinking the notorious des'
peIado to he the cousin jim" long since
gone to seek his fortune along tue border
0i the LaI.O Elacd,lO and u tew openly
admitted their convictions, and declared
themselves disgrAced and the family name
dishOnoTtd, thus preparing the pu5lic eye
for critical observation.
THE SUSPECTED MAN AFrEARs.
When, last summer, J. A. CumminS, Us
agent for his Missouri employees, landed ut
Eddyyille and mingled with bis relations
aud bOyhoOd chuns, it seemed 10 be an
accepted fact among them, therefore, that
he was the famed desperate. Dashing
| fine looking, with lots OF cash, anu gill
VI CAB, he was looked upon by his Credu'
lOus friends aud relatives Rs perfect per.
gOuiliualiOn Of true knight OF the road
but for some time no steps were taken to
bring about his arrest, and Cummins, who
made friends wherever he CHANGED 10 be,
having worked up Eddyville aud the sur.
rounding territory TO the interest Of his
patent, removed to Caldwell and made
Princeton his headquarters. II seems that
soon after Cumminu came 10 Princeton u
young man, whose name, strangely
enough, could never afterwards BIZ obtain.
ed, living near Eddyvllle, approached n
I. BrOswrll, u wealthy merchant OF
Eddyville, and who in addition
keeps y hotel, at which Cummins,
while at Eddyvllle, stopped, aud
offered 10 disclose plot. Mir. Broswell
encouraged him and he confessed 10 being
one OF band urganized by CumminS Us IL
deputy from JrSse James TO stop the pas.
spliger on tue Chesapeake, Ohio & South
western road in deep cut, between kutta
wa and Eddyvillc, and rob the express aud
mail, alter which the band would proceed
10 Eadyyille and rob the principal business
houses in the town, including BroSwelTs
house. The plot as disclosed was cunning.
ly designed, and was 10 have been execn'
ted with u certainty and exactneSs that
Ould do credit to jesse JAMES In person.
lie claimed TINT Cummins had represent
ed himself ay tho veIItAOle Culnmins des.
perado, and had been engaged In the work
Of organization during the whole time that
he was in Ejdyville. The would-be wit
ness implicated one other young man q
WORTHLESS character, who, hearing Of the
fact, departed for healthier cline
Immediately. lie stated that at tirSt
lie had been disposed to glory in the con.
nectiOn, but upon reflection had decided
10 give it up and ozark" MIR. DrOSwell
became alarmed and communicated the as
sertous Of the young man 10 few friends
and the Sheriff Of Lyon, Mr. Oliver. Oil
yer Immediately commenced preparations
to defeat the alleged plot, and opened
correspondence with Governor Critlenden. |
The possibility Of finding "Jim Cummius"
walk right into his grasp 80 easily suggest
ed lingering tue neat lilIle reward which
hung over that knights head, and Oliver
gathered up all the evidence possible.
Each day but frightened the coils Of identity
about MIR. Cummins, and when the de-
scripliou sent by Governor Critlenden ar.
rived and was applied, there was appar.
emily not the least variance. Even a bul.
l ! IL. IL 49,. il.....aaal