The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-11-19
DECIDEDLY COOL.

DECIDEDLY COOL.
''Jlm Cummlngs' the Frisco Express Rai>
Der. In the Midst Of tho Cares Attending
the Safe-Keeping Of His Plumber. Finds
Time to Indulge His Sense Of HumOr and
to Return Useless Hut to Others Valuable
Papers.
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 12-There probably new
er was highwayman who took so much
| pleasure in his profession as the gentle
man who is coming to be known to fame
as Jim Cummings. This humorous rogue
has captured one of the biggest bundles OF
money ever lost by an express company,
and despite the fact that wealthy corpO-
ration and the largest detective organ
! ization in the entire country are do
ing every thing that money and brains
can do to run him down, Mr.. Cummings
occupies his spare time in guying his
pursuers, and in furnishing them with
false clews upon which to exercise their
ingenuity. He seems to feel so absolutely
assured Of his safety that he can afford to
have little innocent amusement with the
express company. The matter printed be-
low will show how his sense of humor oc-
casionally asserted itself, even while he
cation OF rif1ing money packages. Mr.. Cum
mings Is evidently gentleman from whom
very breezy interview could be had upon
the art and mystery of express robbery. if
he were willing, although from present
appearances that interview seems to DO
merely contingent possibility.
The Repnbiican on Wednesday received
an epistle from Mr.. Jim Cummings, dated
and postmarked from Topeka, Kas. Tho
document ran as follows:
TOPEKA Kas.. Nov. g. 's6
Editor Missouri Repubiican, 81 Louis:
DEAR SIR-I write you these few lines in tho
hope that you will publish them, and by so do
ing will right wrong done to an in
nOcent man. In the late account the newspa-
pers give of the Frisco train robbery OF Oct
25-1SS6 they all seem inclined to throw suspi-
cion on the messenger, Mr.. Farthingham.
Now such Is not the case. I done that work
and will say I consider Mr.. Farthingham a
brave aud sensible man. He did not give up
struggling to get up until he seen q
Smith and wesson No. 80 looking him
in the face. Our intention was first to ''hold
mp the Frisco" at Cuba Junction. but my two
partners nerve give out there, so come back
to st. Louis and rushed the letter on them.
Look for package in Union depot addressed J.
M. on OCt-25-1Ss6. Also look one mile east of
st. Charles bridge on Missouri river north bank
near last dyke that runs out in river for arms
and I guess you will tumble as how the
work was done. The skin lays behind the
dyke. came down the river Tuesday night
from Labaddie My partner got points on
express work from Tom Rape in Ohio He is
entirely not to blame rs he did not know what
we were driving at. / send you by same mail
four packages which wish you would please
turn over to "Damser' supt of the express
company as they are Of no value except to him.
Now Mr.. Editor please acknowledge receipt Of
this in your paper and by SO doing you will
not only clear up the character Of an inno
cent man but also you will let me know Of the
safe arrival of four packages Of stun for Mr..
Damsel Yours truly,
jim CUMMINGS.
PS. sent that bank note to Frank James
for Joke not for any desire TO get him into any
trouble.
Although the letter is dated November
8 Il was not posted until the morning Of
10. reaching st. Louis on the
same night. The handwriting is of that
peculiar backhand about which so much
has already been said in the papers. An
made by experts goes to show
that the chirography is the same as that
Of the letter sent to the Globe Democrat
and Of the Frank James and Mrs.
Root letters. The letter came in an en-
vel6ne by itself On the day before its ar
rival one package of rifled express matter
had come to hand and on the 10th the other
three bundles turned up. All of these
packages were made up and tied by a
man thoroughly used to fixing up
bundles The covers were neatly
folded in, and the whole appearance
Of the parcels was workmanlike and good. |
The first one received contained a number
of opened express envelopes, rifled money |
packages, and rather valueless debris of |
The robbery. Under one receipt for money |
10 the First National Bank of Eurek
Kas. appeared the following signature:
Jim Cummings, for First National bank. |,
Eureka" And then in the line below. |
where any fault is to be noted, occurred |
the words:
Il have no complaint to make whatever" |
rhe pleasant frame of mind in which Mr.. |
Cummings was passing his time was |
evinced in many other ways. He had |
opened and gone through every |
envelope Of the several hundred,
IN many of which were singular
.emarhs. In none was his rollicking spir-
{ displayed better than in the penciled Of
'er which will be found below to go on a
.bloke's'' bond to give the aforesaid
nance to show il he was any good on
,arth The same being signed Jim Cum
nings. while appended was statement
hat the value of Mr. Cummings property
vas $4,000
One Of the packages contained a great
lumber of mortgages and notes, the
Whole being valued at something over
s. 600
Yesterday afternoon all of the papers
we're turned over to Mr.. Damsel for the
ADAMS Express Company.
OF course there has been much specula-
ion about this letter, in, which, however,
here is so much mere theory that it is
ardly worth while to publish the conclu-
ions to which the detectives have arrived
he mail matter originated at the Topeka
ost-office, and the dates would go to
how that jim Cummings must have
assed at least couple of days in
hat town. Beyond this all is conjecture
nd doubt. Cummings is playing bold
anne, which is mystifying on account of
s very audacity. He seems to have no
urpose to do any needless destruction.
lie has got the cash. and he has returned
ne other papers to the express COMPANY
a manner which, in spite Of the robbery,
peaks well for him.
he Democratic Majority In the Next
House.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-Secretary Nc
herson of the Republican committee now
CURES it out that the Republicans will
ave 153 members in the next House. This |
claiming the election of Symes. Repub-
can in Colorado. Then. if the three labor
,ndidates are counted with the Demo
ats. they will have III members. If the
e,rocrats have elected Reed in Colorado.