The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-11-19


bar. In the Midst ~ the Cares Attending
che <afr-kerpIrg of Dols rlundcr. ftnd~
Time "a Indulge 1ota sense az uunor and
20 Return Csrlrss Hat 20 Others Valuable
rnprrs-
~. LovIs. Nov. n-Therc probably new.
.r was q h~ighwayman who took 80 much
pleasure In his profession ~ the gentle
man who Ii coming "a be known 70 fame
~ Jim Cummings. This humorous rogue
has captured one Of the biggest bundles OF
money ever lost by nm express company.
and despite the fact that 4 wealthy corpo-
ration and the largest detective organ
ixation In the entire country are DO
ing every thing that money and brains
can do 70 run him down. Mr.. Cummings
occupies his spare time in guying his
pursucrs. and In furnishing them with
false clews upon which 70 exercise their
ingenuity. He seems 20 feel so absolutely
assured Of his safety that he can anord y
have a 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
was ia the very midst Of the serious ayo-
cation Of rining money packages. Mr.. Cum.
mings IL evidently q gentleman from whom
u very breezy interview could be had upon
AHI 4 iii H. T. W
he were willing. although from present
appearances that interview seems 70 be
merely a contingent possibility.
The R<tnbir.r~ on Wednesday received
an cpistle from Mr.. Jim Cummings. dated
and postmGrkcd from Topeka. Kas. The
document ran as follows:
TOPEKA. kas.. Nov. 4, "a.
Editor .Hissonri Rfpubfic1n. -. Louis;
DEAR SIR write you these few lines IN the
hope that You will publish them. and by 80 DO
Ing Will right q wrong done TO an in
noccnt man. In the late account the newspa-
pcrs give Of the Frisco" train robbery 81 Oct
eyiss5 they all seem inclined 70 throw suspi-
cion on the messenger. Mr.. Farthingbam-
Now such IL not the case. l done that work
and will say l consider Mr.. Farthingham .
brave and sensible man He did not give up
struggling 70 get up until ne seen .
smith and Wesson No. ~ looking him
in the face. Our intention was first 20 hold
mp the Frisco ~ Cuba Junction but my two
partners nerve give out there. 50 ! come back
70 ST. Louis and rushed the letter on them
Look for package In Union depot addressed J.
NJ on OCtssriS<s 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 l guess you will tumble as how the
work was done. The skin lays behind the
dyke. came down the river Tuesday night
from L.abaddie My partner got points on
express work from Tom Rape In Ohio He -
entirely not to blame a. he did not know what
We were driving at. / send you ~ same mail
four packages which I wish you would please
! turn over 70 'Damsel" supt. OF the express
company as they are 81 no value except 20 him
|! Now Mr.. Editor please acknowledge receipt of
this in your paper and by 80 doing You vii
not only clear up the character 81 an limo
! cent man but also you viii let me know q ine
--.. E..~ u.EMN NJ EfMn fUr M
Damsel- Yours truly.
p sens that bank note 20 Frank james
for a Joke not for any desire 20 get him into any
trouble.
Although the letter Is dated November
: n was not posted until the morning ~
November 10. reaching -. Louis on the
same night. The handwriting - ~ that
pecuiiar backhand about which so much
has already been said In the papers An
examination made by experts goes 70 show
that the chirography is the same as thai
Of he letter sent 70 the 6ic'r- D,norrr'
and IL the Frank james and Mrs
Root letters. The letter came Ia an en-
yelope By itself. On the day before Us ar
rival one package Of rihed express matter
had come TO hand and on the lotn the o'hei
three bundles turned up. All 81 these
packages were made up and tied oy \
man thoroughly used 70 fixing vi
bundles. The covers Were neat,
folded in. and the whole appearance
~ me parcels was workmanlike and good
The first one received contained . numbe1
81 opened express envelopes. rificd none,
packaces. md rather valucless debris q
Inc robbery. Under one receipt for none,
"a the First National Bank Of Eureka
Kas.. appeared the following signature:
Jim Cummings. for First National bank
Eureka And then in the line below
where any fault is 70 be noted. occurre'
the words:
II have no complaint 10 make whatever
The pleasant frame Of mind in which Mt
Cummings was passing his time wa
evinccd in many other ways He ha'
opened and gone through ever
envelope Of the several hundred
On many Of which were singnla
remarks. In none was his roilicking spi'
II dispiaved better than in the pencilet q
fer which will be found below TO 20 on
abloke'sr bond 20 give the aforesaid
chance 10 show IL he was any good q
earth. The same being signed Jim Gun
mings. while appended was a sfafemer
tha. tho value OF Mr.. Cummings rropert
was Ss3noo.
One of the packages contained. . grea
number OF mortgages and notes. "a
whole being valued II something oys
<S.On
Yesterday afternoon all Of the paper
were turned over e Mr.. Damsci for ~
Adams Express Company.
OF course there has been much specui'
tion about this letter. in which. howcve'
there il 50 much mere theory that y
hardly worth while 70 publish the roncii
sions 10 which the detectives have arrives
The mail matter originated a. the Topek
p~osf-ofice. and the dates would 70
show that Jim Cummings must hay
passed at least a couple Of days
that town. Beyond this all l. conjecfui
and doubt. Cummings II playing q bol
game. which is mystifying on account I
IA very andacity. He sccms 70 have =
purpoee TO do any needless destruction
HI has got the cash. and he has rcsurne
the other papers 20 the Express compan
IN 4 maNncr which. In spite Of the robbcr'
speaks well for him.
the Democratic Majority In the Ne
House.
w~AsHrxGro~. Nov. la-Sccrctary ~
Phcrson 81 the Republican committee no