Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-27
WHOLE NO HOSP.

described as tall, dark man of propos-
sessing appearance, dressed in black, with
very large hands and feet 1t is singular
coincidence that he gave the name of Jim
Cummings. the only member of the once
celebrated James gang who never has been
accounted for.
lSECOND DISPATCH.
The stranger who gave the name of Cum
mings To trothinsham, the messenger, pre-
sented to him cleveriy-forged letter bear
! ing the perfect facsimile of the signature
of Barrett, the route local agent of the ex-
press company at St. Louis. The letter
stated that il had been decided to put an
extra man on the route that the bearer
was he, and rockingham was directed to
teach him the details of the business. The
stranger was allowed to enter the car, and
| took great interest in all the movements Of
the messenger, apparently desiring to learn
quickly the ins and outs of the duties
which the letter stated he was expected to
perform. The two men busted themselves
with the accounts, etc, and all went well
| until point between ST. Louis and Pacific,
Mo, was reached rockingham was busily
engaged over his accounts, with his back
| turned to Cummings In the course of
| time il became necessary for him - go TO
the sale, and turning to do so saw the
| stranger calmly sitting in his chair with
cooked revolver leyeled at his (FrothiDg-
hams) head. Cummings cautiously ap-
preached the dumbfounded messenger and
told him that if be remained quiet and
made or raised no alarm he would not be
endangered. rockingham had nothing to
do but to submit. The rObber bound him
hand and foot, pressed gag into his
mouth, tied him TO the safe so that he
could not move and proceeded with his
work The safe had been left open and it
took but few minutes for the robber
to secure the bank notes and Yalu-
ables in the shape of jewelry, etc. The
| road at this point runs directly alongside
high bluff, which in places overhangs the
| track, making the danger of wrecks from
| collision with boWlders, which OCCASION
| ally fall from above upon the tracks, very
| great. Trains, therefore, slack up at this
| point, and run slowly until the dangerous
| place is passed. This the engineer of train
| No. 8 did as usual, and thus offered the
robber an easy means of escape. He first
| locked all but one door, stepped out on the
| platform, locked the door from the outside,
and jumped off. rockingham in the
| meantime could do nothing to release him
| self, not being being able even to call for
help. Two hours later the conductor tried
! the door, and hearing some one struggling
| within suspected something wrong, and
burst the door open, finding rockingham
as above described He was quickly re-
leased and told-his experience. The robber
had the start of fully two hours, and it was
useless to run back to try and find him.
The train therefore proceeded on its way,
and arrived in this city this morning on its
return trip. rockingham Immediately
sought the Superintendent of the company
and vas closeied with him for some time,
at the end OF which be commenced prepa-
rations Of his official report refusing to
make any statement to outsiders regarding
the robbery. excepting that the total loss
would amount to something over $4,000.
The officers of the company have nothing
to say Of The affair