The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
BEHIND THE JAIL BARS
MURDERER CUMMINGS BROUGHT
BACK FROM COLUMBUS.

He Refuses to Talk About His Crime
But Talks Freely of Els Wauderings
and Escape - Given Away to the
Oficers by an Ex-Convict Friend
The Murderer Sent to the Peniten-
tiary in 1880 for Five Years for
Trying to XII Man.
Charles Cummings, the murderer Of
David Williams, is behind the bars Of the
county jail. He was brought to Savannah
last night at $50 O'Clock by Detective Nor
gan.
The first person to greet the prisoner as
he stepped from the train In charge of the
detective was Dick Butler, an uncle OF
Cummings. He grasped the cuffed hand Of
his nephew and remarked, well, you're
here, Charlie"
"Yes,n replied the murderer in a low
tone. while his eyes filed with tears,
s'they've got me, and guess Pm III for il.
esTbe clanking of the chains around Cum
mings' legs attracted attention and a crowd
of negroes undertook TO follow Detective
Morgan and his prisoner, but the detective
put an end to that by hustling Cummings
into hacz and driving rapidly to the jail.
THE MURDERER's STORY.
A MORNING NEWS reporter had a talk
with the murderer. He is about feet
8 inches in hight, weighing about $50
pounds with wide face, projecting fore
head and small swapping eyes. He has a
mustache and imperial and two rows Of
pearly white teeth, which show prominently
when he smiles. Cummings would not
talk about his reasons for killing Williams,
saying be would make no statement about
the case relating directly 60 the murder
until bis trial.
"Did yeu get away from the neighbour
hood of Savannah at once after killing Will
liamsr be was asked.
"No,' replied Cummings, ST came into
the city and stayed 8 week in Yamaoraw
and then went to PARROT, in Marion
county, by the Central, leaving from the
depot. From Parrot / went TO Richland,
but left when things got too hot for me and
went to Stewart county. / was working
for a farmer there and one day picked up
a paper and saw that / was wanted. I
dropped the paper at once ard left the
place. Then I Travelled through diff
ferent parts OF the country,
working at saw-mills and on farms. went
TO Columbus and stopped there awhile, after
which went over to Alabama and got
work.
BACK FROM ALABAMA.
Last Tuesday," continued Cummings
81 came back from Alabama to Columbus,
intending TO stay there. had a friend
running barber shop who was in the peni-
tertiary with me from 1880 until 1855.
while was serving a five years. sentence
from Judge Fleming for trying to kill a
fellow named Houston here. I went to this
friends barber shop Wednesday night, and
after was there awhile be asked me il |
WOnlA until a
something. / told him would and
went into the back room and sat
dowl on box and began cutting my finger
nails. In few minutes i heard some one
coming in aud when l looked up / saw a
policeman standing In the door I felt like
he wanted me and showed my knife in my
pants pocket.
CUMMINGS ARREST
1.-THE policeman walked over and Selling
me by the wrist said: i want you l sub
mitted at once, and then the policeman
asked me what l rad in my hand when he
came in. pulled my knife out and showed
1t to him. I sort Of leaned on him to get up
and he told me he would blow my brains
out.
81 didn't try to cut him, 4" said Cummings.
land there was no reason for his threaten
ing to shoot me. That friend Of mine when
be went and asked me TO stay in the shop,
uuuteu up tue poAceInan anu tolQ MIN
was in his place"
Cummings gave himself away first to
woman in Columbus by telling her that he
had killed man in Savannah, and IL be
ever went back he would either have no
name at all referring probably to the like
hhood Of hanging, or would never do an-
other days free labor. The woman told
the police, and from her statement and the
dispatch from Detective Hanley the polioa
were hunting for Cummings when the muir
derers friend went to Officer Moore and in
formed on him.
Cummings spoke we'll of the treatment
accorded ban by Detective Morgan, and as
he was consigned to his cell in murderer,s
row, next to that occupied by Dotson, the
condemned murderer, he turned and
thanked the detective.
Cummings has already been indicted and
he will be tried as early as possible after
Christmas.