Mexico weekly ledger., 1893-02-16
MEXICO, MISSOURI, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1e. 1898

auu tuc murQeIefS went 70 the Darn
to dispose of the bodies. About
this moment Mr.. Jake Cumberland
came home without his wife. He
found the door of the house aiar.
He investigated and discovered the
murderers and the murdered in the
barn. Davidson and Chistman told
him if he didn't join in the plot and
assist in burying the dead he must
die too. Cumberland tried to ap-
pear very willing to assist and they
all stayed in the barn until dark.
AT midnight Davidson hitched up
a team he had on the place and the
three men hauled the corpses of
Robertson and the child to the river
bank end inferred them. Davidson
and Chistman prevailed on Cumber-
land to tell where the money was,
but he didn't know. Then they
all scattered, but Cumberland and
Davidson were captured later and
arrested on suspicion only. At the
preliminary trial Jake Cumberland,
thinking it would be as awful for
his wife to lose brother as hus-
band, pleaded guilty and released
his brother-in-law, who hastily re-
turned to Fulton. Jake finally had
his trial before the Circuit Court.
The verdict was death on the scat
fold. An appeal was taken and at
the last moment he secured new
trial. Since his case was tried the
last time
MRS. JAKE CUMBERLAND CoNFEssEs.
This is the first publicity her story
has had. 1t will no doubt be a
startling piece Of news when it gets
to the vicinity where the horrible
crime was committed to hear that
she has told what her husband had
revealed to her and no other-the
facts in the case. 1t is a written
confession, said Mrs. Boomer, and
before she wrote it her brother, Bill
Davidson, who was at Fulton, re-
ceived word to "git," that the truth
was coming out. Since this re-
cent confession Mrs. Boomer said
she had written to Governor Boies
and felt confident her brother would
not hang, although her parents have
been irreconcilable all the while and
have feared it would be hard to save
him. On being asked why he
brother was SO willing to diesfor 6
crime he did not commit Mrs
Boomer said: ''He is crazy ant
thinks he might as we'll hang as hi
brother-in-law. w. w. Fry says
he would swear Jake has been o
unsound mind for many years. ,
A GOOD BOY.
awe are certain Jake would no
harm any one," said Mr.. James
Cumberland. He was always {
good boy and very tender-hearted
He would not even wiring chicken
head off or do anything hurtful t.
a creature and we have been puzzle'
ever since my wife and l heard Of tn
murder nearly two years ago, whel
it was first committed. 1t has never
been explained to US satisfactorily
until our daughter, Mrs. Boomer
returned from Iowa a few week
since. Now that Jake will have
new trial we trust to the Lord that b
will prove his innocence. My wifi
and spent an awful restless night
l had a presentiment in dream
that something terrible would hap
pen, but you bring us glad tidings.
| A SPECIAL FROM IOWA.
| Below is a special from Masol
City, Iowa, evidently written by
correspondent not in possession O
the details of the deplorable case:
| MASON CITY, To-, February g.
One of the happiest men in low
tonight is J. K. Cumberland. H
was to be hung tomorrow for tn
murder of James Robertson and son
Jasper, at Harland, but upon
technicality he will have rehearin
lin the Supreme Court. He wa
Indicted for both murder and man
slaughter, and when his trial cam
pleaded guilty and was sentenced b
Judge Deemer to hang. AS he ha
made no direct plea to murder, o.
this ground the case will be reheard
There is scarcely a question as t
his guilt. After being in Jail abou
four weeks it became known ths
he had written a confession on
night. Sheriff Rainbow entered hi
cell and forcibly secured it. Th
murderer broke down completed
and related in detail the horrlbl
butchery and asked to be taken awe
to a place of safety. He told whel
1.-The bodies were, and friends wei
to the place and dug them out {
the bed Of the river.
Tyler-GIenn.
q; Elder C. e. Hill, of Laddoni'
!; passed through town last week, e
,, route home from Galloway count,
where he united in marriage Nj
. . Robert Tyler and Miss Gertrud
. Glenn. Miss Glenn is a neice I
Mrs. Caie Guthrie of this city, an