Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-22

enect. It was so dark that couldn't tell
what kind Of execution l was doing, but
kept at it as long as I had a cartridge in
my belt"
Thus, in the impenetrabl- darkness Of
the night, the men pumped at each
other until their ammunition was ex-
hausted. when Davis rode away toward
Albion.
Several days later the bodice Of Cum
mings and Wilson were found on the
range, and Davis naturally credited hini-
self with having caused the death of the
men during his nocturnal fusillade- He
saw no reason for believing otherwise
and made no secret of his opinion III this
regard Davis belonged TO what is
known in that country as the cattlemen's
faction, and his oft repeated declaration
that he would rather kill sheepmen for
$40 f month than do anything else at
double pay stood against him in the
minds of the general public.
Gray's sworn confession of the killing,
which was a startling surprise to the peo-
pie of Idaho, showed not only that Davis
had nothing to do with it, but that he
was 10 miles from the scene of the trag-
eJy. This was confirmed by Bowers
statement.
James E. Bower, himself wealthy
man and related by marriage TO one Of
the millionaire owners of the Sparks
HaIrell range, which is 100 miles long by
10 miles wide, and controls 100000
acres, was riding over the range on Feb.
1, 1896, when he SAW a sheepman's wag-
on and bunch Of sheep on the cattle
mems side of the divide. Tie mad been
Joined by jeff u. Gray, and the two men
rode over to see who the intruders We're.
Dismounting, they exchanged the Gus
tomary greetings and climbed into the
wagon. where Cummings and Wilson
were preparing u meal. After chatting a
few minutes. according to Bowers story,
Bower asked Wilson if he thought he
was doing right in bringing his sheep
across the divide to drive the cartlemen
off the range, since it is deemed that cat
tie will have nothing to do with coun-
try where sheep have been until after
the succeeding season, at least. Wilson
responded that he had a right to be
where he was. whereupon Bower. as he
declares, jokingly replied that he (Wn-
som knew he was lying, when Wilson
jumped on Bower. who is q small man,
and. gripping him by the throat, pressed
him backward with great force against
Gray, who was sitting on the front end
board of the wagon. Gray was hurled to
the ground and Bower. who had his
overcoat buttoned up to his chin, with his
pisto! in his vest scabbard, was thrown
across the front of the wagon.
Fearing he was about to be killed.
Bower tried to get ont his pistol, but
Wilson caught it, and the two struggled
for its possession. Wilson was a power
full man, while Bower was dazed and
partly paraiy2ed. Wilson was just get
ting the pistol from Bower, and both the
cattlemen say ne muttered, III get you
both At that moment there was Il re-
port of = pistol, followed by second
shot, and Wilson fell dead across Bow
er's still PROSTATE form.
Here Gray takes up the story. He says
that rs soon as he recovered himself aft
er being thrown from the wagon by the
impact of Bowers body in the powerful
grasp of Wilson, he turned and saw
Cummings il the act of leveling a Win
chester rife at him; that he thought it n
case of do or die, and that, whipping out
a pistol, he shot at Cummings, who,
without word, dropped his gun. At
that instant, he says, Cummings fierce re-
mark, ''I'll get you both" startled him,
and he shot Wilson twice before Wilson
could get Bowers pistol free for use.
Other sheepmen were in the neighbor-
hood so Bower and Gray rode away.
Bower went to Ogden, where, on Feb. 8,
he told John Sparks, his employer, all
about the shooting This was six days
before the finding of the bodies of Cum
mings and Wilson. This part is corrobo-
rated by Mr.. Sparks, and this, he says,
explains his earnest desire to see Davis
go free, for he feels that it would be a
stain on all concerned to have an inno-
cent man hanged for the murder of two
men who, he believes, were killed by an
other man in self defense. Already
Sparks has expended several thousand
dollars in the defense of Davis and will
not desert the prisoner as long as there is
a chance for saving his life. If Davis
had been acquitted, Gray and Bower say
they would never have disclosed the fact
that they killed Wilson and Cummings.