The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-16
WANTS HIN BURNED
Mrs. CumminS Creates a De-
Cided Sensation
HAUNTED BY AWFUL FEAR
Stands CroSS-Examination and
Tells Same Story

Wellington. Kan, May 15.-However the
trials of persons who caused the death
Of Anna Dishman may result, it may
be set down as an already established
fact that one person. at least has had a
trial, been convicted and for years has
been undergoing not only punishment,
but absolute torture for the part taken
in that Wanton murder. Clara Cum
Minis, the unfortunate wife, may escape
the punishment which is declared by the
laws Of Kansas 10 be the portion of per-
sons who shall kill without reason, but
she has already been tried at the bar of
her own conscience and found guilty by
partial but unerring jury. She knew
ii was wrong to take+a little homeless
waif. make a demon of her by the most
pitiless abuse and then scourge and curse
her for neglect of duties, which mistreat-
ment, perhaps, made her unable to per-
form. She knew when the child came
running up from the cellar that day, with
John Cumnins in close pursuit, made with
rage and attempting 10 strike her when
ever he came in reach, that she should
have protected her. Yes, she knew more
When asked why Cummins was so mad
at her, she said he had tried to kiss her.
Mrs. Cummins must have known then
that this girl who had been given TO her
to bring up as one of her own children,
must have her protection at once. Mrs.
CumminS knew that II was d terrible
wrong to allow that child to be stunned
by a blow on the temple on that fateful
morning in August. She knew that il
was murder added to torture to allow 4
human being to lie in that dirty, hot
smoke house and die, almost without any
attention. When she realized that Anna
Dishman had died in horrible agony,
alone, except the bottle flies and craving
insects that lowered and crept about her
and that her body had been dragged
across the fields at night to its lonely
grave in the hollow, she was suddenly
made aware that she had a conscience
and that rest for her in this world is an
impossible thing. Her hair. once black
rs the ravens wing, is almost white. Her
eyes are as restless, and show the results
of the fear Of an avenger, as do the OrbS
of a wild beast suddenly brought TO bay.
For years she has lived in daily and night
~ terror. The doors and windows Of
her bed room are filled with hundreds Of
nail holes. made by mailing up the open
ings to her room each night before she
will trust herself to Inconsistencies.
Slim legs, the 'black-eyed DEVIL is
constantly at her heels, waiting only for
the time, which is not yet come, when
ne is to murder her and drag her life
less body across the fields to the hollow
which was for year the tomb of Anna
Dishman. The avenging nemesis of her
diseased ina gination has never allowed
her to see him but twice. but she knew
him to be a confederate of John Cum
minis, and, to her clOuded thought, he has
her always within his reach. And so,
whatever the criminal machinery does in
the way of punishment for this cruel
murder, no decree of judge or jury will
bring upon the head of poor Clara Cum
minis such days and nights of agony and
torture as have been inflicted by her own
conscience.
After very cautious and skilful ex-
animation by Judge Mcbride on Tuesday
evening, she did not return at the open
ing of court yesterday; in fact, she did
not arrive until noon. and court was idle
for half day. She explained that the
roads were so bad that she was unable
to cover the sixteen miles any sooner.
She had refused TO take the witness stand
at all unless Miss Emma Barndollar
should take her testimony in shorthand.
This done. she next insisted that the
book in which Miss Emma had taken the
notes must be given her 10 carry home
at night, SC that, as she explained slim
Legs could not get hold of it and change
her testimony Since Judge Mcbride,
who is really leading counsel for the state,
mas come INTO the case she Is q little
harder TO handle than ever. and a times
seems TO be suspicious that things are
not just as they should be. Part OF the
time she suspects Judge Mcbride of be-
ing unfriendly TO the states side of the
case. and a day or two ago, when he was
trying 10 get some fact from her. she
said TO him: why, Slim, what do you
want 10 know that for?
She was ready to be cross-eXamined
after dinner yesterday, and. with the eX-,
ception of a few minutes. was on the
stand all afternoon. She is as crazy rs
a bedbug whenever the imag inary man
gets into her mind, but she tells the story
Of the facts leading UP 70 the death OF
Anna Dishman with wonderful accuracy,
when the lapse Of time IS taken into con-
sideration. Comparing her testimony now
with that given in February. il seems
almost remarkable how well she has kept
the story. In a long cross-examination,
repeated after several months. there are
nearly always some apparent discrepan-
cies. and Mrs. Cummins has kept as near
to her former testimony as is usually the
case. Mrs. Cummins had with her and
exhibited TO the jury two confessions
made BY John Cunmins and in his hand
writing. The first one is as follows:
June the p 1901
am writing to say that am the cause
of Anna Dishmsn Death and never
murdered her she made me mad and