The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-01-23
BULLET WOUND FATAL
FOR WEALTHY MISER
Cummings Dies Of Injury inflicted
BY Berger in Eiectment Dispute
Life One Of squalor--Recluse said
to be Worth $4,000.

10 De worth $4,000.
d
Salt Lake City, Jan. lS.--Followin;
the death yesterday forenoon at 9.3,
o'clock of Thomas Cummings, 6.
years, as result of an alteration
Birter, alias Leo Berger, aged 6.
years, as result of alteration
over rents, developments in the case
came rapidly.
j. Il. Wiley, county attorney said
last night that complaint charging
Berger with murder in the first de
gree would be issued today from the
attorneys office.
A coroner's investigation made yes.
terday afternoon . Mortensen court
where both principals in the shooting
lived, reveled the fact that Thomas
Cummings was Tecluse and a miser.
The room in which he lived, not more
than a dozen feet square, was used as
a living room, sleeping room and
kitchen. II contained no floor and
this the aged man lived upon the
ground through the dampness of the
winter and the dustiness of the sum.
mer
Wealthy, Lived as Hermit
Notwithstanding this lowly abode,
tax receipts and other papers were
found by Acting Coroner Harry $,
Harper which showed plainly that
Cummings was worth not less than
$4,000. He owned practically the
whole of Mortensen court and a half
dozen other lots in this city. lie own.
ed farm in Tooele and a number of
other pieces of real estate in the east
IL is not known that Cummings has
any relatives in the United States.
but II is said that a brother lives in
Ireland. Worth a small fortune. Cum.
mings had lived the life of hermit
for many years. taking no one into
his confidence and holding the plea.
SAINT things of life in dsdain. Only
SIS in cash was found in the dead
mans room.
Acting Coroner Harper said last
night that no inquest in the case
would be necessary The body was
removed from the ST. Marks Hospital
TO the undertaking establishment of
O'Donnell d co, Funeral arrange.
ments will b. made today.
Leo Birter whose night name is
Leo Berger, aged G2 years, is in the
city Jail, having been arrested short
ly after the shooting and booked on
an open charge, pending develop
ments in the condition of Cummings
Berger was arrested ON June ), 1871
by Patrolmen Simpson and Olson on
a charge of assault with deadly
weapon on George Slpithoff and this
case is still pending in the District
court When Berger got into trouble
on the previous occasion he was liv.
ing with his wife, Mrs. Lille Berger,
on Sixth Avenue,
Jealousy an Element
he police were summoned to the
Bergerhome, and there found that
Spyithoff had been severly cut with
a pocket knife. 1t is alleged that the
aged Berger made the assault upon
Splithoff because of Jealousy on his
wife's account.
Berger has white hair and "A short
white beard, and presents figure In
the city Jail which is seldom encoun-
tered there. He does not appear to
be greatly concerned over the death
of Cummings.
We'll, II can't be helped" he said
yesterday. 1T was his own fault, and
If he's dead, that's all there is to It,
Last Sunday he attacked me with
pick handle, and I'm crippled in the
hip. Tuesday he came into my house
with another man and started TO
throw things out, and ! drew my gun |
and shot him. | told him that would
pay the rent when he brought things
back ] could not defend myself Grip.
pied as ! was, and it was his own
fault"
Dispute About Rent.
Cummings made statement short.
ly after he was shot TO the effect
that he could eject Berger from his
house, as the latter owed him three
months rent. Cummings said he pre-.
tended to pick up coal scuttle and
throw IL out of the door, and that
Berger drew revolver and shot him
Mrs Lille Berger, wife of Leo Der
a.rnatnd .rnat.,l...