The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1917-05-05
AGED RANChER and WIFE
Slain BY EMPLoyE, WHO
Then ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
MIKE CHUMICK, CRAZED FARM HAND, TAKES LIVES
OF MR.. AND MRS. JAMES H. CALDWELL AND
TRIES TO END OWN EXISTENCE
Slayer Confesses Guilt After Girl Tells Story of Day and Nj
Of Terror Ranch of Mystery Declares He Fired Only
to Prevent Taking of His Own Life.

Career of James H. Caldwell, slain
Monday at his ranch home in this
county by Mike Chumick, an emplove,
reads like tale filched from the
pages of fiction, his long span of exis-
tence being marked by a series of
eventful occurrences, any one of which
the average man might hark back to
as landmark in his life's history. A
meteoric rise from ordinary circum-
stances to wealth; plunge almost
overnight practically into poverty;
then, indonitably fighting his way up
again, rise to afluence; his ranch
house set away in the hills a place
of mystery, to the countryside; dis
appearance of his only son, as COM
pletely as if swallowed up by the
earth; arrival of a mysterious claim
ant, impaired as to faculties, but hav-
ing uncanny knowledge of past events
which many think could be possessed
only by the missing heir; a sensa-
tional trial, in which Caldwell, deny
ing the claims, was victorious; and the
final chapter, the aged man struck
down in the heat of passion by an
employe, killed instantly, even the
last moments of his life and events
leading to his death being shrouded
James Il. Caldwell was born in
Oswego, N. Y, in 1912, and upon
reaching manhood's estate he made
his way to Chicago, beginning his
career in the metropolis on Lake
Michigan's shores during the dark
days of the Civil war. Young Cald-
well was a born financier, and fortune
favored his projects to such extent
that he was well on the road to
wealth in few years. He embarked
IN the commission business, and his
operations were on a vast scale for
that; period. He dealt in trainload
lots and seemingly no deal was too
big for him to attempt.
Ruined by Chicago Fire
Then came the great Chicago fire
of 1871, and his buildings were de-
stroyed, thousands of dollars worth of
potatoes and other vegetables were
burned, all books of the concern were
lost, and he was unable to collect even
the insurance on his property. He
remained in the middle west and
started anew. Then, after varying
fortune, he came to North Dakota,
arriving in this state in February,
1888.
Gilbert S. Cryne, litterateur, now
residing at Lehigh, was then repre-
sentative for the land department of
the Northern Pacific Railway. To him
Caldwell first came, securing land
which he homesteaded, IL miles south
east of Gladstone and 22 miles south
~ H0IYInc0ro ca II
For number Of years Caldwell and
his mother ranged cattle for other
people, then started in business for
themselves, and prospered. In 1894
Mr.. Caldwell's first wife passed away,
and some time after he remarked, his
second helpmate being resident of
Washington, D. c., at the time. Two
children were born to the first union,
May and Jay Allen.
Caldwell met with success in the
stock business and constantly added to
his holdings. He was a shrewd buyer
and a good manager, and after several
years was rated as wealthy man.
A Ranch of Mystery.
Over the ranch home for years has
hung an atmosphere Of tragedy. Mys-
terious disappearance followed violent
death; eliminating in the shocking
crime of last Monday morning. Two
children Of a sister of Caldwell were
burned to death in shack on the
place. Folly, an employe, disappeared
and was never heard from again; Jay
Allen Caldwell was erased from the
scene and opinions vary widely as to
whether he is dead, alive in another
portion of the country, or whether J.
c. R., the man Of mystery, is Jay
Caldwell. Welde, an employe, was
found dead in bed, and his wife was
drowned in Heart river, in the vicin-
ity of the place; and finally comes the
double murder and attempted suicide
of the slayer. a''
But the event which brought Cald-
we'll in the eyes of the nation was
the sensational J. C. r. case. :: The
mysterious disappearance of the son,
and the arrival, years later, Of a man
who claimed to be the missing heir,
with knowledge of past events and
trivial happenings which it seems that
only the real Jay Caldwell could know,
but still differing physically in num-
ber of ways which seemed positively
to disprove that he was the man; old
neighbors by the score testifying in
court that he was CaldwelHs son; and
with the old rancher swearing that
the claimant was an impostor- this
was enough to excite the curiosity of
"a nation. Verdict was in favor of
James 81. Caldwell and he retired to
his ranch home, perhaps with the Sc
cret locked in his breast, and there re-
manned till struck down in his de-
clining years by murdere-'s hand.