August 15, 1895-- The McAlester Capital— - Frank James does not believe that his old friend and pal, Jim Cummings, was shot at Telluride, Col., last Tuesday.

“It’s a thousand to one shot,” said James to a Republic reporter yesterday, “that the City Marshal of Telluride, Jas. Clark was not Jim Cummings. He may have been some Missouri Cummings, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Jim. That man had too much sense to be City Marshal of any town. He couldn’t possible have escaped recognition, out in that country because it is full of people who knew him in the old days and wouldn’t hesitate to give him up in the hope of securing a reward. If I remember rightly there are a number of indictments hanging over Cummings.”

Jim Cummings was born in Clay County, Missouri, 54 years ago, with in three miles of the home of the James boys. Frank and Jesse James, Cummings, the Youngers and others of the band that became famous for its daring robberies in later years were boys and playmates together. When the war came on they espoused the cause of the Confederacy, and all enlisted in the company that was raised in Clay County and the adjoining country by the notorious Quantrill. Cummings served through the war with Quantrill’s raiders.

Shortly after the war Cummings was suspected of having robbed a bank at Liberty, but nothing could be prove against him. Later he was arrested for stealing horses, gave bond and jumped the bond. Then he joined the James boys and the Youngers, and was with them in nearly all their big jobs. When Cole and Jim Younger conceived the idea of go8ing up to Northfield, Minn., to rob the bank there, Cummings opposed the project strenuously, but the sentiment of the gang was in favor of it, and the attempt was made with disastrous results that are a matter of history. Cummings refused to accompany the party.

When the James boys came back to Missouri after their awful fight and narrow escape from the Minnesota mob, Cummings joined the gang again. In 1879 or thereabouts, he, in company with Jesse James, Tucker Basham, Will Ryan and others, held up a Chicago and Alton train and furnished material for the history of the famous Glendale robbery. Shortly after this Cummings rode into Independence on horseback and consulted an attorney concerning his chances of getting clear of the charge or robbing the train, if he surrendered. The attorney assured him that conviction was certain.

“Well, then,” said Jim, “I’ll leave the country.”

He walked downstairs leisurely from the lawyer’s office, mounted his horse and rode away. Since that time Jim Cummings has not been seen in Missouri.

Frank James thoughtfully spat on the ground yesterday and remarked, quietly: “That couldn’t have been Jim. You see, Jim was one of those men that won’t let nobody shoot him.”

August 15, 1895-- The McAlester Capital—Jim Clark, The Rio Grande railroad detective, was shot and killed in the street at Telluride, Col., last week. He was formerly a desperate outlaw and is believed to have killed at least twenty men. During the war he was a member of Quantrill’s band of guerrillas, and known as Jim Cummings. After the war he was government scout and Indian fighter. He was with the Jesse James gang and after it was broken up he committed numerous stage robberies. Eight years ago he settled at Telluride and was made town marshal, in which position he strictly enforced the law.

Transcribed & submitted by: Mollie Stehno

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