Napa County CA Archives Obituaries.....Cummings, James November 24, 1860
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Regina Gualco rmgualco@yahoo.com August 1, 2006, 11:47 pm

Source: [Lyman L. Palmer], History of Napa and Lake Counties, California (San Francisco: Slocum, Bowen & Co., 1881), pages 144-145.
Killing of JAMES CUMMINGS.---Berryessa Valley was also the scene of this
homicide, and, while the trouble grew out of land matters, as had the [murder of
George Ettenbrough], the circumstances were much different. John See, the man
who did the shooting, had a claim on a piece of land in the valley. He also had
charge of a band of sheep, which belonged to another party. It became necessary
for him to take the band of sheep to the lower end of the valley and to remain
absent from his claim for some length of time. He left his place in charge of a
younger brother and a man named Wood. The man, Cummings, who got killed, had the
name of being a bad man, and as soon as See was gone set about making
preparations to "jump" his claim. The first thing he did was to bribe Wood with
forty dollars to leave the place. He then went to the house and, with threats
and a show of firearms, frightened the younger See off the place also. He then
proceeded to take possession by throwing See's things out of doors and
installing himself as master of the domain. A few days later the older See came
to the place in a wagon with a party of hunters, and, seeing his things cast out
of doors, proceeded to the house to see how matters looked. Just then Cummings
put in an appearance with a cocked revolver and ordered See to quit the
premises. See went to the wagon and procured a gun, with which he shot and
almost instantly killed Cummings. This occurred on the 24th day of November,
1860. See was arrested, or gave himself up to the officers, and was acquitted by
the Justice of the Peace.

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