Cassia County ID Archives News.....BRUTAL MURDER       (Wilson and Cummins) February 20, 1896
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Chris Storey chrissy_7@q.com September 30, 2010, 9:22 pm

Oakley Sun February 20, 1896
BRUTAL MURDER.
Two Sheepherders Killed on Deep Creek.
THE MOST INTENSE EXCITEMENT PREVAILS THROUGH THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
  On last Sunday, the 9th inst. Edgar D. Severe who was herding sheep for E. 
R. Dayley about 60 miles west of here at Deep Creek, went to the camp of 
Wilson and Gray about 3 miles distant from his camp. As he approached the 
sheep wagon he saw no sign of life except two nearly starved dogs tied to the 
wagon wheel.
  On entering the wagon a shocking sight met his eyes. Lying to the outer edge 
of the bunk was the dead body of a man he recognized as Daniel C. Cummins. And 
on uncovering a body lying to the back of the bunk he recognized the remains 
of his friend John C. Wilson. Large pools of blood were on the floor and the 
bedding was saturated with blood. Both bodies were clothed and Cummins had on 
his overcoat. Mr Severe saw that both men had been murdered. He went back to 
his camp and immediately Noel Karlson came to Oakley for assistance, and to 
notify the Coroner and sheriff. Mr. Severe went and visited the camp of Davis 
and to see if he was safe and a party of men went out  from here with the 
coroner and sheriff of Albion.
  On the arrival of the coroner a jury was empaneled and an investigation 
begun. It was evident that the men had been killed on the 4th or 5th inst. 
This was further corroborated by the evidence of Davis Hunter who hauled them 
a little wood on the 4th and only a stick or two of it was burned. Also that 
the dogs tied at the wagon wheel had eaten most of a harness to satisfy their 
hunger. Wilson had been shot twice; one shot entering the front of the chin 
from above passing through it and out and then entering above the middle of 
the right collar bone and passing down through the right lung. His face was 
badly powder burned from this shot. He probley fell forward on his face and 
was then shot in the back the ball entering on the right side and coming out 
in front on the left side. He is supposed to have died almost immediately. 
Cummins was shot but once, the ball entering about one inch to the right of 
the navel and passing slightly upward made its exit between the lower ribs on 
the left side near the back.
  Dr. Story who made the autopsy believes that Cummins lived several hours.
  One shot that had been fired had gone wild, striking the wagon tongue and 
glancing off went through a coal oil can standing near.
  Preparations around the camp, showed that the men were preparing their 
supper at the time of the shooting It is probley that the murderer rode up to 
the wagon and called to the inmates, and as Wilson stooped down to look out of 
the door the murderer fired the shot that went through his chin and powder 
burned his face, and as he fell forward on his face he received the shot 
through the back. The murdered then gave Cummings his death wound, reloaded 
his gun and rode away.
  The only weapon that Cummings and Wilson had was an old needle gun which was 
discovered in the wagon and which was found not to have been discharged for a 
long time. One cartridge for this gun was found in Cummins pocket and one in 
the bunk. No empty shells were picked up that belonged to this gun but 4 empty 
shells were found at the rear of the wagon. Even had the deceased been well 
armed in all probability they would have had no time or chance to defend 
themselves.
  The country in this vicinity is quite rolling, with many hills and ravines 
making it easy for one to escape observation from the herders of the other 
flocks.
  There was also snow on the ground at the time which had melted before any 
investigations were made, rendering it impossible to track the murderer.
  Cummins must have retained his faculties and even his strength for some 
time, otherwise he could not have gotten Wilson back on the bunk and covered 
him up, Cummins also wrote with a lead pencil on a piece of paper; If I die 
bury me F care Jerome and Ruthy, Jerome and Ruth are his little brother and 
sister living at home with their father at Walla Walla, Washington. It is 
supposed that by this he wanted them to have his savings amounting to a few 
hundred dollars.
  The coroners jury found the following verdict:
DEEP CREEK CASSIA COUNTY,IDAHO, FEB 18, 1896, John C. Wilson and Daniel C. 
Cummins met their deaths by gun shot wounds by parties not known to us. 
       E.R. Dayley, Foreman.
J. J. Gray, Fred Wilson, Bert Lee, F. Cummins, Herman Hunter
  The party that went out after the bodies returned with them at 5 a.m. on 
Wednesday the 19th. The funeral was postponed until 3 p.m. awiting the arrival 
from Mt. Pleasant, Utah, of Alexander D. Wilson brother of one of the deceased 
who had been notified by telegraph. Excitement at been at fever heat ever 
since the news of the murder had reached here and the meeting house was soon 
filled to overflowing. The speakers dwelt upon the young men and of the 
foulness and brutality of the crime that had cut short their lives.
  John C. Wilson was 23 years old and had been a resident of this place 
several years. His only crime was that by industry and frugality he had 
acquired a few head of sheep and was pasturing them on government land. He 
loved his brother and sister who mourn his death.
 Dan Cummins was a nephew of our well known citizen F. M. Cummins and his 
parents formerly resised here. His father lives at Walla Walla.
 While no one knows who did the killing it is generally believed to have been 
the outgrowth of the contest between the cattlemen and sheepmen for the 
occupancy of the range between Rock Creek and Salmon Falls River. This contest 
has been going on for several years and has generally consisted of poisoning 
sheep, firing into sheep camps, etc. Last fall however Wm. Tolman was shot in 
the arm by a desperado named Diamond-field Jack employed by the cattlemen.
  Taken altogether that was undoubtedly the most coward and brutal murder ever 
performed in the state of Idaho. Two young men following their honest calling. 
Their days work is ended.They are in camp  preparing their evening meal. The 
murderer arrives on the scene. He calls to them and then shoots them down. For 
What? Is it because they have dishonored some one dear to him and he seeks 
revenge? Is it to save his own life that he takes the life of another. No, it 
is none of thes things. It is because they are grazing their sheep on 
Government land which others have had the use of for years. This is the crime 
for which the hired assassin strikes them down. In Western Cassia county here 
is better agricultural land and plenty of water and timber still unsettled 
than exsists anywhere else in the United States. It can support more people 
than are now living in Cassia county.It is inhabited only by roaming of 
cowboys and coyotes, because of the lawless acts of one cattle company. It is 
time that the strong arm of the law was involved and this country made safe so 
that the poor man can settle on the government domain and build a home for 
himself and family.
  The board of County commissioners have called a meeting for the 23rd, inst 
to offer a reward for the apprehension of the murderers. We are informrd that 
the Govenor will offer as payment equal to the county reward and this should 
bring to the scene skilled detectives who may run the murderers down.
  
 

 


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