Napa County Deaths

James Cummings

Contributed to this site by Regina Gualco

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          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. 

Source: [Lyman L. Palmer], History of Napa and Lake Counties, California (San 
Francisco: Slocum, Bowen & Co., 1881), pages 144-145.