An old and interesting identity of Albury and Wodonga died recently in the person of James Long, who had resided for many years near the railway line on the Wodonga Flats. He had had a most adventurous career, and narrowly escaped hanging in the early days. He was identical with the celebrated bushranger known as Larry Cummins, who caused a good deal of trouble in the early sixties. His exciting career began through his brother being arrested for horse stealing. Larry was determined to make an attempt to rescue his brother. He got together a body of men, and as the police was conveying their prisoner to the Binda Lockup they were waylaid at a wide place on the track and attacked. Cummins shot at a constable who refused to obey the order to “Bail up!” Instead of hitting the officer, however, the shot struck the prisoner, who fell off his horse and died. (Thus Larry Cummins had accidentally shot his own brother John Cummins.)
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Escape from Goal: Cummins was eventually caught and found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to imprisonment for life in Berrima Gaol. Cummins hit on a plan to escape. He managed to secret himself in an outside, and worked his way along the flue until he reached the outer wall. With a piece of bent iron he worked all night at the mortar between the bricks, and made a hole of sufficient size to let his body through. He got clear away.
The escaped prisoner made his way back to his old haunts in the vicinity of Mudgee, Crookwell, Binda and other towns. Being a wanted man, he again turned bushranger, and stuck up the Mudgee coach, robbing it of 200 pounds Later on he made his headquarters at the Limerick Hotel, between Peelwood and Laggan. The police had been watching this place for some time, and at last came to the conclusion that it was the haunt of bush rangers.
Disguising themselves as diggers, they attempted a surprise early one morning. A noted bushranger named Lowry also frequented the hotel and on this particular occasion he happened to be sleeping in a bedroom off the verandah. The police called on Lowry to surrender, but he made no answer. They thereupon fired a volley through the door. Lowry opened the door and was shot, though not fatally. Cummins got away unhurt. Lowry who was severely wounded, was taken to the Goulburn Gaol, but the rough journey proved too much for him, and he died on the way.
Recaptured and Convicted: Larry Cummins was subsequently captured and tried at Goulburn. He was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment in Parramatta Gaol. Once more he tried to think of a plan to escape. It was a simple one, but bold withal. He jumped into the rubbish cart, and his comrades covered him with rubbish. The warden in charge, not suspecting such a simple ruse, had not been paying attention and he did not notice the disappearance of one of his charges. Unfortunately for Cummins, his leg was injured in the dumping and a vigilant warden saw him, and caught him.
Free Pardon: Cummins was not given another chance and he had served a number of years, when, with many other convicts, he was released by Sir Hercules Robinson, then Governor of New South Wales, and granted a free pardon. Gardiner and other bushrangers were similarly reprieved. Cummins returned to his old haunts for a time.
Theft of a Stallion: Among numerous lawless incidents of this man’s career is the story of the theft of the imported stallion Duke of Athol from Mr. Tindall, a Mudgee district squatter. A gang of horse stealers, of whom Cummins was one, determined to annex the Duke. The stolen animal was taken to Queensland, where number of his progeny now are, many having given good accounts of themselves in the racing world. Cummins eventually gave up his wild career and went to Gippsland, where became James Long. He was often seen about Albury, and attended sheep, cattle and horse sales. He made whips, and did jobs of droving for a living.
From – The Crookwell Gazette of 9 October, 1909.
