Larry Cummins (bushranger)
Larry Cummins (1844–1909) was a bushranger in central New South Wales, Australia during the 1860s.
Larry Cummins | |
|---|---|
| Born | Larry Cummins 1844 Abercrombie, New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | October 1909 Albury, New South Wales, Australia |
Cummins was from south of Abercrombie, New South Wales and was married to Bridget Francis.[1] Bridget's father had been a supplier of illicit alcohol in Tamborambora Ford, on the Abercrombie River.
His lawless career started when his brother was arrested for horse stealing. Larry was determined to make an attempt to rescue his brother. He got posse of desperate men, and set an ambush against the police who were conveying his brother to the Bigga lock-up. Only two mounted constables had been sent in charge of the prisoner, and they put up a fight. Cummings shot at a constable, who refused to obey the order to ' Bail up!' Instead of hitting the officer, however, the shot struck his brother which killed him.
Cummins was eventually caught, tried, found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to life in Berrima gaol. He escaped and made his way back to his old haunts in the vicinity of Mudgee, Crookwell, Binda, and other towns. Linking up with Fred Lowry and John Foley, Cummins robbed the Mudgee mail coach in July 1863. There was rumored to be 5,700 pounds on the coach. He also attempted a robbery of Webb’s store at Mutton Falls. Here he was reported to have been slightly wounded in the face.
On August 29, 1863 at Vardy’s Limerick Races Inn at Cooksvale Creek, north of Crookwell, Fredrick Lowry and Cummins were taken into custody following a shootout in which Lowry was shot in the throat. Lowry died the next day at Woodhouselee north of Goulburn.[2][3]
Cummins was gaoled for 15 years. He then escaped from Berrima Gaol and returned to bushranging including an attempted robbery at Mutton Falls. He was arrested at Porters Retreat in 1867. Convicted at Goulburn. He was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment in the Parramatta gaol. Later after he 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 in 1874. Frank Gardiner and several other bushrangers were similarly reprieved.
Cummins eventually gave up his wild career, and went to Gippsland, where he became James Long, which name he held till his death. He was often seen about Albury, and attended sheep, cattle and horse sales. He made whips and did jobs of droving for a living. He died in October 1909.
References
- Philippa Gemmell-Smith, Thematic History of Oberon Shire page 51.
- Monica Croke, Shootout in the Inn:Cooksvale Creek, Crookwell Gazette 3 Oct 1917.
- Philippa Gemmell-Smith, Thematic History of Oberon Shire page 52.