In March 2004 there was much discussion on the Twain Forum list
related to whether or not Twain had ever used or intended the word
"Nigger" to be a part Jim's proper name.  The general consensus
has been that he did not and that using it as part of Jim's name
may have originated with Albert Bigelow Paine.

In reading two reviews of the Twain and Cable lecture tour
in 1884, I have found two newspaper reviews thus far that indicate that
Twain did refer to Jim as "Nigger Jim" when he was giving readings
from the advance sheets of _Adventures of Huckleberry Finn_.

The first dated Nov. 24, 1884 from _Atlanta Constitution_
which reprinted a story from the _New York Sun_ which covered
the readings given at Chickering Hall.  Giving a direct quote
from Twain's lecture:

"Nigger Jim had never thought of that before...." (24 Nov. 1884, p. 8)

The second from the _Washington Post_ dated Nov. 25, 1884 which covered
the readings given at Congregational Church does not use a direct quote
but refers to Twain's story about Huck running away with Nigger Jim.

Perhaps a closer study of other contemporary newspaper reviews of the
Twain and Cable lecture tour would provide further insight. While
arguments can be made that the reporters erred in their interpretation
of the words Twain was speaking, it seems evident that "Nigger Jim"
was used as a proper name prior to the official publication
of _Adventures of Huckleberry Finn_ and long before Paine referred
to him as such.

Barb