The solution to the mystery of how some came to think, James, the Brother of Jesus, was murdered by Paul was this error in Dorotheus’ history from the mid 300s:
In Abraham Miller’s work dated 1663 entitled The Ancient Ecclesiastical Histories of the First Six Hundred Years, beginning at page 521. In the biography of James, Dorotheus writes:
« James the son of Alphaeus. Here mine author was fully deceived, and laid down he knew not what himself, placing for the eleventh apostle one Simon Judas a successor of James in Jerusalem. But the Apostle was called James the son of Alphaeus, and by the Apostles placed Bishop of Jerusalem. He was by the Jews set upon a pinnacle of the Temple, and as Abdias writes, ‘by Saul afterwards called Paul, thrown down, and having breath after his fall, one came with a fuller club, and brained him. Euseb. Writes the same at large, l.2. c. 23. Abd. Hist. Apostl. » (A. Miller, id., at 534.)
The actual account of the fall of James caused by Paul pre-Damascus did not result in death of James.
Thee Clementine Homolies account appears to be the original version. The Clementine Homolies tell how Paul aka Simon Magus attacked James the Just and left him for dead. However, it makes no mention that James died from the injuries. This reads:
« … the high priest of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem had often sent priests to ask us that we might discourse with one another concerning Jesus: when it seemed a fit opportunity, and it pleased all of our church, we accepted the invitation and went up to the temple. It was crowded with people who had come to listen, many Jews and many of our own brethren. First the high priest told people that they should listen patiently and quietly…. Then, he began exalting with many praises the rite of animal sacrifice for the remission of sins and found fault with the baptism given by our Jesus to replace animal sacrifice….
« To him our James began to show, by abundant proof that Jesus is the Christ, and that in Him are fulfilled all the prophecies which related to His humble advent. For, James showed that two advents of Him are foretold: one in humiliation, which He has now accomplished; the other in glory, which is yet to be accomplished…. « And when James had plainly taught the people concerning these things,
he added this also, that unless a man be baptized in water, in the name of the threefold blessedness, as the True Prophet taught, he can neither receive remission of sins nor enter the kingdom of heaven: and he declared that this is the prescription of the unbegotten God…. And when
James had spoken some more things about baptism, through seven successive days he persuaded all the people and even the high priest that they should hasten straightaway to receive baptism….
« And when matters were at that point that they would all come and be baptized, [Paul] [changed by historical revision to « some one of our enemies »] and his men entered the temple: and [Paul] cried out: ‘Oh men of Israel, why are you so easily influenced by these miserable men?’ He began to excite the people and raise a tumult… and drive all into confusion with shouting, and to undo what had been done by James. [Paul] rebuked the priests for having listened to James, and, like a madman, began to excite the priests and people to murder James and the brethren, saying ‘Do not hesitate; grab them and pull them to pieces.’ [Paul] then, seizing a strong brand from the altar, set the example of smiting. Then others also, seeing him, joined in the beating. Much blood was shed. Although James and the brethren were more numerous and more powerful they rather suffered themselves to be killed by an inferior force, than to kill others. [Paul] [changed into « that
enemy »] attacked James and threw him headlong from the top of the steps; and supposing him to be dead left him. »
See « Recognitions of Clement, » Book 1, Chapters LXIX and LXX, in Alexander Roberts et al. Ante-Nicene Fathers: Translations of the Writings of the Fathers Down to AD 325 (1886) Vol. 8 at 95-96.
(Catholic editing is obvious, and even Roberts, a Protestant, alludes to these softened references as forgeries, and titles the heading as Tumult Raised by Saul even though Saul-Paul is never mentioned by name.
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