St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-12
FOR STEALING STAMPS.
Trial of Charles Kinney for Help
ing Rob the Minneapolis Post

ing ROD the Minneapolis POSI-
office.
Special to the Globe.
WINONA, Mimi, June 1.-THE most
important case at the special term of
the United States district court was
called this morning before Judge Shiras,
being the trial of Charles Kinney,
charged with completely in the
famous Minneapolis postoffice rob
berry OF the night OF July g,
trict attorney at Chicago, conducted the
prosecution. and G. Wellington, of st.
Paul, the defense. A number of wit
nesses were called by the pros
ecution, including Postmaster Lara
way, Miss Frances xLaraway and
George O'Leary, of the Minneapo-
lis postoffice; James Kicker, a
grocer, Samuel A. Stearns, saloon
keeper, who identified Kinney as having
been in his saloon on the day of the rob-
berry; Detective Kidder, of the treasury
department; Mr.. Bragden. of the
mailing department; Detective Hoy
ter was tried and convicted
here last year of being one of the rob-
berS in the case, and is now serving a
term of five yerS in Joliet. Detective
Hoy testified that he had seen Kinney
in Minneapolis for five weeks prior to
the robbery, and that he had sud
denly disappeared: also that Kin
ney had been arrested for picking
pockets at dime museum, and Bob
by'' Adams was the most important wit
ness. After giving brief history of
his own eventful career, Adams
gave a full account of the rob
hnrv cold fhof ChorlQc
ney, John Cook, John Connors,
''Pointer" Harris and Pat Callahan were
Implicated with him in the robbery.
On the night previous to the burglary
they broke into blacksmith shop near
the Milwaukee & st. Paul depot and Sc
cured the necessary tools. He said that
for several nights before the robbery
they had met at the poStOffice and eX-
ploded firecrackers and listened to see
if any one was disturbed by the explo-
Sions. The burglary was planned for
the night of July g. but for some reason
was postponed and did not take place
until the Sth. Five of them effected an
entrance into the postOffice about 80
o'clock. Kinney came in later and he
and Callahan were put on guard. The
balance of the party blew open the safe
and found small amount of money
and several packages of stamps. Adams
said he objected to taking the stamps,
as they would get the whole gang into
trouble, but they took them just the
same. Kinney got horse and wagon
and the party drove to st. Paul and hid
the stamps in the ground near the river.
There was an understanding that
Adams and Conner were to divide the
stamps equally. Later the stamps were
taken to Chicago. A rigid cross exam
ination failed to reveal any more evil
dence. Adams said his confession
against the rest of the gang was not
given in revenge, although they had
gone back on him. He testified out of
principle.
This afternoon Will Ferguson was
called for the defense. AS the case was
about to be summed up Judge
Shiras said he didn't see what
evidence there had been adduced
for the jury to retire on. The
only positive evidence brought out
was that given by the Robber Adams,
and it had not been corroborated. The
case could not go to the jury on that
evidence. An adjournment was then
taken until tonight.