The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-11-19
JACKSON ROBBERS.
Given a Hearing in Mankato
Tuesday.
McKenna, One of the POstOffiCe Robbers
Puts Up Bold Bluff to Post
master StrOm.

|
rived in the city Tuesday from Fair
mont, bringing with him the two
men accused of robbing the Jackson
postoffice Saturday morning. He took
the prisoners to the county jail, where
they had dinner, and then took them
before Clerk Spencer, of the United
States district court, where they had
their hearing at 200 p. m.
The men gave their names as James
Carney and James McKenna. They
are tough looking individuals. Carney
pleaded guilty to the charge of break
ing into the depot at Jackson with in
tent to steal from the United States.
| McKenna said that he had nothing to
say. McKenna's foot was done up,
having been shot there while resist
ing arrest.
Postmaster H. L. Strom was the
first witness examined, and said that
the amount stolen was about So. A
rachel brace and monkey wrench
had been found in the postofiice, and
two holes had been drilled into the
safe.
Night Waterman Hugh Slack said
that he was passing by the postoffice
at SOC a. no. and heard a noise inside.
He called Ike Barrett to help him,
and as they went to the rear they
saw two men Jump from the window
and close it. He ordered them to
throw up their hands, but they ran
and he after them. He shouted to
them to halt and shot at them and
they returned the fire. He shot five
times and they twice. He found a
black overcoat under the window and
package of powder and skeleton
key were found in one of the pockets.
NJ B. Dunn, of Jackson, a deputy
sheriff. told of his efforts to notify
surrounding towns by telegraph and
telephone. He found that the tools
had been stolen from a blacksmith
shop.
Thos. Burrell, of Sherburn. a
deputy sheriff, testified that he re-
ceived description of the men from
Mr.. Dunn, was told by two hunters
that men answering the description
had passed by.on the way toward the
Iowa line, claiming that they were
going to husk corn. He tracked and
overlook them and called upon them
to throw up their hands, which Car
ney did. McKenna didn't want to,
but finally did. He searched Carney
and took some drills from his pocket.
While this was being done, McKenna
pulled revolver and jumped away.
Burrell pulled Carney in front of him
as protection andMcKenna followed
behind buggy, the team being un-
| manageable. Burrell borrowed a shot
gun with single cartridge from
farmer and got into another buggy
and chased the latter half a mile
when McKenna took to a field.
Burrell called upon him repeatedly to
halt, but he wouldn't, and Burrell
then fired the shot gun charge at him,
believing that it took effect in the
hip. Afterwards Burrell was obliged
to shoot three times before McKenna
would throw his revolver away. Nc
Kenna was searched and Sligo found
upon him. Carney confessed to the
postoffice breaking.
Ed. Kohler, of Sherburne, said that
he and his brother-in law were hunt
ing and the two men came along at
600 a. m. and asked questions about
the country. After McKenna was
cornered, he shot himself in the leg
with his revolver, as near as witness
could tell.
The prisoners were asked whether
they had and questions to ask the wit
nesses. Carney said that he had none,
but McKenna protested that the
money taken from him was his own.
He asked Postmaster Strom whether
he did not deposit his pig money at
the bank, and how it was that silver
dollar had been left at.the postoffice.
Mr.. Strom said that one man had
purchased a dollars worth of stamps
after banking hours.
McKenna insinuated that this was
not so, and said that the dollar ex
hlblted was his and that he had
earned the money found upon him.
He declared that he did not take any
money from'the postofice.
Mr.. Spencer bound the prisoners
over to the April term of the United
States court at Mankato, and placed
the bail of each at $4,000. They will
be committed to the Blue Earth
county Jail in the meanwhile.
Marshal Sheehan states that the
Fairmont and Jackson authorities
were glad to turn the prisoners over
to the government. He could not get
any admissions from the prisoners
that they have been concerned in any
of the other postoffice robberies that
have recently taken place in the