Evening star., 1899-09-16
Escaped Convict Tired Of Being a
Fugitive.
HE HAD ROBBED 4 SAFE
Went to KIondike, Where He
Met With Success.
OFFERS RES TIT Q T1ON

MEMPHIS. Tenn, September 10
Charles o. Summers, formerly a detective,
an escaped convict from the Mississippi
penitentiary. gold hunter of the klondike.
and man with a conscience, is again with
in prison walls in Mississ ppi. He journey
ed all the way from Dawson City, Alaska.
to New York, and from New York to Mem
phis and Memphis to Jackson, Miss, to
surrender himself as a safe robber
Summers arrived in Memphis Thursday
and called on Superintendent Agee of the
Southern Express Company at his office
He said he was tired of liberty that does
not mean freedom" Even in the klond Ike
he had no peace of mind. He thought Of
going to China but his conscience led h m
back to Mississippi
When he walked into Mr. Agees Office he
was prepared not only to declare repent
ance, but to make restitution. He turned
over to Mr.. Agee $500 in cash TO cover
the amount OF his Indebtedness to the
Southern Express Company, even including
the companys expense OF pursuing him.
He said that he would also reimburse the
state of Mississippi for the expense of
bringing him back from California, which
he did promptly upon reaching jackson,
Mr.. Agee told Summers he would trust
him to go to Jackson unattended. and he
could leave when he got ready. Summers
left Memphis and Superintendent Agee re-
ceived telegram dated at Jackson con-
tanning the simple words: Have arrived"
and signed. Charles o. Summers"
Letter to Gov. McLnurin.
When Summers reached New York from
San Francisco having gone from Dawson
City to that place. he wrote to Governor
McLaurin of Mississippi. His feelings dur
ing the years in which he was a fugitive
and an exile are expressed in this letter.
He desires to serve out his sentence, make
m
the world man not bounded by his fellow
men.
In 1892 Summers was a detective, and in
that capacity was employed by the South
ern Express Company to capture Eugene
Bunch, who had robbed Southern ex-
press train at Hammond. La, in the
spring of 1892 Bunch was killed and his
companions in the robbery were captured.
While in pursuit of the train robbers
Summers was in and about Meridian. Miss.
great deal. and faniliarized himself with
the details of the office of the Southern Ex-
press Company at this point. Soon after
he returned to Chicago and divuged to
Tom Murray. another detective. a plan
he had conceived to rob the safe Of the eX-
press company at Meridian. Both Sum-
mers and Murray resigned their positions
and left Chicago for Meridian.
Summers had in the meantime made a
false key to the office door and to the safe.
| During the temporary absence OF the night
| force in attendance upon a train, hum
dred feet distant from the office, Summers
entered the Office and safe by means of the
| false keys and distracted a parcel of 5000.
The money was handed to Murray, who
left on a train for New Orleans while
| Summers retired to his hotel.
| When the loss was discovered Summers,
| known to be in the city. was summoned to
| aid in tracing the thieves. In a short while
| express officials and other detectives ar
| rived upon the scene and began an investi-
cation. In less than forty-eight hours Sum-
| mers had been arrested and confessed that
| he and Murray had committed the theft.
Murray Arrested in Chicago.
| Murray was arrested just he was leav-
| ing an Illinois Central train at Chicago on
| the third day of the robbery and 81. 100 of
| the money was recovered from his person.
Both Summers and Murray pleaded guilty
| ard were sentenced to five years each in
| the Mississippi state prison.
| Summers had not been in prison over
| ninety days when he effected his escape.
| This was in April, 1893 In the spring of
| 1924 Summers was arrested in San Fran
| cisco. and was held to await the arrival of
| officers from Mississippi who again i'm
| prisoned him.
| a few months thereafter Summers es-
| capped again, this time bribing the guard
| whom he took with him. His second es-
| cape was effected in August, 1894. After
| travelling around different places he finally
| went to the Klondike, but learning that de-
| tectives were on his trail he disposed OF
| his interests in Dawson City and returned
| to the United States. He arrived in New
| York city September 10, direct from Daw
| son City via San Francisco.