Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-16
Pinkerton Detective and ESCAPED
Convict Returns to Serve Out Hi.
SeptcrfCc

| IPinkerton Detective and Escaped
Convict Returns to Serve Out His
Sentence.
/ Memphis, Sept. 16.-Charles o. sum
mers. formerly Pinkerton detective
an escaped convict from the Mississippi
penitentiary, gold hunter of the Klon-
dixie and man with conscience, is
again within prison walls in Mississippi
He journeyed all the way from Dawson
City, Alaska, to New York, from New
York to Memphis and Memphis to
Jackson, Miss, to surrender himself as
a safe robber.
Summers arrived in Memphis Thurs
day and called on Superintendent G. W.
Agee, of the Southern Express Com
lpany, at his Office. He introduced him
lself, but that was unnecessary, as Mr.
Agee recognized him. Summers said he
was tired of liberty that does not mean
Freedom Even in the Klondike he had
mo peace of mind. He thought of going
to China, but his conscience led him
back to Mississippi.
1 When he walked into Mr. Agees office
| he was prepared not only to declare re-
pentance, but to make restitution He
turned over to Mr.. Agee $1,500 in cash
to cover the amount of his indebtedness
! to the Southern Express Company. even
Including the company's expense of pur-
suing him. He said that he would also
reimburse the state of Mississippi for
the expense of bringing him back from
ICalifornia, which he did promptly upon
reaching Jackson yesterday afternoon,
paying $500.
| In 1892 Summers was a detective in
1 the service of the Pinkerton Detective
Agency. and in that capacity was em-
ployed by the Southern Express Conn
pany to capture Eugene Bunch, who
had robbed Southern Express train
lear at Hammond, La. in the spring of
! 1892. Bunch was killed and his com
1anions in the robbery We're captured.
Summers then returned to the Chicago
/ office of the Pinkerton Agency
/ While in the pursuit of the train rob-
bers Summers was in and about Merid-
ian, Miss, great deal and familiarized
himself with the details of the Office of
the southern Express Company at that
point. Soon after his return to Chicago
he divulged to Tom" Murray, another
| Pinkerton detective, the plan he had
conceived to rob the safe of the express
company at Meridian. Both Summers
and Murray resigned their positions
with the Pinkerton Agency and left Chi
| cago for Meridian.
Summers had In the meantime made
false key to the Office door and to the
safe. During the temporary absence of
the night clerk and his force, in attend
ance upon a train hundred feet dis
tant from the Office, Summers entered
the Office and safe by means of the false
keys and aDstracted parcel of $4,000
The money was handed to Murray, who
left on train for New Orleans, while
| Summers retired to his hotel.
| When the loss was discovered Sum-
tmers, known to be in the city. was sum-
moned to aid in tracing the thief. In a
short while express officials and other
detectives arrived upon the scene and
began an investigation. In less than
forty-eight hours Summers had been
arrested and confessed that he and
Murray had committed the theft.
| Murray was arrested just as he was
leaving an Illinois Central train at Chi
lcago on the third day after the robbery
and S4,100 of the money was recovered
| from his person. Both Summers and
Murray pleaded guilty and were SEN
ltenced to five years each in the Missis-
sippi state prison.
| Summers escaped twice. having been
recaptured at San Francisco and escap-
ing the second time by bribing the
guard.