The Mankato free press., 1905-09-01
Claim "Merch'' ChiIders Was
Bribed BY a Woman.
Two Notorious Prisoners Es-
cape From County Jail.
Turnkey Is Held TO Await a
Hearing on Sept. 4th.

turnkey at the county Jail, was arrest
ed Saturday evening by Postoffice In
spector Frazer, charged with aiding in
the escape of Homer f. Trainor and An
drew Cunningham, two of the most no
! torious postoffice robbers in the country.
While Childers is not directly charged
with bribery, it is known that the post
office authorities will produce evidence
which they believe tends to prove that
Childers accepted bribe of $4OO from
two women who claimed to be the wives
of Trainor and Cunningham. Childers
pleaded not guilty before Uuited States
Court Commissioner Alfred Harrison and
was confined in the same cell from which
Trainor escaped a month ago. His bail
was fixed at 81 800 and hearing was set
| for Sept 4. While the postoffice in
spectors are reticent regarding the de-
tails of the latest sensational develop
ment in the case, evidence duplicating
it is expected, be brought out at the
hearing.
After the arrest of Trainor, Cunning
ham and James Crane for the robbery
of the Stoddard postoffice month ago,
they were visited at their cell by a mys-
terious woman, who carried fruit to
Trainor In the fruit were concealed
saws and files, with which Trainor made
his escape. 1t is charged that Childers
had been ''fixed" prior to this time.
Inspector Frazer secured his first clue
through a son of Mrs. TrainOr. In let
ter the son is said to have confessed
that his mother, while visiting at a
house on East Ninth street, st. Paul,
had procured tools and told him she
had fixed the ailOr at La Crosse for
$4O0 After the escape of Trainor, it is
with exposure if he failed to release
Cunningham. Subsequently Cunningham
escaped through secret passage un-
der his CELL The second escape was so
peculiar in many respects that an inves-
tigation was ordered.
The secret service officers then secur
ed a complete confession from Crane,
the remaining member of the gang, it is
said. In the alleged confession, Crane
admitted that money was used, accord
ing to report, and that Trainor, Cum
ningham and himself were members of
the famous "Blinkey Morgan" gang, of
which Charles Lowery and Eddy Fay,
notrious robbers, were members. The
authorities intimate that they have
reason to believe that this gang has
committed the majority of the post
office robberies throughout the United
States since 1900, operating in all parts
of the east and west.
Inspector Frazer discovered that some
years ago Trainor was operating in the
SOUTH and while at Clarksburg, w. Va,
won the love of the wife of prominent
merchant The woman left her home
and eloped with Trainor and since has
been living with him, assisting him in
the operations of the gang. Mrs. Train
or and Mrs. Cunningham lived in Chi
cago. They were literally supplied with
money and, according to the theory of
the inspectors, have assisted previously
in the escape of prisoners. 1t is stated
though not authoritively, that Mrs,
Trainor is in custody in Chicago. The
headquarters of the gang of postoffice
robbers which has operated in this re-
gion recently is known to be Chicago.
"Merch" Childers, the turnkey, twen-
ty years ago served a sentence of one
year in the state penitentiary at Wau-
pun for holding up and robbing passen-
gers ON Northwestern trains at Medary,
five miles north of here. For the last
half dozen years he has been trusted
| cUpIoye dI JHe jail anu was regarded
as an efficient officer.
1t is expected that some sensational
details, now withheld, will be made pub
lie on Sept. A, when Childers will have
hearing
Trainor's real name is said to be
William McCorkhill of Louisville, Ky,
where he is said to have powerful po-
litical friends. He has served time at
Scottsburg, Ind, in 1903 Cash bail was
secured and Trainor Immediately dis
appeared He served seven years at the
Columbus, Ohio. penitentiary as Can
ton Wicks."
Cunningham's name is supposed to be
Parker. AS John Brooks he was sen.
fenced in 1901 to one year in Erie coun-
ty penitentiary from Niagara Falls. He
was sentenced as Fred Perkins to one
year in Newark, n j. As John Brooks