The San Francisco call., 1905-05-29
Police Believe That Wife Of
Man Who Robbed the Cen
tral Stock and Grain EX-
change Fixed Deputies
FREEDOM is BOUGHT
WITH STOLEN MONEY
Captain Burnett Trying to
Find Mrs. Anna Mitchell,
Who Forsook Her Convict
Husband for the Escape

Maurice Church, the prisoner who es-
capped from the San Francisco County
JAN and after his capture declared to the
Los Angeles police that he bribed his
way 10 freedom, was brought back last
night by Detective MathesOn. He was
Immediately placed in his old cell at tha
County jail
A woman is supposed 10 have furnished
the money that Church says bought has
few weeks OF liberty. She is a convict :
wife and became infatuated with Church
~ J. Kcrrigan was in charge of the
prisoner when he escaped. The police viii
not make any charge against him at
present nor viii the Sheriff, until
Churcis story is thoroughly invesu-
gated The returned escape refused last
night either 10 affirm or deny the story
OF his confession which was printed ex-
elusive ly in The Call yesterday
Chief Dinan viii leave The matter en-
tirely to Sheriff Peter ]. Curtis The
Sheriff left town ear Y yesterday morning
ana could not be located last night. but
il is said that he will sift the matter TO
the bottom. Chief Jailer Coyle had a
talk with Church last night. but the
prisoner refused to say anything further
regarcing the accuse ton he had made
The money with which Church's telease
~ AilfbNtA 10 nave D6eu DOUZDt Is Darl
of the $40 taken from the Central Stock
and Grain Exchange on September %.
1903. by John Purvis Mitchell. Only part
Of this was recover ed. AIitchelfs wife
was supposed TO have known where the
rest was hidden and to have given il for
Church's release.
Churcn declared positively to the Los
Angeles police that money had been paid
for bis release. He declared that when
he Ia rlr he
else with him" When he arrived at the
County Jail however, his attitude seemed
10 change and he declined TO answer any
question regarding his alleged confession.
Church was convicted on two charges
Of larceny. He was accused Of commit
ting numerous thefts Deputy Sheriff
Ccyie is positive that Church is lying and
that his confession is a fabrication. The
prisoner is not entitled to MUCH credit for
veracity.
POLICE HUNTING FOR WOMAN.
The police are locking for Mrs. Anna
Mitchell, whose husband, John Purvis
Mitchell, WAS convicted Of robbing the
Central Stock and Bond Exchange OF
Si4ee. Captain Burnett is certain that
II Maurice Church's story is true the
money that bought his release was put
Up by Mrs. Mitchell and is part of the
Si40C aiken by her husband from the ex-
change.
Only $500 was recovered and the po-
lice were confident at the time that the
robbers wife knew where the rest was
concealed. While Mitchell was in the
City Prison awaiting trial the woman
went frequently to see him. There she
met Church. who was acting as a ''trus-
ty."
the woman evidently became infatuated
% af4 k~.rl
been taken TO San Quentin to serve his
sentence she continued her visits to the
prison. She was permitted to have long
talks with Church
Later Church was removed TO the
Broadway County Jail. Mrs. Mitchell
went TO visit him every day. 1t was dur.
ing these visits that he plotted the es-
cape. lie told her that he could buy his
freedom and the police believe that tn.
woman might have unearthed the
plant" of $500 which her husband had
left in her keeping, for Church to bribe
his way out Of jail
But The plans were bungied. Church
obtained permission from Chief Jailel
J. +. Sullivan TO visit dentists office
n. J. Kerrigan, a deputy, was ordered t.
take him there.
In her anxiety to see that his plan did
not miscarry Mrs. Mitchell herself gave
was wrong. Detective Taylor saw hel
talking 10 Church outside the dentists
oftice on the day that the escape was re.
ported.
SHERIFF. DISMIssES DEPUTIES.
When Kerrigan returned TO the Counts
jail Sheriff Curtis became suspicious h
ordered Chief Jaiier Sullivan and Deputs
Sheriff Kerrigan suspended. After a prf.
vate investigation by the Sheriff bott
were dismissed.
Neither Kerrigan nor Sullivan could be
located yesterday. The former viii find
himself in an unpleasant situation il
Church can prove his story. Connivine
at the escape of a prisoner is a felony
and the penalty is ten years Imprisonment
in the penftentiary.
The police believe that Mrs Mitchell
must have followed Church to Los An
geles They have Instructed the author
tiles Of that city to keep a watch for her
She was seen in this city last Friday by
Detective Mulcahy.
II Church sticks to his story the woman
viii be charged with two crimes-beins
an accompiice Of her husband and aiding
in 1he escape of her paramour Mrs
Mitchell is tail blonde and rather good
looking.
The only reason why Captain Burnet-
has some doubts as TO the story of the
confession is the fact that Church had
only six months more to serve
1t seems impossible to me that a mar
ike Church would want to have tha-
much money paid for his release" SAID
Burnett. 1T seems to me that he would
want the woman to hold il until he got
his release"
When asked if he had received any
word from the Los Angeles police. Can.
tain Burnett said: THE first l heard Q,
II was in The Call this morning. | car
do nothing until 1 get word from the
Sherfffs office"
Besides being punished for his escape
Maurice Church will probably be tried for
embezzlement when he arrives He toaa
with Kim when he escaped a ring valued
al $3.50 from Qoung Quack Wah, a Chinese
murderer, and watch from William H
billiard, Federal prisoner. Both of these
articles he sold in Los Angeles. but the,
were afterward recovered by the police.
Mrs. Mitchell at one time lived on Oc
tavia street. Later she moved to 1876
Ellis street. No information regardin1
her could be obtained at either place b,
the police.