Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-12-29
AD NIT THEY ARE
POSTOFF|CE
ROBBERS
Two Men Contided in County
Jail Awaiting Preliminary
Hearing for BurgIarizing the
Michael Store Acknowledge
They Are Escaped Federal
Prisoners,

When confronted yesterday morn
ing by a government BADLY wanted
circular, containing their mugs.
Otto Drake and Lee Kundig, two men
who have been confined in the coun-
ty jail for several days awaiting a
preliminary hearing ON e charge of
having robbed Michael Brothers store
on south Second, on the night of De
cembor 6. broke down ana confessed
that they We're wanted bN the federal
officers ON a charge OF rohbing a
postotficc AT Ridgeyine, m, and also
on a charge of breaking jail at st.
Louis. Drake and Kundig were
brought back to Albuquerque from
san %Bernardino. cal, about a week
ago by sheriff Perfecto Armiio and
Night Marshal Hurry Cooper. to stand
trial for the Michael robbery. The
men were traced to san ~Bernardino
through two suit eases which they
shipped to That place from Gallup.
The incidents in connection with the
capture of the men for the Michael
robbery ana the discovery of the fact
that they are escaped federal prison
ers, are rather interesting.
Fate seemed To be against the pair
an along According to the story told
by them in the county jail yesterday,
they broke Jail in st. Louis on No
vembrr 10. where they were confined
awaiting a trial on a charge Of rob
hing the postoffice at Ridgcvillc, H.
It is thought they arrived Ina Albu-
qucrQuc on the night Of December $,
and being ia need of cash to tide them
on their way to a warmer climate,
pulled off the Job of robbing Michael
Brothers store. where they secured
about $3.50 worth of merchandise
They took train 80. z 10 Gallup,
where they disposed OF some OF the
stolen articIcse. and then shipped the
balance in two suit cases to san Ber-
nardino. The pair followed the suit
cases by the more co%ugcnial freight
train route.
Arrived in san Bcrnardino. they
presented themselves at the cXprcss
office and asked for their traps, only
go find themselves in the tolls OF the
California authorities. who had been
waiting for them for several days
The men we're brought back To this
city and placed in the county jail.
awaiting a preliminary hearing, which
was scheduled for January 4 In the
meantime John Grubb, who claimed
to be- "a runaway f.deral offender. APP
pcarrd i'm Gallup and gave himself mp.
Co Sheriff Coddington, saying that he
was wanted iu 81 Louis for stealing
q letter from "a mail pouch bon ILLINOIS.
and that ne had escaped from the oity
jain In 81. Louis with two other fed
oral prisoners. CoddinEton commuui-
with the United States marshais
here and Grubhs' story was i'm
with the result mat Deputy
Marshal James Smith was sent 90 CAL
lup and returned to Albuquerque with
Ia, man. on the way back Smith
happened 10 show Grubh his picture,
description. etc. which appeared on
a circular which had been distributed
broadcast throughout the country ON
tie same circular appeared two other
mugs" also wanted by Uncle sam.
recognized i'm the men his two
pals who had brok, jail with him iu
81. Louis. Grubh declared that the
men were some place iu the south
Yesterday morning Deputy Marshal
smith and Marshal G. NJ. Foraker
paid il visit 10 the county jail where
they compared the photographs con-
in the circular. with the men
being held for the Michael robbery
and found that they were Identical
Evidently realizing that the Jig was
up the men broke dowa and admit