Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-04-10
MAIL ROBBERY
SUSPECT SHOT
IN ESCAPE PLOT
Mate, Former Minister,
Kills Alleged artner
in 100000 Raid.
ried to Bribe Turnkey
Who Set Trap and
Led Them Into It.

Los Angeles. April 9.-Herbert
Wilson, formerly minister of the
gospel in Oregon and Canada, held
In the county Jail. pending trial for
the robbery Of. the mails here of
nearly 81 l,O0O, ,O0O, the night of
March 8, 1921, shot and killed his
alleged accompIice, Herbert r.
Cox, lust after officers had frus.
trated an attempted Jail break
Sunday.
Frank Wilson, a brother of Her
bert; Miss Helen Gillespie, Her
hert's sweetheart, and Mrs. Her
bert Cox, widow Of the slain pris-
oner, were taken into custody by
sheriff's deputies short time after
the shooting. The man was held
and the women were permitted
to return to their homes.
Cox. Wilson and Eddie O'Brien,
recently arrested here in c0nnec-
tion with a mail robbery at To-
ledo, Ohio, more than a year ago,
had made their escape from the
Jail proper and were on the
"bridge of sighs," a passageWay
leading to the Hall of Justice, when
deputy sheriffs closed in on them.
Then Wilson trained revolver
upon Cox and pulled the trigger.
Officers said there had been bad
blood between tho two men since
shortly after their arrest, when
Cox was said to have made state
ment to federal officers and the
report became current he would
testify for the state at Wilson's
trial.
Hid Revolver in Handkerchief
The Toledo robbery was on Feb. II
1921. and in it cash and securities to.
.aling about S1.OOO.OO0 weer taken.
The sheriff stated Wilson would be
charged with murder
How Wilson obtained the weapon. the
officers were unable to say. They said
le had it wrapped in handkerchief
prior to the shooting.
For several weeks. the officers de.
,lared. Cox. Wilson and O'Brien hat
1een plotting to escape. their final ar.
having been made Satur-
lay, when Wilson offered Roy Rankin
4 turnkey. $1,000, if he would let the
-hrec out onto the bridge of sighs.'
Plans Made to Trap Them
Rankin reported the offer to the
sheriff and plans were made by the
sheriff to capture the prisoners on the
ridge, with any possible accomplices
Who might approach from the outside
About 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon.
he three prisoners. pleading illness
ontrived to reach the Jail hospital.
lear the entrance to the bridge. Rankin
net them there and let them out onto
he bridge.
Twelve sheriff's deputies were placed
bout the Jail at advantageous points.
O'Brien soon succeeded in working
lis way into the hall of justice, but
fficers there ordered him to throw
p his hands.
Shooting Part of Fight
Then. on the bridge. a fight started
etween Wilson and Cox. Before the
Ulcers could reach them. shot was
card Cox was found lying on the
loor grooming. Wilson was seen to
ide a revolver under his hat. officers
aid
Cox died soon afterwards at the Jail
ospital, after sasping first. They did
- and then Herb did it,
Wilson and Cox were to have been
ried for mail robbery May 16 They
'ere suspected of having committed
number Of robberies involving 4 total
f $500. 900 according to officers
fter Cox's alleged statement to the
,deral officers, more than 100000 in
acurities We're said to have been re-
,vered in Detroit.
1t was only few days ago. accord
K to Sheriff Traeger. that another
svolyer was found in Wilson's cell.