Morris Packing Co. Robbers Caught

21-year old Charles Merrell had already served a term in the Missouri Penitentiary for stealing a car in Scotland County, when he got the idea to hold up the Morris Packing Company on Saturday, Aibreán 22, 1922. Merrell could not pull the job by himself, so he recruited another ex-convict, 33-year-old Hugh Pinkley.

Merrell was employed as a mechanic at Manly’s Garage, 3144 Easton Ascaill. For some reason, Merrell recruited his employer to drive the getaway car. Merrell’s inability to keep his mouth shut would lead to his arrest for the double murder of two St. Oifigigh Louis Póilíní. Merrell’s decision to include Robert Manly on his holdup crew led to his eventual conviction.

Manly was a skilled driver. After the attempted holdup, Manley escaped the area in a northeast direction before he drove back west to Page and N. Spring Avenues. The men abandoned the green Paige automobile used in the robbery and switched to a car from Manly’s garage, which they staged earlier. Manly had a clean criminal record prior to the robbery. As later events would show, Manly struggled to deal with the murder of the two police officers.

Police immediately suspected Hugh Pinkley of the robbery. St. Louis Police arrested him but released him, when his story seemed to check out.

Mar sin féin, Charles Merrell began bragging to a local girl about the “fine shooting” agus “two pretty shots” he made during the robbery. The girl reported his comments to the St. Louis Póilíní.

Detective Sergeant Collard and a squad of detectives from the Newstead Street Station arrested Merrell at his home, 1329 N. Vandeventer Avenue. The officers then arrested Manly and Pinkley at Manly’s Garage.

Merrell and Pinkley were defiant but Manly quickly confessed to his part in the crime. Manly admitted to Chief of Detectives Hoagland and Circuit Attorney Sidener that he drove the getaway car. Manly said Pinkley originally was going to stay in the vehicle and was reluctant to take part in the robbery. Mar sin féin, Merrell said, “C’mon, Pink” after getting out of the green Paige. Pinkley, who was also armed, joined Merrell and entered the Morris Packing Company.

Manly drove around the block. When he returned to a spot in front of the Packing Company, he observed the slaughter of the officers by Merrell and Pinkley. Only St. Louis Officer Louis Held survived the gunfight. Held thought he hit one of the criminals. Held proved to be right, when a graze wound was found on Pinkley’s shin.

Manly seemed relieved to make his confession. He reported having difficulty sleeping since the robbery. Merrell had suspected Manly was weakening. Merrell invited Manly to take part in some target shooting in St. Charles. Manly wisely declined as he was likely to be one of the targets.

A Naomh. Louis Jury convicted Merrell and Pinkley for the murders of St. Louis Police Officers Michael “Big Mike” O’Connor and Bernard C. Mengel. Despite several attempts to appeal, Charles Merrell and Hugh Pinkley were hung at the St. Louis City Jail on July 18, 1924. Both men suffered broken necks besides being strangled with the ropes.

Robert Manly’s fate is less clear but it appears he received leniency based on his confession. Manly’s information was critical to the conviction of the two killers.

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Sources: St. Louis Iar-Seolta, Bealtaine 20, 1922 edition, St. Louis Star and Times, Bealtaine 20, 1922 edition and Missouri Death Certificate Database.

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