HERRING, Maurice - Putnam

SAN FRANCISCO, July 16 (U. P.)—Maurice M. Herring, Indiana bank robber, was stabbed to death in Island federal prison yesterday, Warden James A. Johnston disclosed. Identity of Herring’s assailant was not revealed. Warden Johnston said the stabbing occurred during a fight between the two men at 10 a. m. Herring died of the knife wounds 40 minutes later. Herring had served three years of a 20-year sentence in Alcatraz for bank robbery. He was sentenced June 12, 1939, in Indianapolis. Herring was captured by FBI agents in an Oakland, Cal, hotel room May, 1939, in connection with the robbery of approximately $2000 |from the Linden, Ind., state bank. Herring, at the time of his capture was armed with a 38-caliber automatic pistol.  The agents burst into the room and overpowered him.  Byron Piner, his accomplice was arrested at Payette, Idaho after he wrecked his car.  He also was sentence.  FBI Agents recovered approximately $600 from Herring’s room.  Maurice Herring and his accomplice, Byron Piner were sented in Indianapolis June 12, 1939 one month to the day following the Linden bank robbery by Judge Robert C. Baltzell immediately following their plea of guilty.  The pair was indicted here in federal court June 6th, local FBI agent recalled.  The US marshal’s office here said Herring and Piner were removed to the US penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan on June 19.  Herring gave his address at the marshal’s office here as Frankfort, Ind and said he was born at Elizabeth Ind.  In 1934, Herring was sentence to 15 years in the Indiana State reformatory, Pendleton for armed robbery.  He served five years. - transcribed by kbz