Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-08-18
ON THE WAR PATH.
And He Succeeded Pretty Well for
His FIRST Attempt.
AL. EVANS PLAYS DESPERATE,
AFTER Attempting Murder on Three
PERSONS, he Sncceed DIS In Destroying
$4,000 worth or Property--In Jail
70 Escape Ley nching Party-.A SEN
sattonai Sund ny at Carbon Cliff.

A little. short. light framed, sandy.
completed man named Albert Evans,
whom one would take at first glance to
be more reserved than inclined to be
loostreperous in disposition. created a
lively sensation in the vicinity of Carbon
Cliff yesterday and for several hours ter,
rlfied the entire neighborhood. He was
a desperate of the fiercest and most fear
less type for several hours, but when the
farmers got their dander up and armed
with pitch forks and shot guns and a
piece OF tightly twisted hemp-warranted
not to stretch or break-got out on the
war path, and the young man heard that
they had blood IN their eyes, he forgot
That he was enacting the part of bold,
daring cowbow. and hurrying to Rock
Island he sought he protection of Sheriff
Silvis. in his official capacity He is now
safe and secure within the walls of the
county bastile.
This young man. GU; of whom yester.
day cropped the disposition of muir
derer, an incendisry and an outlaw, is
well known about the neighborhood sur,
rounding Carbon Cliff as Al. Evans. Not
long ago he married an adopted daughter
of Chas. Cushman, we'll to do farmer
living near the village, and seven and one
half miles east of Moline on the Colona
road. Evans has since made his home
j with the Cushman family and worked
upon the farm. Trouble has been brewing
in the family for some time. Evans ma
ture was such that he and the Cushman's
could not dwell together in harmony and
the house became divided against itself
What were first spats and quarrels, grew
into heated controversies and angry
threats.
| Yesterday morning occurred one of
these periodical fuses, and it soon be-
came evident that it was to be of more
violent order than any of its predecessors,
Evans seemed to have the preponderance
of feeling against him. and becoming
enrsged he seized shotgun and sttemp>
ted to kill his wife, and MIR. Cushman
rushing to her defense. the muzzle was
at once turned upon him, and although
Evans fired. the shot failed fortunately to
take effect. By this time Cushman was
endeavoring to arouse help from the
neighborhood. and Evans grabbed
a razor and rushed after Mrs.
Cushmsn. making several vicioas
slashes at her body and inflcting
deep cuts on her arm and hand. Then
he grabbed club, and declaring his pur-
pose 10 beat Cushnan's brains out with
it, drove him about the farm until some
farm hands arrived, whom he boldly de-
fed. He then got hold of can
of coal oil and set the barn on Cush-
mans premises On fire. 1t was one
of the largest, most substantial and best
constructed barns in the county, but it
was destroyed com pletel7, together with
three horses. several cattle, two years
accumulation of hay, five hundred bush-
els of corn and all the valuable agricul>
tural implements of the farm. entailing a
loss in all of fully $1,000. The
news of Evans desperate deeds flew
through the county, spreading terror
as it went. Determined and indignant
farmers armed themselves with guns.
pitch forks and whatever other weapon
was most convenient and with rope pros
ceeded TO the Cushms farm determined
to capture the desperado and to fit his
punishment to his crime-as he had set
the example of the wild western tactics,
the farmers proposed to employ the same
methods ofalealing with him, aud Judge
Lynch was declared the only court of ap-
peal. But Evans saw the farmers ap-
preaching and fleG to the timber The
armed men organized securing squads
and they set out in various directions to
run down the desperate man. In the
meantime word had come to Rock Island
and Sheriff Silvis. Deputy Ship Silvis
and Marshal Miller hurried to the Cliff.
All the afternoon the country was searched
for Evans and in the evening Officers
Sexton and Kramer also went up. In
ouiry at the home of Evans father. three
and half miles from Moline. developed
the fact that he had been there, and
upon advice of his father had started for
Rock Island to give himself up to the
sheriff. During the evening he was dis
covered by Moline citizen who knew
him, entering the city from the bluff. and
was followed to Third avenue, where be
boarded street car for Rock Island.
Marshal Kittleson was notified. and he
at once communicated tina information
to Rock Island that Evans had started
down on car 90. of the red
line. Deputy Marshal Long was in
waiting when the car came down, and
got aboard the car to look for Evans. who
was standing on the front platform. but
the officer failed to recognize him and had
started up toward Moline to meet anoth-
car. when he met Lee Silyis. son of X. s.
Silvis. of Carbon Cliff. who with horse
and buggy had traced Evans to Rock
Island, and who told the officer he was on
the car 20, which was soon overtaken,
and Evans pointed out to the deputy
marshal, who arrested him and turned
him over to Sheriff Silvis.
| Evans ia ouiet today and has evidently