, 1891-03-13
A STANCE STORY.
Queer Freak of a United States
Land Register.
Being Shown a Cane He Refuses to
Give it Up.
He is Arrested on Charge of Grand
Larceny.

Judge Evans, register Of the United
States land office at Douglas after, spend
ing part of a night in the Converse county
jail was released on bail yesterday. The
charge upon which he was arrested is
grand larceny and involves a very peculiar
story.
Mention was made some time ago that
the people Of Rock Springs in token OF
appreciation of the interest manifested in
their behalf in the legislature by Senator
McGill and Representatives Baker,
Brown and Sutherland had decided to
present those gentlemen with gold headed
canes suitably inscribed. 1t was only
natural that each of the gentlemen thus
honored should set great store by
his cane and it may be imagined that
Representative Baker was not the least
appreciative of the auarte'te. The cane
had been in the possession OF Mr.. Baker
for some time when DR.. Wilson of Doug
las visited Lusk on professional business.
The doctor had been chairman of the
Converse county Democratic committee,
and to him had been ascribed much of
the success in e~lecting the Democratic
ticket at the previous election. He was
naturally very much interested 10 the cane
and quite as proud of 1t as Baker. He
expressed a strong desire to take it hack
with him to Douglas to show it to their
mutual Democratic frieuds, aud Baker, at
last, unwillinglH gave his consent. DR..
Wilson LETT the cane at the county clerks
office in Douglas, in charge Of Mr.. Madi-
son. The latter was exhibiting 1t to a
small party of men in his office. Among
them was Judge Evans. register of the
land Office. When the cane in being
passed around, reached Evans he ex-
amlned the inscriution on it for a moment
and walked out of the office with it. He
was called back, but paid no attention
and those present regarding it as a joke,
which was stupid enough, but still a Joke,
allowed the matter to rest for the time
being.
Evans carried the cane about with him
during the day, exhibiting it wherever he
went, and explaining how he intended to
have the inscription erased and another of
an insulting character placed upon it.
Mr.. Madison, thinking the supposed
joke had been carried far enough. ven to
Evans early Wednesday evening to secure
the cane. Much to his surprise Evans
declined to give it up and threatened to
brain any one who tried to take it from
him. As Evans, owing to a deformity, is
not usually held as strictly accountable for
his insulting acts as a man more capable
physically would be. Madison dropped
the matter for the time being, thinking
that Evans might come to his proper
senses.
About 10 o'clock Mr.. Baker arrived
Unexpectedly in Douglas on a delayed
train. He was on his way to Cheyenne,
aud naturally soon learned of the cane
episode. In the meantime Evans had
hide the cane, no one knew where.
and when Baker met him it was not with
him. Baker demanded his property.
Evans replied that he would never give it
up. Talk was unavailing and Evans
physical weakness probably saved his
skin. Baker was induced by his friends to
drop the matter temporarily aud sued ont
a warrant for Evans arrest, charging him
with grand larceny. Upon this warrant
Evans was arrested. Even this would not
induce him to give up the property which
be had stolen and SO he was locked up in
jail. the hour being too late to secure bail.
The case is certainly a strange one but
there can scarcely be two opinions of the
renrehensible conduct of the land repIster