The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-06
snecfal to the RrcoRp-uNrox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNToN.
NIsALIA, Sept. 5.-Eyans and Sontag
were found yesterday near the residence
of Supervisor Ellis, twenty miles north
OF this city by two of Ellis children. The
men camped not a hundred yards from
the house. The children returned and
had their aunt go with them. When she
saw Evans she said: How are you,
Chris?"
Evans then turned to Sontag and said:
Nv had as well go to the house now."
which they did. AS they approached the
house Ellis met them and said: How
do you do, Chris?' Evans, after min
ute, replied: 81 viii shake hands with
you, Sam, though l ought not"
The two robbers staid at the house from
noon until dark, when they took the cart
and horse OF Ellis and started away.
Mrs. Ellis had been very sick, and q
number of neighbors called to see her
during the afternoon.
After the robbers left a man came to
town and informed Sheriff Kay, who i'm
mediately went TO Goshen and asked for
south-bOund train at Selma and prevent
the men from taking the train. Not find
ing the men the Sheriff returned to town
! at 3 O'Clock this morning and took team
to Ellis home Striking tie trail he fol-
lowed 1t for several miles TO where 1t was
| lost. Where the trail was lost are three
roads, leading east, west and south The
robbers took one of the first two named.
but travellers had obliterated the tracks.
Evans told Ellis he had not been far
away since the tram robbery; that he was
not leaving now. He had some business
to attend to; then he would give his at
tention to the Southern Pacific
Evans says Ellis is very cool and col
lected, but Sontag is somewhat nervous.
SOntag has not fully recovered the use of
his broken leg and is lame. They Toasted
heartily at Ellis, SOntag keeping his gun
on his lap, while Evans placed his
against the door and near him.
When they took Ellis horse and cart,
Evans told the owner that he would pay
for them if he returned alive.
There is no mistake as to the identity of
the robbers, as Ellis and the others at the
( house have known Evans for years.
Sheriff Kay is positive Evans and Son
tag took to the plains. There are many
places on Kings River and Kowah where
they can safely hide during the day.
Ellis was one OF the pursuers of Evans
| this, as he had said: "Ellis, you must not
hunt me again"
1t is believed here that the men will
hold up another train before a week ex-
pires. They were armed with two shot
guns, two revolvers and Winchester
rifles. They carried a can containing
ammunition or giant powder
Deputy Sheriff w. +. Russell was the
gentleman who brought the news to town
that Evans and SOntag were at the resi-
dence of Supervisor Sam Ellis who is a
brother-inlaw of Russell. The latter ar
rived within sixty yards of Ellis home.
and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Belle Scog-
gins, who was aware of his coming, beck
Oned him to stop. AS he did not do so
she ran and met him, telling him not to
come near the house as Evans and Som
tag were there, and had said they would
care for him. Mr.. Cortner was also at the
house and came and told him the same
thing.
Russell then turned about and came to
Nisalia. Six years experience as an Off
Ger had satisfied him that it would be
useless to try to raise a posse in a thinly
settled section.
Evans was very communicative while
at Ellis. He says that he was near where
The cart and horse was found the night
alter the killing of Beaver. He and Som
tag were hid behind rock. When Dep
passed they were hid behind large rock
near the road, and they could have killed
any one they desired to. The second
posse, who camped on Niger Creek, laid
down to rest near them, and they heard
all the conversation. Evans knew every
man that passed, and had he had a desire
to kill any of them he could easily have
done so. Had the detective gone along
the road he would have killed him. He
said he intended yet to kill man, men,
tiOning no name, who proposed firing
into his house the night ait was sur
rounded.
"From Niger Creek" said Evans.
1--WE went to Stokes Valley. and have
been there ever since. For three nights
we were camped within $50 yards of
Ellis house, and took blankets from
Ellis barn to sleep in every night, re-
turning them to the barn before daylight
in the morning"
He told Of different conversations he
heard by those in pursuit, occurring on
different occasions. He had read the
papers carefully, all alone, and had
known Of the current events and what
the pursuers said OF him. He stated that
| there was no truth in the statement OF
Detective Hume and ThaclIer that they
had found money buried in his yard in
Nlsalla, as none had ever been buried
there.
use OF razors since they left Visalia, as
their long whiskers and hair testified.
The top of Stokes Mountain, where the
robbers have evidently been located, one
can see from every town in the county
Anyone approaching the point would be
discovered several miles distant before
reaching there. There is fine spring on
the mountain, and two hundred yards
distan: is a dense jungle, where the men
could not easily be unearthed At the
mouth of the canyon, near the Ellis
ranch, is rocky gorge, a good hiding
7 place, and where there is only one trail
leading up this, canyon from the Ellis
house. Located as the men were, they
! could with their guns have picked off all
lntruderS and their capture would have
been impossible without chance of
death. Sheep and cattle grazing on the
mountain would have furnished food
while neighboring ranch would have
furnished fruit and vegetables.
Evans house in this city was guarded
last night with two trusty men, and had
the robbers appeared they would have
been taken dead or alive. Evans has
numerous friends in the country, and
men have been heard to say on the streets
of Visalia to-day that they admired his
nerve, and hoped he would escape all
purSuers.
BANKERS CONVENTION.