The record-union., 1892-10-21
COILS TRAIN ROBBERY.
The Trial of George Sontag Begun at
Fresno.

The Trial OF George SOEtag Begun at
Fresno.
FRESNO, Oct. 2o.-A large number of
people gathered in Judge Holmes court
this morning to witness the proceedings
in the case of the People VS.. George Som
tag, indicted with John Sontag, his
brother, and Chris. Evans, for robbing a
train near ROlindo on August Sd. Within
the rail sat Mrs. Chris. Evans and her
daughter Eva. Detectives Smith, Thacker
ard Hickey and other officers.
When Sontag came into court he took a
seat beside Mrs. Evans and daughter, and
freely conversed with them. He watched
the proceedings very closely, however,
and often made some suggestion 10 his at
torney Sontag is rather a handsome
man, 5 feet 10 inches high, and of heavy
build. He attracted much attention, but
did not seem to notice the scrutiny he was
undergoing.
Mrs. Evans and her fair haired daugh-
ter also received much attention. The
former was dressed very plainly in
gown of dark material. Eva looked quite
attractive in a neat blue gown with iaunty
sailor hat. Both she and her mother
seemed in excellent spirits, and seemed
to be considerably amused at times about
some matters which they were convers-
ing upon.
District Attorney W. D. Tuppen and
Attorney Reel B. Terry appeared for the
prosecution and w. c. Caldwell and G.. q.
Cioucher for the defense
After the calling ofthe list of witnesses.
which was long one, Attorney Caldwell
moved for a continuance, on the ground
of the absence of material witnesses. At
torney Caldwell read an affidavit by de-
tendant in support of the motion for a
continuance. 1t stated that defendant
,,fc al - -,,I
count Of the absence of David Scott, John
Sontag and Chris Evans, all material wit
nesSeS.
1t was expected to prove by Scott that
late on the afternoon of July %, 1892,
defendant took the train at Nisalia for
Fresno; that at the time defendant
boarded the train he was intoxicated and
had TO be assisted on the train by Scott.
His testimony is material, claims the de-
fendaut, because the prosecution will
prove that defendant did not get off the
train at Fresno, but went further to
Rolinda, for the purpose OF ascertaining
the place, when the train stopped.
The presence of John Sontag and Evans
was also material, because they could and
would testify that they did not see de-
fendant On the night Of August Sd, and
that neither OF them were in his company
at any time during that night
Caldwell, therefore, asked for further
tIlne, so Jnab IneSe witnesses could be
brought into court.
The District-Attorney opposed the mo-
ton on the ground that there was no
likelihood the absent witnesses would be
present at any future time, and the de-
tendant would then be no better off than
now.
The court denied the motion. and de-
Tense excepted.
The box was at once filled with Jurors
and the work of securing panel begun.
The jurors were asked their opinion
with regard to the guilt or innocence not
only of the prisoner. George Sontag, but
Of John Sontag and Chris Evans. The
talesmen were asked first if they were
acquainted with the detectives employed
by the express company and by the
Southern Pacific: then as to whether they
believed that Evans and John Sonlag
robbed the train at Rolinda and whether
they believed the killing of Oscar Bea-
yer, Vic Wilson and McGinnis was done
by the fugitiyes in order that they might
escape from arrest for train robbery be-
cause the fugitives were guilty. Then
the question as to whether the fact that
the prisoner WIS brother OF John Son
tag had any influence on the minds of
the talesmen was asked, and whether
George Sontag. being in Fresno on the
day of the robbery anC visited Evans at
Nisalia two days before, was considered
by them in a light unfavorable to defend
ant.
The prosecution iuquire1 whether any
of the talesmen ever resided in Tulare
County, or whether they had had busi-
ness dealings with Caldwell IL Goucher.