The morning call., 1892-08-08
The TraiR-RObbers Said to Have Killed
a Second officer.
NEITHER OF THE OUTLAWS CAUGHT.
Ii The Inquest on Beavers Body Many Further Par
titulars Are Developed The SOntagS Are
0ld.Time Criminals.
Special TO THE MoRNINs CALL.

VIsALIA, Aus. 7.-Justice of the Peace
Holder. acting Coroner, held partial in.
quest yesterday afternoon to inquire into the
cause of the death of Oscar Beaver, killed
on Friday night at Chris Evans house by
the train-rUbbers. The courtroom was
crowded with spectators who wanted TO
learn all the particulars.
To-day the inquest was continued Har-
Vey Ward, residing IL miles north of this
city and who furnished the robbers cart
and mule was examined and testified as
follows:
l saw Chris Evans and John Sontag
On Saturday morning at my place between
and o'clock. Evans said he wanted
breakfast and rig.
The men were armed with double bar
relied shotguns and six-shOoters. l am we'll
acquainted with Evans; with Sontag not
very WELL l told them / could give them
something TO eat Evans said, he had shot
q man in VIsalis. He had the Sheriff's rig
Of his barn In town on Friday and had taken
G ride with it int the country, passed by my
house, and came back by my place at 9 so
o'clock on Friday night and then went
home, arriving about O'Clock on Thursday
morning.
They were backing the buggy out of the
barn when a voice said, WHO'S there 2"
and he shot in that direction. He said he
never saw the bullets fly as they did then.
Evans said it was gritty little devil that
fred and he returned the shot
Then Evans told Ward how Witty and
Smith had tried TO arrest him on suspicion
of being one of the traln-Tob bbers and that
be would allow no man TO arrest him at his
own house.
Evans told Ward that he was innocent of
any crime and asked Ward if he knew who
be had shot or if he had the Daily Delta as
be would like to know who he had killed.
After the shooting Evans said he and
Sontag left town, but saw no officers in
the road. though he expected TO meet a
large posse every minute. The men stayed
at my house about two hours. leaving about
z O'clock.
Sontag had little 10 say, though he stated
that EYans did the shooting He said the
man whom ne shot was gritty fellow, and
that Evans walked up on him with pistol.
Evans and Sontag left my place with the
mule and cart SoDtag said he had to nave
IL as hS was lame ami would pay for it.
Sontag gave me 81 for the use of the mule
and cart aud % cents for feed. He said
they had plenty of hay in the mountains at
The ranch, but they might not reach there
before needing it.
Evans was cool as cucumber but SOntag
was slightly excited. When he sat down to
breakfast, Sontag gave my little girl 90
cents, telling her to stand at the window
and II she saw any men coming to let them
kbOns auQ tcil TIC men 40 one vas tneEe.
Evans asked my wife TO pull down the
window blinds, and said they would step
inte the bedroom If any one came. Their
shotguns were carried on straps over their
shoulders in position TO be raised for
quick action.
While eating they placed their guns be-
bind them. Sontag was very lame and
tired. While they were eating two men
passed my place in buggy. One OF the
men was Sam Ellis. ! told Evans that Sam
.g-HF g. L.
IS not hunting for me, his blood is not rich
enough. Such men as Ellis are not hunting
for thieves, as they know it's not healthy.
w. Nolan was stopping at Wards and
was sleeping on porch when Evans aud
Sontag came up. He cOrrohOrAted Wards
testimony except that he testified that Son.
tag had stated that he had shot a man.
Evans told me Of shooting q man, and /
said l was sorry, and he replied that | need
not be sorry fol him, but the man that was
shot needed my sympathy. The men got
lunch from Mrs. Ward to take along.
John March, stOckraiseT, was the next
witness, and he testified: am acquainted
with Evans and knew Sontag by sight /
saw them Friday night about o'clock at j.
III. Dyes, II miles north OF Nisala. They
were in buggy coming toward Visalia.
They did not recognize me, though l have
known Evans for 20 years.
saw Evans and two other men on Mon
day last on Niger Greek. One man was
laUlSQ OUDH, NUO.ilVoS on IlQ6 Ridge.
The other man wore goggles and had
mustache. Evans was riding black mare.
! am acquainted with Sontag, but he was
not with the party.
The three men were on horseback and it
was probably 10 or u o'clock, coming down
Niger Creek. They conld 60 to Traver or
Osi, Visalla or Stokes Valley. The man
with the goggles l am positive l can iden.
tify-
March was then taken TO the cell of
George SOntag in the County Jail, and on
bis return 10 the courtroom he testified that
George was the man whom he met and wore
goggles. The men had hOursacks on the
horns of the saddles filled with something.
March's testimony was considered an i'm
portant link in showing that these men
were on the way to rob the train.
The jury returned a verdict that Beaver
came 10 his death from gunshot wounds in
ficted by Chris Evans and John Sontag