The morning call., 1893-06-29

ping three others for life.
While John Sontag and Chris Evans
were fugitives from justice George Con-
tant was tried for completely in the Coils
robbery, convicted and sentenced to life
imprisonment 1t was by his own request
that he was sent to Folsom prison, and
the reason for that request is now ap-
parent. Alfred Pike Dickinson, alias An
thony Dalton, member of the band of
train-robbers, was serving his sentence of
five years in that prison. and would have
been at liberty at the latest in December,
1884, not counting good-conduct credits
which would release him in few months,
or in the winter of 1884. Contant knew
that Evans and Sontag were in the noun
tains and depended upon Dickinso son going
to their relief when he got out. Besides.
there was always chance for an escape
with determined partner, such as George
Contant knew Albert Dickinson to be.
Then came the capture of Evans and
Sontag and this overthrow all the plans Of
the spurious Sontag and Dalton in Folsom.
1t was no longer possible to escape and
join their brother bandits in the noun
tains and all four stand together. rob
another train and then escape to some foy-
eign country. Both Evans and Sontag
we're crippled for life. if, indeed, the latter
was not fatally wounded.
But. by and by, from letters smugged
into the prison, George Contant was led to
believe that neither Evans nor Sontag was
so badly injured as the people supposed
and that if he acted quickly both men
might be rescued, taken from Jail and their
lives saved, since it was known they were
| l be tried for murder and not for train
robbery.
Evidently counting on exaggerated re-
ports as to the sympathy felt fer Evans
and SOn.ag by the Tulare County people
and also counting on the fact that the
officers believed the two bandits were too
badly wounded to be able to escape il left
unguarded, COntant and Dickinson evil
IDENTITY determined to get free and then try
aud rescue their comrades.
There was no time to be lost. George
Sontag was desperate. He was in prison
for life and had nothing to lose but eyery-
thing to gain by an attempt to escape.
Dickinson had only short time to serve,
but he Is the kind of man who believes in
honor among thieves and sticks to his
friends.
ceiyed letters in prison urging him to
attempt to escape. and he hastily planned
the revolt at Folsom prison of Tuesday
last. Dickinson (alias Dalton) was more
than willing to join him, and in Charles
Abbott they found another willing COM
panion and man of undoubted courage.
Abbott came to San Francisco in a
British ship in 1873 and deserted. He at
once entered upon criminal career, and
in 1879 tried to rob man in the street at
the point of revolver. For this he was
sent to Folsom prison In $780, and was
released in January, 1883. In May of the
same year Abbott killed James Dalv. a
sal0on-keeper of this city, stabbing him to
death with n knife. He had a fight with
DAILY in his saloon and was put into the
street Later he returned, and, while pre-
tending 10 make friends with DAILY. liter
ally cut him TO pieces. For this crime he
was sentenced TO Folsom for life in Sep
TENDER, 1888, his youth saving his neck
from the halter.
The fourth man of the quartet of des-
perate men who led the revolt was Frank
Williams. who was also a stage and train
robber.
Williams vas born stage-robber. He
was captured in this city by Detective
Lees December 20, 1882 and was turned
over TO the United States authorities On
May ., 1890, he was sentenced to impris-
onment al hard labor for life in the prison
at Folsom. The sentence was imposed by
the late Judge Hoffman. During his long
areer on the bench, Williams was the
only criminal upon whom the Judge i'm
posed life sentence. Before Williams
was captured he robbed round dozen of
stages. He always travelled alone, and
adopted such tactics that, when hating
stage. he managed to escape with his
booty and leave no trail.
After his arrest by Captain Lees he was
indicted by the United States Grand jury
on January Is, 1890. on charge of robbng
the mails and his bail was fixed at $40 900.
On January 20, 1890, he was arraigned and
entered plea of not guilty. He was tried
the following April and after trial last
ing seven days verdict of guilty was rem
dcred.
Williams had quite record as a crimi-
nal and the indictment against him shows
that on November %, 1889, on the public
highway from Weavervile, Trinity County.
to Redding. Shasta county, he stopped
Mail-carrer l.. Dow and secured the mail
pouch. On December IL, 1889, he COM
PEELED Mail-carrier +. K. Powell to turn
over to him the mail pouch while the lat
ter was on his journey from Auburn to
Forest Hill, Placer County. Williams did
not have use for his shotgun in:this case.
but deliberately placed pistol at Powelps
head and walked off with the pouch, after
ordering Powell to drive on at rapid
gait.
On December 10, three days after Powell
was stopped, Mail-carrier G. M. Fuller
was halted by Williams between Campton-
vile and Nevada City. and compelled to
hand over the mail pouch.
The foregoing are only few OF the many
crimes of the deceased highwayman. He
was regarded as a desperate criminal
OF the other men engaged In the revolt.
it is believed they were forced into it.
The quartet, headed by Contant, alias
Sontag. and Dickinson. alias Dalton, with
Williams and Abbott. were probably the
only ones who knew OF the plans to escape,
release John Sontag and Chris Evans and
form second Jesse James band of bandits.
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DROVE INTO THE RIVER.