The morning call., 1893-07-29
LIFE CHAPTER.
The Evans-Sontag Case
Is DramatiZed.
TWO INNOCENT BANDITS.
Mrs. Chris Evans, Eva and James
Evans Will Appear on the Stage.
Contract Signed.

When Mrs. Chris. Evans came to this city,
about a month ago, to consult Pat Rsddy
regarding the defense of her husband, she
WAS surprised to receive visit from a
stranger. r. C. White. who wrote the
libretto for 'She" and other operas pro-
duced at the Tivoli.
Without any preliminaries Mr.. White
stated that he had been thinking of writ
ia- n play on the exploits of Evans and
seutag since the attempted arrest at the
cl;tage in Visalia. He then asked Mrs.
Evans if she, her daughter, Eva, and
James Evans. the nephew of Chris. would
appear as their own selves in the drama.
Mrs. Evans was thoroughly taken back,
but quickly recovered and answered that
nothing would please her more than to
earn money to help her family and defend
her husband. Still she feared that Chris
Evans would object. However, she would
let the author know as soon a S expedlent.
Soon after Mr.. White visited CHRIS
Evans in the Fresno jail. The prisoner
freely consented to the proposition. lie
said that he had entirely forgotten MS
own troubles in regarding the sorry pllght
of his wife, who must battle so nara Ior
bread for seven hungry mouths:
AS for Eva Evans she clapped her hands
in delight at the prospect of being stage
heroine. and piled the manager with all
sorts Of questions.
James Evans also thought that the
scheme was a capital one, and bound to
succeed. while Mrs. Evans quietly de-
clared that she was willing TO do her'very
hest 10 help along husband and family.
MT White then settled down to bust
ness. and ascertained all the facts neces-
sary for his play from the Evans and
SOntag point OF view.
Late on Thursday afternoon a contract
was drawn up and signed between L. c.
White and James Evans, acting for him
self and with power Of attorney for Mrs.
Evans and Eva.
It is stipulated in it that the trio will be
engaged for a tour of the State, appearing
in san Francisco first, in or about month
from date.
sTames Evans departed for Visalia yes
tSrday, carrying with him the articles of
agreement. Before he left, however, he
stated that the mother and daughter and
he would positively appear IN the play
written by White.
r. C. White, the manager of the affair.
was seen yesterday by q CALL reporter.
Yes" he said, Mrs. Evans. her
daughter, Eva. and Chris nephew will go
on the stage.
tine play will be in five acts and will
be entitled Evans and Sontag.' l have
already written four acts aud am now
busy on the fifth. expect to produce it
in a month.
'0f course the incidents are taken from
the statements Of the principals themselves
and there are a great many episodes that
never appeared in the newspapers which
will be introduced.
Now, for instance, it was never reported
that Eva Evans went to see her father and
Sontag disguised in boys clothes. Yet it
is true that she did so, having been sent to
imploTe them TO leave the country. In the
play she Will appear in the same boys
clothes which she wore then and the scene
will be fully reproduced. as narrated by
nef own self.
The first act represents the interior Of
Evans cottage, and shows the departure
of Evans and SOntag for the mountains.
where they are going to choD wood. The
act ends with the train robbery. but Evans
and Sontag are not the men who commit it.
They have repeatedly asserted their inno-
cence of it, and l make 1t appear so in the
C>a .T,. on.rootar ot csorss sor..a on,v
appears in the second act, being dropped
after his arrest.
The play concludes with the death of
John Sontag In jail.
There ars very many striking tableaux
throughout.
81 have made the part of Eva very
strong. especially so in the scene where
she denOunces the detectives. Miss Eva
weighs only los pounds. but she seems to
have considerable intelligence and is very
enthusiastic over the prospects of being
an actress. | think little coaching will
fit her well to play herself. If she will
only act naturally and as she did then, she
can't help being successful. Mrs. Evans
will no doubt sustain her own persoDation
well.
"As for James Evans, he had a great
deal more to do with the troubles that be-
gan on August II last than any one sup
poses, and hence his part in the piece will
be quite prominent.
He not only acted as good Samaritan
to the family, but as clerk of the hotel in
Fresno. divnlged the secret plans of the
detectives, whom he often overheard plot
ting, they not knowing his relationship to
Evans. What he heard he hurriedly sent
to VIsalia.
"Of course in a play time is not taken
into consideration. For instance, the
scene between Eva, disguised as boy, and
her father is quickly followed by that at
Stone Corral. There the fugitives rested
Slor to leaving the country. when they
were surprised. Both Evans and Sontag
denied having shot Jackson, and claimed
that some OF the searching party did it by
accident. This theory will be taken in the
play.
IF it be the success that we expect In
this State we will play in Oregon. but will
not go East.
d" he several parts will be Immediately
sent TO principals in Visaia. for on
account OF their lack of knowledge of the
stage. wish to give them longer time to
study than the other members of the COM
pany, VINO are more familiar with acting.
i guess they will play a chapter of
their own lives pretty we'll"
OUR FRUIT.