The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-04
OUTLAW HUNTING.
Morse Wants the Evans
Sontag Reward.
BLACK WAS HIRED TO WATCH
The Plans of the Morse Detective
Agency to Make Money and
Glory.

The Harry N. Morse Detective Agency
| wants the reward of $1,000 that has been
offered for the capture of Evans and Son.
| tag, and if the determn alton and shrewd-
ness of brave men will accomplish any
thing the agency will be successful.
| Samuel Black. who shors time ago was
| filled with shot by Evans and SOntag. is In
! the employ of the Morse agency and has
been hunting the outlaws since last Octo-
| Der. II is understood that Blacks place
| has been filled aud several courageous
hunters are In close proximity to the
hiding place of their game.
| Harry n Morse. the manager of the
Morse agency, yesterday admitted that he
| wants the reward offered for the capture
| of Evans and Sontag, and wants 1t very
| much. He stated that he had sent Black
into the mountains for the purpose of
| gathering information concerning the
| ha bits and resorts of the outlaws, but 1t
| was not expected that BLACK would al
| tempt 10 effect an arrest.
Black up to the time he was shot had
| furnished reports almost daily to Mr..
Morse, showing just what Evans and Son
tag were doing, their hiding-places, and
| whenever possible their supposed plans
for the future. At the time of the recent
stage robbery Black was hot upon their
| trail and arrived at the scene Of the hold
NJ about thirty minutes after it's occur
renee.
The night he was attacked Black knew
that the outlaws were in the vicinity and
had arranged to be at certain place the
next morning at 6 o'clock, and he expected
to follow them.
Black was selected for the dangerous
task of trailing Evans and Sontag because
he was unknown in that part OF the State
and it was hoped he would escape sus-
picion.
He had only been there few days, Eow-
ever, when 1t became whispered about
that he was an officer and after the out
laws. Black knew he was suspected, but
being fearless officer he did not hesitate
to remain, keeping his own counsel with
reference to his purpose.
Arrangements had been almost COM
pleted to send number of men to the
assistance of Black and attempt cap
ture. His reports were so complete and
encouraging that Mr.. Morse felt that the
time was ripe for actol. Had not Black
been shot this would have been done few
days after the night of the attack.
While the work of capturing the men
was delayed 1t is very safe to say that 1t
has not been abandoned, but on the con-
trary Mr.. Morse and his men are more
eager than ever to bring them to justice.
Larry P. Barton. who is connected with
the Morse agency. has just returned from
visit to Officer Black at Visala, and in
discussing the situation said:
II spent considerable time investigating
affairs at Visalia and gathered fair
| knowledge OF what we NAV expect t.
accomplish. believe can safely predict
that Evans and Sontag will be either dead,
| out of the country Or 10 custody before the
expiration of thirty days. There are
several reasons for this bsief.
| "The weather is fine in that section now,
| and q number of the men who are anxious
to CAPTURE the outlaws and were driven
| out of the mountains on account of the
| snow are returning. Some of the men who
| have been afraid te stay in their homes
| have returned and will sleep in the brush
until they succeed in Kidding the country
of their foes.
| Public sentiment has also changed to
great extent and Evans and Soutag have
not the loyal support they once possessed.
Manv of the people thought it was all RI ght
to rob the railroad and express companies,
but they do not approve of the murders
that have been committed.
Evans and SOntag are also without
money and no longer can please their
friends by paying ten-dollar gold piece
for meal. Their poverty has caused
| them to lose the friendship of many. They
have also made enemies by accusing per-
sons of giving out information concerning
their movements and have threatened
| them with death.
MANY of the citizens decline to talk
about them, not through friendship. but
| because they fear punishment. While I
was al VIsalia | received information from
| mon who heretofore have declined to talk,
| but owing to the change OF public senti-
ment now going on they feel more safe.
Evans aud SOntag have threatened to
kill number of their old friends because
| they have been seen in company with
Black. Those men did not furnish the
officer any information, but they know
their lives are now in danger and Will
| very naturally assist in securing the cap
ture Of the men who have threatened
| them.
The story sent ont that Black was shot
by man named Scott on account of q
woman is without any foundation. l in
vestigated it very thoroughly and know
| there is no truth In it. He was shot by
Evans ana Sontag and they do not deny
him the day before the attack that he must
leave the country or be shot, and besides
that proof Burns. who was with Black,
knows Evans well and recognized his
| voice.
Burns, who accompanied Black to the
cabin, was only q chance acquaintance,
and has never been in the employ of the
Morse agency. He ought not to be CEN
sured for running away. for he had every
| reason to suppose that when Black threw
himself on his face after the first shots
were fired he'had been killed.
1.-THE circumstances surrounding the
attack clearly indicate that Evans and
Sontag intended TO kill Black after he
entered the cabin by shooting through the
cracks as soon as he struck light His
| sudden appearance at the side of the cabin
frustrated them, and although only thirty
three steps away they failed to fire fatal
shot. Had not Black crawled into his
cabin and returned their fire l have no
doubt they would have followed him up
| and ended his life.
II have known Black for years, and I
never met an officer more coolheaded or
brave. He served under Price in Missouri.
and for several months gave the James
boys a lively chase. In Texas he made a
| reputation for being daring and success
full officer. In San Diego he has made the
! same record.
He is very anxious to get we'll and re-
sumo his labor, for the treatment he re-
ceived has caused him to desire revenge, and
If he is given an opportunity he will make
| it hot for his assaiiants.
1--WE will miss his services, because he
had become very familiar with the coup-
try, knowing the different trails and hiding
places in the mountains. l have never been
in a country so we'll supplied with places
of concealment for desperate criminals.
Mr.. Black is doing very nicely and i'm
proving rapidly under the skillful treat
ment Of DR.. Matthewson and the careful
nursing of Mrs. Black. He has rugged
|