The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-22
wEsNEws UNLUCKY STAR

Weil-Remembered Tragedies In Which His
Relatives Were Concerned.
Samuel Wesner. the victim of the DAN
willie tragedy. although not a lighting man
himself nor of particularly quarrelsome
nature. was directly related to q family of
hot. passionate men. two of whom are vic-
Tins now OF their quick and tragic manner
of dealing with those whom they believed
had wronged them. Wesner was O cousin
of the Evans boys. whose deeds OF blood
arc well known TO every citizen of the
county of Putnam.
Noah Evans. the elder of two brothers. IS
now serving life sentence in the Jeffer-
soDville penitentiary for the killing of
Dick Adams. saloon keeper, of Roae IL
dale, Putnam county. The deed was CON-
mitted on June 2. 1891, in the little town
where Adams lived. and withiL q few miles
of Grove!aud. the home of Evans. On the
morning OF the murder. Evans and his
young wife. by a second marriage. drove
into Roachdale IN dog cart, tied their
horse IN the street. and walked mp the
sidewalk until they reached q grocery
store. in front of which Adams sat with
several companions. The villagers
knew there had been trouble between
Evans and his wife. instinctively with
drew inside the store. Adams had been Ill
and was very weak and debiIitated. but
kept his seat until Evans stood WITHIN a
foot Of him. Mrs. Evans stood at her hus-
bands side and when he asked, pointing TO
Adams. lis that the mani" sbo replied:
'les. that is the man." In an instant
Evans drew Two revolyers from his pocket
aud began firing at Adams. The saloon
keeper foil into the gutter after the first
few shots. but his enemy contin ued TO fire.
Adams WAS dead before the last bullet
entered his body anu Evans. placing his
pistols in his pocket, drow forth another
and holding the weapon in full view of the
crowd. stepped 10 the curbssone and made
few remarks. in which he explained that
Adams had assaulted his wife and dishon-
ored his home. While he was speaking
Mrs. Evans had Embossed the horse ami
drove 20 where her husband stood. Then
with parting injunction To the townsmen
not TO follow him. he spraDg into the seat
behind the woman and drove out of town.
IL was several hours before the Roach
dale citizens recovered their paralyZ ed
faculties. and then u posse. led by the
sheriff. started in pursuit of Evans. lie
was not captured that day. lint on the
succeeding morning gave himself up to the
Boone county authorities. After shooting
Adams he had gone directly TO Lebanon
and TO the home of his cousin. Samuel
Wesner, TO whom be told the story of his
deed and engaged Wesner To defend him.
At the trial of the case at Greencastle.
Wesner assisted IN the selection of tho jury
taken. and took no part III the defense.
Harper Evans. the younger brother of
Noah. and another cousin of Wesner. was
sent from GreeDcastle To the northern
prison for the brutal murder of young
man and his wife. OF the name or Hanna.
This affair occurred at Groveland. Putnam
county. shortly after the close of tn" war
From the evidence brought ont during the
trial IL appeared that Mrs. Hanna. before
her marriage. a sweetheart of Harper
Evans lie lost her and brooded over the
disappointment until he thirsted for
revenge. A ycar two after her
marriage Mrs. Hanna and her hus-
band were found one morning. dead IN
their home. their bodies having been
chopped To pieces with an AK. Suspicion
pointed toward Harper Evans and the
youns man was arrested and subsequently,
sent 20 the penitentiary for life. by piece
OF wonderful strategy he escaped IN few
years and has never been heard FROM
though citizens of Putnam county aver
that shey have recently seen him in the
vicinity of his crime.
Wesner was unfortunately the father of
q son whose rec, I'd a peace breaker and
fighter - very bad. The young man 10
known by the appellation of lance, md
Is now under several indictments for un-
lawful acts. Recently he attempted 10 cut
the throat OF his father-n-law Jim Living
ston. OF Lebanon. and ~ also reported 10
have shot at n saloon keeper of the town,
William BecktLal, OF lebanon. N ia said
carries a knife wound which he claims was
inflicted by lance" Through the innu.
euce OF his father none OF the indictments
against young Wesner have been pushed.