The morning call., 1893-12-30
FREE FOR A DAY.
Chris Evans Eludes His
PurSuerS.
BUT THEY FOLLOW CLOSELY.
The Bandits Strike for Liberty
Succeeds.
BUT THEY FOLLOW CLOSELY.
THE ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAINS.
The Sheriff and His Posse Making
Great Preparations to Follow
the FugitiveS.

joyed at least oEe day of freedom, even
though it was spent in carefully eluding
the crowds of anxious pursuers who are
hunting him down, and who are deter
mined to recapture him, dead or alive.
The bandit, though minus an eye and an
arm, has lost none of his nerve nor his
abb lity to outwiJ the officers who have
taken up the search, and though he had
but an hour the start of them, and they
were taken to Sanger as fast as steam
could carry them. yet he has managed to
keep ahead of them, and tonight there is
but little doubt that he is in his old haunts
among the hills, every foot of which he
knows perfectly well, and is among
friends who, for more than year, furnished
him with supplies when lie and j ohm Son.
tag first became outlaws and took to the
mountains after the Coils train robbery.
That Evans is somewhere in that vicinity
seems beyond question, and 1t is evident
that the Sheriff and his deputies are con-
fident as no efforts are being made to take
up the trail in any other direction, and
everything indicates that it was part of
the programme of the escape that the
desperadoes should at once make break
for their old stamping ground. and from
what has developed here to-day it would
seem that as long as TWO weeks ago prepar-
atious were being made there for the re-
ception of the bandit, when he should
escape. and which was o doubt part of
the carefully calculated plans of which
Evans himself was the author.
When Morell and Evans appropriated
young Cochran's horse and cart, they
drove off in the direction of Centerville
road. whic h they might take in going to
Sanger, and from that time no trace of
them was had until late in the night. when
the message came from Sanger saying that
the horse and cart had arrived there.
minus a driver. 1t was at once believed
that the outlaws had driven to that vicin-
lty, and then turned the horse loose and
made circuit of the town, and proceeded
toward the hills to the east.
This morning word WAS brought to the
city by a. j. Eimore, Sanger druggist,
to the effect that Evans had been seen on
the flume. above Sanger. at an early hour
in the nj orning. and this put an end to any
Goubt as to the direction in which the out
laws were trying to escape.
Later III the day the officers secured
Cochran's horse and cart at Sanger, not
much the wo rse for wear, but showing the
effects of hard drive, and no doubt the
pretty rapidly last night. when moments
might mean escape or capture to the men
who are now if possible more than ever
before veritable outlaws, and who will be
hunted from a different motive from the
| ones which formerly urged their capture
Morell, the waiter who assisted Evans
to escape, lived in Visalia from May to
November last, coming TO Fresno at the
time of the Evans trial. His true name is
Frank Morey. He came from Kansas,
where his parents reside. He was arrested
at Visalia in August for threatening the
life of man named Cummings, but was
not prosecuted. 1t is said he often visited
the Evans family.
George Byrd. brother-in-law of Evans,
said last night that Bill Dalton assisted
in Evans escape, as the latter helped GI at
Dalton out of the Visalia Jail in 1891. He
also says Evans twin brother, Jim, was
killed at Coffeyville. Kan, at the time of
the Dalton raid.
Mrs. Evans and her brother, George, left
Visalia December II in search of one Of
Evans and Sontag's camps. Returning,
they claimed they had found the camp,
with two overcoats, cooking utensils and
quantity of provisions. 1t is now in
timated that the trip was for the purpose
of hiding supplies for this occasion. Mrs.
Evans came to Fresno Wednesday at mid
night in answer to a telegram from her
husband.
1t is now learned that Morel who
played the waiter so successfully and
caused Evans release, is a detective and
has been in Evans service for several
months. He contrved to be placed in jail
for some petty 0ffense on September %,
and was there for three months. 1t is
now thought that he got In Jail merely tor
the purpose of assisting Evans to escape if
the opportunity should offer, or oflaying
the plans which were SO neatly consum-
mated last night.
A girl named Lee, sister of the young
m an who had been seen riding about with
Morell, has been arrested as an accom-
plice. 1t. is also understood that two
young men named Hutchinson are in
custody, though the officials are very
reticent and refuse to give any informa-
tion about the arrest of suspects.
One of these brothers who are now said
to be under arrest, Jimmy, is the head of
the house where the whole plan of escape
was concocted. and is hrother-in-law Of
the Lee girl. He lives on Q street, FIVE
blocks from the Courthouse.
Sheriff Scott and his posse have pushed
on from Sanger, and 1t is thought they
have followed the bandit and his confed-
crate 10 Simpsons Flat. There is little
doubt but that Evans made for that sec
tion. and is now probably with friends.
Evans condition is regarded as against
his rOughing 1t as he did when in the
wilds before, but few persons think. the
officers will take him. Il he should be
taken alive soon there is little doubt but
that be would be- promptly lynched, his
warder included.
City Marshal Morgan, the victim of
Evans bullet yesterday evening, Is doing
well and win not be confined to his room
more than a few days. Mrs. Evans has
recovered from her fit and is apparently
at ease. 1
Tax-paying citizens are inquiring into
the cause Of this and similar cases
wherein con yiCted criminals obtain their