The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-29
WAS AIDED BY HIS FRIENDS.
And He Walks Out, Taking His
Jailer a Prisoner.
A TRAIL OF BLOOD BEHIND HIM.
A Waiter Joins His Fortunes With
Those of the Robber and They
Escape Together. =.

FRESNO. Dec. 28.-At 6:10 o'clock this
evening Chris Evans. the notorious train
robber, escaped from the County Jail in
Fresno. Deputy Sheriff Ben Scott was on
duty. tie regular night jailer. Ben Merritt,
being absent. Scott went on duty at 5
O'Clock and found everything regular. o.,
About 80 o'clock Mrs. Evans. who had
arrived in the morning from VisaEa, came
to the jail to see her husband. She went
to the upper corridor where Evans was
confined. and they talked together for
some time.
Shortly after o'clock a man came to
the Jail door with supper for Evans. Scott
admitted him, aud let Evans out of tife-
tanks into the open space between the
upper corridor and the jail Office:
Scott locked the waiter in with Evans
and his wife, after which he left them.e
Evans ate for while. when the waiter,
whose name is Ed Morel. asked to be let
out, as he wanted to leave.
Il went up to the grated door," said
Scott. ''and unlocked it. l had no sooner
done SO than Morel pulled six-shooter on.
me and ordered me to throw up my hands.
[ supposed he was joking, aud did not at
once obey.
Just then Chris stepped up and said:
That's right. Ben, put your hands up |
then saw they meant business and did as |
was told. Evans then demanded to be let
out at the back door of the Jail through
the kitchen. but told him that | hadn't the
keys; they were in the safe. They then
said they would go out at the front door.
Before leaving they searched me-. They
stated their intention of making me go
with them, and protested. 1t was no use,
however, and l was marched out between
them. Mrs. Evans was the only one in the
jail besides myself and the prisoners. and
Evans and Morel. Mrs. Evans remained
behind, having apparently fallen into
faint. Evans allowed me to lock the door:
of the Jail behind us.
II was marched TO the M-street entraDre
to the Courthouse grounds by Evans and
Morel. We cut across NJ street and went
up Mariposa. At the corner we met a
man passing and Evans ordered him to
come along. The fellow saw what was
passing and made tracks in another direc-
ton. =:
''Morel was somewhat in adva nee. and
when we got to the Adventist church, at
the corner of o and Mariposa streets, sud-
denly heard shot. Believing was be-
ing fired upon | started to run. Evans or
dered me not to, but | broke away. and.
coming downtown, gave tire alarm. /
heard another shot while / was running
away. While we were going toward the
church mentioned Evans told me that
his wife had nothing to do with his es-
cape"
The shots heard by Scott were no doubt
fired by Evans, and one of them struck
City Marshal Morgan. The story of Scott
il connection with the escape is undoubt-
edly incorrect. as he is too greatly excited
over the event to give correct version Of
how it happened.
When Morel went ahead he came across
City Marshal Morgan and W. NJ. Wyatt, a
capitalist, who were standing talking to-
gether little east of the MaripOsa- street
entrance to the Adventist church. Murel
ordered them to hold up their hands and
they did so.
He then took Morgan's pistol and was
turning mis- attention to Wyatt, when MeT-
gan turned suddenly and caught Morel
about the waist, Dinning his arms to his
side. Morel struggled and yelled, ."Shoot
himw Wyatt was about to take away
Moreps pistol when Evans came UP and
cried, ''Let go that man or Pll kill YOU"
Morgan. seeing that further resistance
was useless. was about to release Morel'
when Evans fired, hitting Morgan in the
right shoulder and infiicting painful
though net dangerous wound. Evans and
his pal then attempted to get into wagon
near by, but the horses, frightened by
shots, plunged and reared and finally
broke away.
The fugitives then ran to Mono and @
streets and came across man named
Willard Cochran riding along in a cart:
They fired at him several times, forcing
him to alight, and they then took posses.
sion of the cart and drove away.
Morgan in the meanwhile was taken to