The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-03

FRESNO, Cal, Dec. 29.-Fresno is up
in arms and the whole county is ex-
cited. The Jail delivery here last night
by which at least temporary freedom
was secured by Chris Evans, the Visalia
bandit, who led the Evans and Sontag
gang in the Coils train robbery and
went through a series Of desperate bat
ties that finally resulted in the capture
of Evans and the two Sontag brothers,
created such excitement in Fresno that
few men slept last night. Evans was to
have been taken to the state peniten-
tiary to begin to serve a life term for
the murder of Vic Wilson, a deputy
United States marshal from Arizona, who
was one of the three men killed by the
bandits. Instead of wearing stripes
Evans is again free to shoot and kill.
He and the young man who assisted in
effecting the delivery disappeared in the
direction Of the mountains and big woods
and it is now supposed that the bloody
encounters Of the past few months Will
be fought over again.
The people here now recognize in
Chris Evans one of the most desperate
of the many dsperate men who have fig
ured in the annals of California crime.
and in the foothills left him crippled in
one arm and with one blind eye, the
bandit is still equal to hard fight.
OF Ed Morrell. the young man who
made the escape possible. and who fed
with the bandit. but little is known.
Morrell was employed as a waiter in
cheap restaurant. 1t is known, however,
that he is an eX-penitentiary convict,
and he is believed to be a tough char
acter. In the hands of Chris Evans
there is little doubt that he will become
a desperate man. SO far as can be
ascertained he appears to have been led
into this hazardous undertaking solely
by a foolhardy desire to be desperate
and assist a desperate man.
After the Fugitives.
Probably 500 men are now securing the
San joaquin valley in pursuit of the
fugitives. Sheriffs' posses and volunteer
forces are going in every direction
When the escape became known men
rushed to hardware and gun stores,
where they seized rifles and ammunition.
as if the stores were public arsenals. As
fast as men could get horses and guns,
one posse followed another into the foot
hills. The officers and machinery of the
Southern Pacific railway We're also put
in motion. In an incredibly short time
an engine and ears were run out and a
train bearing many determined citizens
of Sanger "A small town on the Porter
vile branch, started in the direction Of
the mountains. This posse seems to
have gone in the right direction, for late
last night word was received from
Sanger that a cart and Winded horse,
without a driver. had been found on the
roadside near there. This was I'M
doubtedly the horse that Evans and
Morrell took from the newspaper car
rier as they were escaping from Fresno.
that the
very carefully planned, and evidently
young Morrell and Mrs. Evans had many
accornpIices. The conspira tors planned
To get nearly all Of the sheriff's men out
of the city Sheriff Scott was in Los
Angeles. All the deputy sheriffs were
then decOyed away. Early yesterday
morning a young man appeared at the
town Of ROnson, about thirty miles south
of here on the POrterVille branch, 20
leave notice at the station of a train rob-
berry which, he said was to be effected
that night. He said he was one of the
gang, but had concluded not to commit
the crime but to surrender his Confed-
crates to the officers. Four deputy sher-
ifs went out on this decoy. They found
the youth waiting for them at a point
agreed upon, but he was alone. AL
though he protested that he had told the
truth, the sheriff's men took him into
custody. They now believe he was con-
y
About the time Of the jail delivery there
were a number of runaways down town
to attract the people from the Jail. The
prisoner gives his name as Edwin E.
Deck, and is a young boy. With these
men out of the way Ben Scott, the jailer,
who is the sheriff's brother, was the only
one left at the Jail
Bold Venture.
Mrs Evans entered first and was ad-
mitted to her husbands cell in the main
corridor. She was not searched. Then
young Morrell, the waiter, was allowed
to enter with Evans's supper He, too,
was admitted without question. When
the jailer answered MorrelTs call to be
let out he was confronted with pistols
in the hands of both men. They COM
PEELED him to unlock the bars and let
them into the street. Jailer Scott how
ever, was compelled to go with them.
Evanss wife tainted as the pistols were
drawn and was locked i'm Jail as the
trio went out. She is now detained in
Jail, though in a serious condition, hav-
ing had many fainting fits during the
night 1t was just getting dark when
the men passed into the streets The
electric lights were not burning vet.
Spirited horses and a wagon were wait
ing for the fugitives on the street but
in the shooting ARRAY which ensued
I.
and when Jailer Scott made his escape.
the horses became frightened, broke
their hitching straps and dashed away.
The bandits were then compelled to take
a newsboys horse and cart. Marshal
Morgan was shot in the shoulder, but
not seriously injured.
Early this morning the police arrested
two girls and boy, brother and sisters
named Hutchinson, ranging in age from
eighteen to twenty-three, at whose
house Morren had boarded All are sus-
pected of being implicated in the deliv-
cry, and the younger has made damaging
statements to the police, though so far
her statement has been withheld from
the public.
In an interview early this morning
Under-Sheriff Perry, who has charge of
the sending out Of he posses, said: I'VE
have been searching all the way from
Visalia to Meidera- Our orders are to
guard every avenue to the mountains
and leave no possible trail open. If
once they reach the mountains, all hope
of their immediate capture will be at an
end"
Something About MOrreII.
VISALIA, Cal, Dec. 29-Ed MorreU