Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-01-05
CHRIS EVANS Is AT LARGE
The Convicted Desperate Escapes From
.he Fresno Jail.
WAS ASSISTED BY A CONFEDERATE
They Capture the JaIler and March Him
Through The StreetS-EVanS Shoots
One Man During the Fracas.

FRESNO, Cal, Dec. 29.--At 6 10 O'Clock
last night Chris Evans, the notorious
train robber, escaped from the county
Jail Deputy Sheriff Ben Scott was on
duty. About 30 Mrs. Evans, who had
arrived from Visalia, came to the Jail to
see her husband. She went to the up
per corridor, where Evans was confined,
and they talked together for while.
Shortly after q O'Clock a man came to the
Jail door with supper for Chris Evans.
Scott admitted him and let Evans out OF
the 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.
Evans ate for while, when the waiter,
whose name il Ed Morel, asked to be let
out. rs he wanted TO leave.
~ went mp to the grated door," said
Scott, "and unlocked it. had no sooner
done 30 than Morel pulled six shooter
on Inc, and ordered me to throw up my
hands. supposed he was joking and
did not obey Then Chris stepped up
and said, That's right, Ben, put yonr
hands up saw that they meant bust
ness and did rs | was told. Evans then
demanded TO he let out at the back door
OF the kitchen, but told him that had
not the keys. They then said they would
go out at the front door. Before leaving
they searched me. | was marched out
between them, Mrs. Evans behind. hav-
ing apparently fallen into a faint. Evans
allowed me to lock the door of the Jail
behind US. | was marched to the NJ
street entrance to the court house grounds
bv Evans and Morel. At the corner of
Mariposa street we met man passing
and Evans ordered him to come along.
The fellow saw what was passing ana
made tracks in another direction. Morel
WAS somewhat in advance and when we
got to the Adventist church | suddenly
heard shot. Believing | was being
fred upon | started to run. Evans or
dered me not to, but broke away, and,
coming down town, gave the alarm.
Morel went ahead and came across City
Marshal Morgan and W. M. Wyatt, q
capitalist, who were standing talking to-
gether. Morel ordered them to throw up
their hands and they did 80. He then
took Morgan's pistol and WAS turning at
tention to Wyatt when Morgan turntd
suddenly and caught Morel about the
waist, pinning his arms to his side,
Morel struggled and yelled, Shoot the
son-of-.' Wyatt was about to take
away Morel's pistol when Evans came
ND and cried let go OF that man or I'll
kill you Morgan, seeing further re-
sistance was useless. was about to release
Morel, when Evans fired. hitting Morgan
in the right shoulder, intlicting painful
though not dangerous wound. Evans
and his pal then attempted to get into a
wagon near by, but the horses, frightened
by the shots. plunged and reared and
finally broke away. The fugitives ran to
Mono and q streets and came across
man named Willard Cochran, riding
along in cart. They fred at him sew
eral times, making him alight, took pos
session and drove away. Morgan in the
meanwhile was taken home and is rest
ing easy"
The escape has caused intense excite
ment, and officers have gone out in all
directions to pursue the men.
OFFICERS ON THE TRAIL.
FRESNO, Cal. Dec. 29.-Chris Evans,
who escaped from Jail yesterday, was re-
ported to have been seen early this morn
ing above Sanger. The true name OF Ed
Morell, who assisted Evans to escape, is
Frank Morey. George Byrd, brother
in-law OF Evans, said last night that Bill
Dalton assisted in Evans escape, as the
latter helped Graf Dalton out of the VII
salia Jail in 1891. He also says Evans
twin brother, Jim, was killed at Coffey-
vile, Kansas, at the time of the Dalton
raid Sheriff Scott and posse, who went
to Sanger on special train, are calling
for more deputies, and the rumor that
the bandit is surrounded in Kings river
bottom seems well founded. Sheriti's
officers here seem to think Evans will he
in custody before night, 1t is under
stood that girl named Lee and two boy 8
PANIED Hutchinson have been arrested as
accomplices in the Evans Jail delivery,