The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-11
HOLD UP YOUR HANDS
Said Chris Evans at Fowler,
California.
Officers on the Scene Couldn't
Hit a Barn.
LIVELY FIGHT
Took Place and the Robbers Got
Away.

FRESNO, Cal, Jan. 1.-Two men be-
Eeved 10 be Chris Evans. the Nisalia
bandit and his promising under-study,
Ed Morreu. raided the town of Fowler
last evening. Another tale Of blood shed
and terror is the result
Fowler is a little village of 800 inhabi-
fants ten miles southeast of Fresno.
George Leon, the station agent and three
men employed as section hands were IN
the depot AT 2 o'clock, Just after the Los
Angeles express had passed.
" lille the four men were talking,
masked man with revolver in each
band appeared at the open door and or
dered them to throw up their hands Not
one hesitated to obey.
AT this Juncfure Howard Harris and A.
Vincent prominent business men of towF-
Ter, stepped upon the depot platform and
took ia the situation. They were about
to run away and give the alarm when the
robbers espied them through a window.
The outlaw. still keeping the other men
covered, backed slowly out of the door
and ordered Harris and lncent into the
depot, saying he would kul them if they
refused They naturally went III.
The masked man then stood the six
citizens up along the wall, covering them
with one revolver and went through their
pockets. He secured a little over 10.
The daring freebooter then ordered his
six prisoners into the street and made
them walk down through the principal
thor0ughfare TO Kutner GoIdstein's gro
cery
Tine robber followed his six prisoners
into the store, and 1t was evidently his
intention alone and single handed to loot
the grocery. However, gust as he order
ed three men previously in the store to
throw UP their hands, the proceeding
was interrupted by COnsta5les Ochs and
Nelson.
Then began a bloody shooting ARRAY.
Ochs. with his pistol drawn rushed into
the store. The bandit turned upon him
and fired and 0ehs fell and rolled out
through the door, firing at the rObber
from the floor His aim was wild. how
ever and the constable shot one citizeA
through the arm and another in the
breast.
The man hit ia the breast was struck
by q spent bullet and not seriously hurt,
though knocked down. During Che gen
eral fusillade, the robber escaped and
disappeared ia the darkness Another
rODber appeared upon the scene. how
ever during the battle in the grocery.
"a wagon dashed up to the door and the
driver began shooting at Constable Ochs,
thus aiding In the escape Of the robber
within. The man Id the wagon then
drove rapidly away. This man answers
the description of Chris Evans ln the
other robber who wore bandana hand
kerchief over his face, the men attacked,
LtAt0fG LACt A1IyA llllU Al- aAJAAEAi i ne
robber told them also that his name was
Morren lit is believed here the bandits
becoming pressed for food and money,
came down from the mountains de
fermined to make raid.
a posse left this city last night to Or
ganize a pursuit from Fowler. Constable
Charles Ochs, who is badly wounded IT'D
the thigh and groin, was one Of the
jurors who convicted Chris Evans of the
murder of Deputy United States Marshal
81 ils0n
Ochs declares that he wounded the
younger of the two robbers. 1t is gener-
ally agreed here and ia Fowler that the
daring raid was the work Of Evans and
Morreil