Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-02-20
CHRIS EVANS CAPTURED
He and His Partner Came In
From the Mountains.
SURROUNDED IN HIS OLD home.

| Worn Out with Dodsing Detectives, the
Famous Bandits Ventured Into a Town
For Rest, but Were Discovcred-They
Surrendered without Firing a Shot.
VISALIA, Cal, Feb. 20.-Chris Evans, the
train robber and outlaw, who escaped from
Fresno jail month ago, is again in custo-
fly. 1t was discovered that he had come
| into Visalia from the mountains with his
partner, Edward Morrell, who assisted him
to escape from Fresno jail, and that the
| two men were hidden in Evans house
| here. Officers surrounded the house, and
! n few hours later practically all the inhab,
itants of the town We're present. Evans
recognized the fact that escape was impos-
sible, and after brief negotiations with
Sheriff Kay of this county he and Morrell
surrendered
| The town of Nisalta was thrown into
state Of wild excitement by the news that
was brought to the officials that the noto-
rious bandits had come down from their
mountain retreat ana were at Evans
! house. They arrived in town Saturday
night on foot, having left their horse and
cart tied to a fence at the ranch of Elijah
| Perkins.
AS soon as Sheriff Kay was informed of
this posse of determined men was quick
y gathered and proceeded Immediately to
| Evans house, which they proceeded to
surround and guard until daylight. Men
were stationed around the house to
command it on all sides. The townspeople.
many of whom were armed, came to the
scene out of curiosity, and when daylight
broke a large portion of the people of the
place was on the ground of the expected
| battle.
Brighton Betrayed Them.
ba Dau-C which I,,onnI+ tbiC
about was given by IL man named Bright
on who is i'll the employ of Marshal Card.
Brighton cared for Evans house and chill
| dren. He was formerly deputy marshal
in Arizona. He and Gard arrived here and
Immediately set to work to capture the
outlaw.
As the outlines of the house within which
the desperadoes We're known to be became
visible in the gray dawn it was closely
watched by the excited crowd, but no one
evinced a disposition to approach.
1t was clearly known from previous ex-
pcrience that Evans will shoot and shoot
to kill. 1t was conceded that an attempt
to capture the men by assaulting the house
would surely result in the death of several
of the posse. Moreover, Chris Evans chill
dren were known to be in the house, and
the officers did not wish to start Il fight
which would result in the death or injury
of these innocent children. 1t was, how
ever, the intention to storm the house at
noon If nothing occurred before that time.
1t was conceded that if the attempt should
be made some lives would be lost, but the
citizens were determined to put an end to
the lawless career of these men.
Finally messenger was sent to the house
with a note from Sheriff Kay advising the
men to surrender peaceably and telling
them that they would certainly be killed
or captured-that their escape was impos-
sible. This messenger was compelled TO
enter the house and was held as a hostage
The messenger was a young man named
Benson. Evans said to him when he en-
tered:
"Ain't you taking great chances? Now,
you take these pistols and walk out ahead
Of us when get ready to go" Benson
was badly frightened.
When Evans saw armed men around the
house and noted that Brighton had not re
turned he attacked Mrs. Brighton, who
was in the house, knocking her down and
kicking her, telling IN to 20 to bed and
stay there. He was only prevented from
killing the woman through the iuterven-
ton Of Morrell, who commanded him to
desist. The woman was badly injured and
in spasms for hours and was badly bruised
where kicked
A Isloodless Capture.
When Evans saw the house entirely sur
rounded, he opened negotiations with Kay
to surrender, Evans son carrying the cor
reSpOndence. Evans agreed to come out if
Kay would dispense the crowd. The Off
GERS ordered all SPECTATORS to leave, which
they did. Then Evans tme out on the
porch unarmrd, and Sheriff Kay and In
der Sheriff Hall went forward and shook
hands with him. Brighton and his wife
have been living i'll Evans house and car
ing for the four little children of Evans
The bandits are Worl out. The officers
have kept them travelling, and they had to
find some place to rest, and they took that
chance here. The citizens are very indig-
nant at Evans treatment of Mrs Brighton,
and if the prisoners are not removed soon
they may be lynched
f. j. Kinds, Evans attorney at Fresno,
came here Saturday, and his movements
were watched. Mrs Evans was expected
here in a day or two by officers. The Off
GERS are reticent the disposal of Evans
at present but it is supposed he will be
spirited to Fresno, where he will receive
Immediate sentence and be hurried to state
prison. Evans refuses to be interviewed
and abused IA press representative roundly
Morrell is more talkative and tells his
story of the recent encounter at Slick rock
Evans looks very thin and pale, as though
he had passed through Il severe sickness.
There is great rejoicing here at the cap
ture, as many persons had reason to fear
his vengeance for giving information to
the officers, and there was general belief
that some valuable lives would be lost be-
fore he could be captured. The two des-
peradoes are now safely locked in the coun-
ty Jail, and it is safe to say they will not be
given many opportunities to escape.