Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1907-09-20
EVANS TO BE FREED.
Convicted of the Murder of Messen.
ger ToVey, now Proven Innocent.

ger IoVey, now Proven Innocent.
Mike Fovey, the express mess.
enger of Wells Fargo's Express Com.
pany on the lone stage line, was shot
and instantly killed while making
the trip to Jackson on the stage in
June, 1894, by a highwayman in a
ambush about two miles east of the
Mountain Spring house. Bill Evans.
a half-witted fellow, was arrested for
the crime in Calaveras county, sheriff
Thorn being at that time the execut-
I've officer. A large reward was offer
ed for the arrest and conviction of
the perpetrator. The case was vigor-
ousiy prosecuted in the superior
court of this county. John f. Davis
was then superior judge, and K. G.
Rust district attorney. D. b. Spag-
noli was appointed by the court to
defend the accused, and he was a
assisted at the trial by Samuel Dun
lap of Stockton. The detectives of
Wells Fargo were not satisfied that
Evans was the guilty man, and the
sherltf's office in Amador county
shared in these doubts. But the
officers of CaiaveIas pressed the prose-
cution, the substantial money reward
being an incentive IN that direction.
Evans was convicted, on what was
deemed by many rather slim evidence.
He was sentenced to life 1mprisun-
ment in San Quentin, and has served
thirteen years in that institution.
Nothing has since occurred to
strengthen the impression of his
guilt, but rumors have been afioat at
different times that an effort would
be made to secure his release on
parole or pardon.
Now comes the Call of Monday
last, and laims that the innocence
OF the convict has been established,
and that he will shortly be released.
That paper says:
After having served Is years in San
Quentin penitentiarv, it developed
yesterday that William Evans, one of
the convicts, is an innocent man.
Proof positive that he did not com
NIT the crime for which he was SEN
fenced is now in the hands of the
proper authorities. The Judge who
passed the sentence declares Evans is
innocent, the man who prosecuted
him made deathbed statements that
he was innocent, and in q short time
Evans will be allowed to leave the
penitentiary, minus IL years OF life.
Against Evans were arrayed num-
Der of officials, eager to share a large
reward offered for the conviction of
the perpetrator of the crime. Despite
his pleadings jury found against
him. For 13 years he has played the
part Of convict. For IL years he
brooded over the injustice which had
robbed him of life, to know at last
that his innocence has been proved
and that he may take his place among
his fellows as an equal.
Early In 1894 daring attempt at
highway robbery took place IN Anna
dor county, IN which messenger Tovey
was shot dead. A reward was offered
for their capture and in short time
Evans, logger, was arrested. Evans
had served short term in San
Quentin once before on a similar
charge. Concerning this former
affair he had declared that he was
drunk and entered house which was
robbed that night. The evidence in
tbs case was very slender, but it was
sufficient to send Evans to the peni-
tentiary. When brought to trial
second time, the fact that he shad
served time weighed heavily against
him.
Confronted by chain of, circum-
stantiaI evidence forged fraudulently
by his prosecutors, Evans could only
offer denials. But of what avail we're
the denials of an ex-convict? He had
only his word against that Of the
officers of the law, and the latter
won. The jury found him guilty and
judge John F. Davis sentenced .hlm
to the penitentiaIy tor life. .The
prison door shut behind him and
Evans was blotted out of existence.
The logger became a thing with
number, remembered by few and
cared for by none. Year after year
he led the life of a convict. The
ranking bitterness and brooding at
the injustice of it all stamped them
selves on his features. but he worked
on patiently. quietly, hoping that
some day something would occur
which would give him back his
liberty.
The something" occurred when
one of his prosecutors died short
time ago. Nothing definite was
known, but it was lumored that he
had confessed on his deathbed the
railroading of Evans to the penlten-
tiary.
Evans had been forgotten. For
years he had been a number-notbing
more-and there was none to fight for
him. Then the rumors started afresh
and the American sense of Justice
and desire for fair play resulted in
the matter being taken to the proper
author tiles.