The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-30
Has Peen Fugitive From JUS.
tice for Years.
WOULD HANG.
Is Charged With knowledge of
Several Murders.
Kansas Governors Have Refused
Requisition Papers.

Evans, the Texas negro fugitive who
hides behind politics every time the
law gets him, will be given trial in
| this city on the charge of having
guilty knowledge of a murder if he
can be caught. A warrant was is
sued for Evans after a complaint
had been filed With the county attor-
ney.
The complaint alleges that Evans
had an Oklahoma criminal at his
home in this city few months ago.
1t is said that among the hunted per-
sons Evans had in his home at this
city without notifying officers were
ALI Hunter, who is said to have
killed Sheriff Garrison of Oklahoma
City; Walter Hodge, wanted at Bryan,
Texas, on a charge of assault; also
participants in the Brownsville,
Texas, soldier affair.
Two Governors Refuse Requisftions.
Two governors of Kansas have re-
fused to honor requisitions from the
governor of Texas for Evans since he
has been in Wichita July 30 1909,
the last request for requisition was
made. Prominent local politicians
urged Governor StuPbs to deny the
request for a requisition and he did
During the few years he has been
in Wichita Evans has taken a prom
inent part among negroes and Next
cans at city and state elections.
Detective F. w Stevens, who has
worked on the Evans case at the re-
quest of Texas and Oklahoma Of
hcers said concerning Evans:
1T is a known fact that Evans says
he assisted ALT Hunter, the man who
killed Sheriff Garrison at Oklahoma
City; also harbored Walter Hodge,
wanted at Bryan, Texas, for
assault on IA year old girl; also
harbored participants in the Browns
ments 1 can prove"
Evans Shot Man in Texas.
In 1905 Evans shot a white man
named Taylor. It is said Evans or
Avanez, as he was known in Texas,
badly wounded the merchant but he
finally recovered.
Evans was arrested and sub
sequently released on $500 bond. 1t
is said he left the state upon being
that he was about to be in
dicted by a grand ury. A member of
the jury was a negro and he informed
Evans he was about to be indicted
Evans is of mixed blood. his par
entS being Mexican and Negro. He is
a graduate of Texas negro college
and is said to have a good education
and to possess considerable ability as
a business man. He was a wife and
four children in this city. Since COM
ing here he assumed the place or
leader among a certain class OF
colored people.
Tie specific complaint filed in the
case by Detective Stevens, alleges that
Evans was an accessory after the fact
n the shooting of Sheriff George w.
Garrison. who was killed three miles
last of Hitchcock. Ok. June >, 1908.
The killing is said to have been don1
~ ALI Hunter. alias Kingsbury. a negro.
t is alleged that Evans knew Hunter
vas guilty of the murder and that on
August 16 1908. Evans harbored and
concealed Hunter in Wichita for the
purpose of allowing him to escape ar
est and punishment.
A reward of $4,000 was offered for
Hunter in Oklahoma and a reward of
800 in Arkansas.
An effort was made to cause the ar
est of Evans on q direct charge of
criminals but Kansas has
10 law bearing directly on that sub |
ect When this was learned he was |
harged with having had guilty know
edge of the killing of the Oklahoma
heriff. Witnesses will come here from
Oklahoma to testify at the hearing.
The penalty for having guilty knowl-
dye of a murder is from five years in
he penitentiary at hard labor to
ERIN in the county Jail If the court
Q desires it can punish with a fine
ISn