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From: "Diana Boothe" <>
Subject: [OUTLAWS] INDEPENDENT--EXTRA Fort Smith, Arkansas. September 3, 1875
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 09:59:14 -0600


INDEPENDENT--EXTRA
Fort Smith, Arkansas. September 3, 1875


DANIEL EVANS

Was a stout and handsome young man about twenty years old, of light
complexion, curly hair and blue eyes and it is said that he has respectable
connections in Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. He was arrested near Eufaula,
Creek Nation. He was sentenced to die for killing a young man named
Seabolt, near Eufaula, where Evans had a brother residing. His parents
live in Bosque County, Texas, about 25 miles from Waco. "In November last he
started from Denison, Texas in company with Seabolt, and when they arrived
near Eufaula Seabolt was missed and his body was not found for about a week.
It was, however, identified by a pocket-book containing his name and a patch
worn over the left eye. Evans had been seen last in company with the
deceased, and was ultimately found in possession of and riding the murdered
man's horse and, strange to say, had on the dead man's boots at the time of
his arrest, and wore them some time after, and gave the horse to one of his
counsel as a fee. His demeanor during his trial and imprisonment, when not
engaged in religious exercises, betrayed a gay, careless levity, which was
painfully evident when he thanked the judge after hearing his terrible
doom-- "to be hanged until dead"--and smilingly went back to his cell and
joked with his companions about the jump".
According to his statements he had led a wild and reckless life in the
Territory, and associated with outlaws.

"Good people all, I pray give ear,
A woeftil story you shall hear.
"Tis of a robber stout as ever,
That bade six true men stand and deliver."
"Re tu re nu ri tooral a."

EVANS' STATEMENTS

Dan Evans made the following rambling statements to our reporter. We give
them to you as they are for what they may be worth; and for fear they may be
the elegant invention of a fertile imagination, we shall not vouch for them.
if they should be true in any part or particular, they may be interesting to
those who may happen to know any of the facts. Be it not, we are not
responsible. All we can say to protect his gentle memory from aspersion is,
"'Peace to his ashes;' here let him lie."
"I suppose I have to jump on the 3d of September. Just one year ago, on the
3d of September 1874, I was in Bosque County, Texas, and went to a horse
race. There was a bloody fight took place on the ground and several men were
killed.
"About 2-1/2 years ago I 'rode' with a young man named C. from Mississippi.
He was a splendid young fellow, a great dandy and good game. We got into a
bad scrape and fight at Fort Belnap. He was shot and killed. I had just
time to grab his diamond rings and get away. I sent them to his sister in
Mississippi, as I had promised in case of accident to him.
"Sam Perkins was shot here in Fort Smith. When I first met him, he was on
foot, ragged and his shoes worn out. I was flush, had three horses and
plenty of money. I gave him a horse and 'rode' two years, on and off, with
him. He was from Missouri, I think he was the bravest young man I ever saw,
and had presence of mind. We got into running fight a Stringtown, Texas; 5
men chased us; Perkins fired and killed 2 men running; he kept the butt of
his rifle up at his breast and caught two bullets in the wood.
"When Jim Reed was killed I was with him but not in the house. He sat down
to dinner and was eating when Morris drew on him and told him he was his
prisoner; Jim said all right and ducked under the table and raising it,
throwing dishes on Morris, and ran to the door, carrying the table on his
back as a shield; Morris shot at him twice; I heard the firing, knew what
was up, got on Reed's horse and sloped. Jim was an awful man; large rewards
were offered for him in Texas; he had killed over 40 men in his time; he
would kill a man for ten dollars."
Evans also stated that he had assisted in the Watt Grayson robbery over 2
years since in company with Read and Wilder, who was caught and sent to the
penitentiary; that Jim Read had went to Watt's 3 times before but was afraid
to try it on old Watt; that he (the prisoner) had stuck the burning pine
knot to old Watt's feet; that they got $27,000, and that the money was
buried in Texas, etc., etc. (Many of the readers may recall the robbery of
old Watt Grayson in the Indian country, when by means of torture the robbers
compelled him to disclose the buried hoard and got away with some $30,000.
One of the parties was arrested and sent up for 1 year. In order to "get his
money back" the old man ought to have a chance by special dispensation from
high authority, to take this fellow Wilder and choke and splinter him with
pine splinters!)

(Submitted with permission from William Gorman........Thanks William!)

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