House Party Shoot-Out
Evans & Sontag vs. Smith & Witty
By: Bob Boze Bell 03/01/2009
August 5, 1892
It’s a hot day in the central California town of Visalia. In spite of that, two lawmen are wearing heavy dusters as they undertake what’s supposed to be a simple job.
Southern Pacific Railroad Detective Will Smith and Tulare County Deputy Sheriff George Witty are headed to the home of Chris Evans. They plan to confiscate the trunk of accused (and jailed) train robber George Contant, who is staying at the house along with his brother John Sontag. The officers also want to talk to Sontag.
At this point, they do not suspect Evans or Sontag of involvement in a spate of recent train stickups.
They get to the Evans place after noon—just in time to see Sontag walk in the front door. They follow him but don’t see him inside. Detective Smith, an arrogant and abrasive type, asks teenager Eva Evans where Sontag is. She says he’s not there. Smith calls her a liar. The girl walks out the back door and tells her father about the detective’s accusation.
Chris Evans angrily confronts the lawmen. As he does so, Smith pulls back a curtain covering a doorway—there’s Sontag, with a shotgun
in hand. Evans pulls a pistol. The officers run out of the house, trying to escape.
Both Evans and Sontag follow and open up. Smith fires back, but he’s hit by buckshot in the back and hand. He’s still running—and breaks clear through a picket fence in front of the house. He jumps into a nearby delivery wagon and orders the driver to head to the sheriff’s office, leaving Witty behind.
Evans shoots the deputy, who collapses in a neighbor’s yard. Evans is about to finish him off, but pleas from the wounded man and others apparently change his mind. He returns to his home.
Witty receives medical attention for his injury. Newspapers, citizens, other lawmen and even Chris Evans call Smith a coward.
Evans and Sontag are now fugitives.
Comments (1)
I just recently joined True West and I've enjoyed everything I've encountered since day one. This re-telling of the "House Party Shoot Out" is a strong indication of many the enjoyable hours that lay ahead for me. I especially liked “Amazing Connections” and "Odds and Ends” at the end. A very good read, thanks a bunch True West, Dutch
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