The criminal exploits of Christopher Evans and John Sontag are legendary in the San Joaquin Valley, especially Tulare County. Accused of multiple train robberies and murders, these two Visalia-based outlaws kept lawmen and bounty hunters busy and frustrated in the 1890s as they evaded capture and hid out in the wilds of Tulare and Fresno counties. The antics of this elusive pair brought much to discredit and unwanted publicity to the Valley, and earned the unholy partnership of Evans and Sontag a top place on California’s list of notorious lawbreakers.
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