On last Monday night between nine and ten o'clock the house of Rev. John Evans, who lived about eight miles northwest from Trenton was burned down and the old man's body burned up with it. The fire was discovered by two of the neighbors living almost one-half mile from him who reached the place just as the roof fell in, the walls falling in soon after. After everything was sufficiently burned up an examination was made and a small quantity of human bones were found near where the foot of the old man's bed stood, and it is supposed that he had been murdered and his house set on fire so as to destroy all trace of the deed. Coroner Stevens went out on Tuesday and found the facts as above stated.

Mr. Evans was living entirely alone, his wife having been dead some years and his children all being married. The supposition is that he had been murdered for his money, as he was known to be in the habit of keeping money about the house. Search was made in the rubbish to find some gold, and resulted in finding what they supposed would amount to fifteen hundred dollars, part of it so melted that it cannot be used without going through the mint, but they found thirty-seven twenty dollar pieces, and some smaller ones, which can be used. This was found by direction of one of his sons, who supposed kept his gold in bags hanging to the rafters, next to the roof, and searching about the spot where they supposed it would fall. How much other money he may have had is not known, but in all probability considerable amount.

He was known to have money loaned out, but as all notes and other papers were lost, there is no evidences to be found. Tracks of both men and horses were found, indicating that two or three persons had come to and left the house, showing that there were probably more than one engaged in the murder.

On Tuesday morning a man by the name of James Sayers, living three miles north of town, quite shabbily dressed, came to town and purchased a pair of boots of Mr. Tarpey, and paid for them in gold dollars. He also passed twenty dollars at one of the banks and said he brought them with him from Texas. He purchased some things at other places and paid for them in nickels, which had the appearance of having been laid away somewhere and not used. He also stated that he was going to Kansas City to return to Texas to herd cattle. After the news came to town of the fate of Mr. Evans, suspicion at once rested on this man, and Sheriff Boyce started in pursuit of him and brought him back. He was lodged in jail to be examined.

This same man was married some time ago, by Rev. Mr. Evans, to a woman of bad reputation, and has been known to have been back and forth to Mr. Evans's several times since. He was also riding a horse the tracks of which answers very well to the description of the tracks of one of the horses that had been to Mr. Evans house. His people know nothing about his having any specie of any kind.

Rev. Mr. Evans was a minister of Old School (hardshell) Baptist faith, and was very much disposed to horde up his wealth, not even telling his own children anything about his business. It will be remembered that he had Messrs. Collier & Sykes to get him up a fine marble monument a year or so ago, costing over one thousand dollars, with an inscription on for his wife filled out, and one for himself finished, except the date of his death. This he had set up near his wife's grave. We understand his bones, what could be found of them, were buried there.

Some years ago he erected a church house in his neighborhood known as the Paint Lick Church (South Evans Church), all of his own money. Most of the family live in the same neighborhood.
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