Evans was arrested Thanksgiving Day on complaint of his
divorced wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Evans, who charged him with taking the 6-year-old
daughter of the couple, Deirdre, from Mrs. Evans’ Brentwood home.
Nothing except water has passed Evan’s lips since his
arrest.
~ REFUSES TO EAT ~
“I’m not going to eat, either, until they free me,” he
declared belligerently from his cell in the County Jail. “Mine – is a ‘poor
man’s’ stand against the deep corruption that exists in the administration of
justice in California.
“I represent the dwindling tribe of rugged American
individuals who are willing to fight for their convictions, fight as their
forefathers would have done. America is suffering now for lack of the red blood
of those who rebel.”
While Evans stated emphatically that he will remain adamant
in his hunger strike, Chief Jailer Clem Peoples was plotting otherwise
yesterday.
~ FEEDING THREATENED ~
“The Sheriff is charged with the keeping of the body of a
prisoner,” Peoples said. “He is bound by law to keep life in the body of a
prisoner and deliver him in a healthy condition for court trial.
“If Evans does not eat soon, we will have to resort to
forcible feeding.”
Evans already has been in court once, last week when he was
held to answer on the child-stealing charges after preliminary hearing before
Municipal Judge Chambers.
[“Jailed Man in Hunger Strike – Actor-Writer Passes Twelfth
Eatless Day in Protest at Arrest,” Los Angeles Times (Ca.), Dec. 9, 1936, part
I, p. 2; NOTE: The left-hand photo, from
this article, was nationally syndicated
(AP); Right-hand photo: Oakland Tribune (CA.), Dec. 13, 1936, p. 10-A]
***
FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 3): Los Angeles, Dec. 10 – The chief
jailer said it might be crackers, but William H. W. Evans, British
actor-writer, said it was his “clear conscience” that enabled him to continue
his 14-day hunger strike today while looking well fed.
Evans began refusing county jail fare two weeks ago in
protest against his arrest on charges of stealing his daughter, Dierdre, 6,
from his divorced wife, Elizabeth.
Chief Jailer Clem Peoples said:
“He looks better fed than I do. I wonder if he’s nibbling
crackers, or something, at night?”
“I haven’t had anything but water,” replied Evans. “I’m in
good physical condition because my conscience is clear.”
[“’No’ to Food – ‘Clear Conscience’ and not Crackers Keeps
Him Looking Well Fed,”
Syndicated (AP), The Ogden Standard Examiner (Ut.), Dec. 10,
1936, p. 6-A]
***
Full Text (Article 3 of 3): Charges of child stealing
against William H. W. Evans, 29, British oil salesman [this description of his
profession seems to be erroneous], were dismissed yesterday by Superior Judge
Valentine when the defendant produced a written agreement between himself and
Mrs. Elizabeth Evans, his divorced wife, sharing custody of their 6-year-old
daughter Deidre.
~ REPRESENTS SELF ~
Evans, arrested and returned here from Canada after he
assertedly took the child last fall, represented himself in the court action.
Judge Valentine gave as his opinion that Superior Judge
Heney, who granted the couple a divorce, failed to take the written agreement
into account when he gave sole custody of the child to the mother.
~ TERMS DISCLOSED ~
Under terms of the agreement Mrs. Evans was to have custody
of her daughter for ten months of each year, with Evans caring for the girl the
remaining two months.
[“Child Theft Case Dropped – Judge Dismisses Suit When
British Oil Man Shows Custody Pact,” Los Angeles Times (L.A.), Feb. 3, 1937,
part II, p. 15]
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