The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-23
S|DNA EDWARDS
NOW IS PRISONER
At H|LLSv|LLE.
He Will Be Taken to
Roanoke for Safe
Keeping.
FIRST CAPTURE
MADE BY POSSES
Young Member of Allen Gang
Stoutly Proclairns His limo
cence of Completely in Court
house Murders-Says He
Knows Nothing About
Remaining Outlaws.
~ ALEXANDER FORWARD.

Hillsville. Va. March 2o.-Positiva
denial OF any completely in the court
house murder of Judge, attorney and
sheriff was made tonight By Sidna
Edwards. one Of the men under indict-
men,. who was lodged in thu Htlsville
jail to-day.
In an interview with The Tines
Dispatch correspondents Edwards pro-
fessed that he was unarmed and took
no part In the shooting. lie further
says that he has had no knowledge of
the movements of his relatives who
nre stil at large. The prisoner VIII
be taken to the Roanoke jail for safe
keeping. The trip probably will be
made on Sunday. Edwards rode into
IIIllsville at 40 o'clock to-day, ac-
companisd by H II. Lucas; tho Baldwin,.
Falts detective, and Jasper (Lack) AL
len. The presence OF the latter has
caused much speculation, but the only
statement he would make was that he
heard of his nephew's arrest and Joined
him on ths road. The young prisoner
was taken into custody last midnight
in the mountains near the home of
Floyd Allen.
Tracked Constantly.
Ho had been tracked almost con-
stantly since he left his own home last
Sunday to avoid the otficers. So closely
pressed was ha that he spent Wednes-
day night in a fodder stack and was
unable to reach the supper which had
been placed for him last evening.
In the presence of Detective Il. j.:
Felts. Edwards talked freely tonight.
Il know nothing of the ca use of the
courtroom shooting" he said. Uncle
Floyd was on trial, and the day of the
killing was tho second time had been
out after an attack of pneumonia.
walked Into the courtroom and had
just gotten inside when ! saw UnclS
Floyd jump up and say something. I
could not hear what 1t was. Right
away somebody began to shoot from
about Clerk Goad's desk. but 1 dos't
know who fired the first shot. 1 was
thinking 1t might have been Prosccu-
tor Foster. but 1 won't say. saw
Uncle Sidna after the shooting COM
menced. did not see my cousins or
my brothers.
"As soon ! could with my lama
foot 1 got out of the courthouse and
stood at tho bottom of the steps. saw
Uncle Sidna and AIR. Goad shoe ting at
each other. After it was over l got
my mothers horse and rode homo
Before I left l saw Unel, Floyd on y
horse. and then I saw him lying on
the ground. II he had been able 10
ride we would have taken him away
with us. ] saw my brother Wesley on
the road and that afternoon 1 saw
Uncle Sidna at his stors I hope God
Will strike me dead II [ have ever
seen any of them or heard tell any
thing about them OF where they ara
since that evening. 1 stayed at homo
until Sunday. and had started to neigh
borS' when / saw the officers / was
In plain view from the road, and they
could have taken me then but did MOB
go back home because heard the Off
GERS had orders to shoot all of us on
sight. ! went about and lived the best
could until the officers run up on mo
last night. I did not have a pistol nc
the courthouse or while was trying
to keep from being arrested
Gave Pts oil to UncIe.
1t is understood that witnesses be-
fore the jury which returned the in
dictments testified that Sidna Edwards
handed pistol on the courthouse
green to Sdna Allen In order to en-
able the latter to continue his pistol
duel with Clerk Goad.
Edwards is a tall, we'll built, good
natured individual with an attractive
face. He has had little or no educa-
ton, but is des!rous of being courteous.
He strenuously denied that his foot
was injured while pulling a still from
fre during a raid, but smilngly said
he knew what q stl!l was.
Reports to the effect that a man
named Robinson had been shot by tho
Aliens for revealing their where
ahouts are unfounded SO is runor
that Jack" Allen was organizing Il
posse to shoot UP FfillsvilIe AS Il mat
ter OF fact Jack" has been under sur
VIGILANCE for "a week. The detectives
are working in small groups OF four
to SIX men. Detective feltS searched
the nome of Sidna Allen this afternoon
He brought here tonight the sweater
worn by Sdna during the courthouse
trouble 1t shows two bullet holes.
one in the left arm and one in the
left side This corresponds with &
statement made by Sidua Edwards to-
night, regarding his uncle's hurts,
Both are flesh POUNDS and are noe re-
garded as serious Officers say Sidna
Alien has Winchester shotgun, and
that each OF the four fuSitives has two
pistols.
Jack Allen was infurlated 81. ,ns
newspaper accounts of tho Aliens. ITn
protested that his family was being
misrepresented. Gritting his teeth, no
announced that fists would A. soon un-
less there was a change. Allen ling
cred about the Confederate monuments
In front OF the courthouse Ions after
Sidna Edwards was locked up, and q
when he rode away two detectives es-
corted him beyond the hills.
Two more arrests were made bcsides 4
that. OF Sidna Edwards day when
Jordan Edwards and Alex. Thomas
were taken into custody. charged With
Continued on Seventh PagaJ IL
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