The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-18
PEOPLES FORUM
That New Allen Chaptcrs

Editor virgin.an;
sir,--In The virginian of 18th instant !
read under the caption of "A New Alien Chap-
ter" a communication from Mr.. b. e. MoomaW,
OF Savannah. Va, who Ike many other Wr-teIe
who contribute frequently and freely to the pup
lie press In -ood faith and with good intent, mas
fit To present as truth to the reading pun
lie Pigment Of an imaginative mina, esoissu
from misnformaion a basis, winch - mol
only unjust to the Aliens who seem to De get
ting their full share OF the perquisites &C.
corded to the proverbial dog given Q pad
name.' but to the officers and people OF Car
roll county, many of whom know to be the
peers of any people OF Virginia In intelligence,
refinement, patriotism and regard Tor the laws
of God and man. In the communication re-
ferred to the statement was made tnat many
years ago Dunkard preacher who lived IN thc
neighborhood of the Aliens, was murdered
because of lifting his voice against Il . open
nquities of the mountain clan, around MN.
especially In connection with the manufacture
ana distribution of whiskey," and to use the
writer's own words now Il does not appear
that the crime taken very seriously by any
body, court officers. No expensive detec-
ives EN- ,loyed to ferret out the GRIM
mails, and the blood of the preacher CRIED
out in vain for the laws retribudon." Now
the natural inference from the foregoing is
that this inoffensive Dunkard preacher was
murdered by of the Allen clan and that
lawlessness so dominated the county of Car
roll that this outrageous crime received the
approval of the public and court officers rather
than condemnation So far as those OF the
Aliens who are responsible for the awful
tragedy in the court room at HtIsvile last
March are concerned. ! have nothing but the
seyerest condemnation for them, and for those
who are proven guilty according to law after
fair trials ! consider punishment too Sc
we're 1t is to be hoped that the court and
turtles have been. and will be, guided In try ng
the Aliens solely by the law and the evil
dence, and without regard for the sentiment
which such writers IN the newspapers as Mr.
Moomaw would create against them. whether
through ignorance misrepresentation of the
facts connected with them in matters not in
volved in the crime with which they are now
charged. .
The writer of this has never been in Carroll
county with the exception OF having once
crossed the county line for a distance of one
mile many years ago. but during residence
/ of several years In Southwest Virginia he had
business and personal associations with many
of the most prominent citizens of the county,
having been thrown with some OF them daily
| fer years. and is thoroughly familiar with the
faos connected with the murder OF the
/ Dunkard preacher referred to by Mr.. Moomaw.
and assure him that had he fully acquaint-
! ed himself with them before writing the COM
munication. he could not have written one OF
! such nature
The facts are these In 1907. one Mr. Joseph
/ Easter a Dunkard minister OF the gospel, a
| much respected and beloved citizen of Carroll
county. himself mountaineer neighbor of the
i Aliens whose families had snsermarried with
/ the Fas:ers, have been creditably informed,
/ and who were good friends, either MEM
! Der of the grand jury witness under COM
| f-sion caused the Indictment of one George
/ Peters. South Carcnan. Of good family con-
nection, for conducting a bind tiger in the
lower part of Carroll. and called into his
| ward by some one apparently IN distress rev
nights later and shot dead. The whole county
| was aroused and outraged at the crime: n re-
| ward offered for the discovery and APP
t prehension OF the murderer and in a short
| while Mr. r c. Fefs of Baidwin's Detective
| agency. who hsd charge OF the detectives who
ptured the Aliens. / think, captured Peters
who wos susnected of the crime. He was
| promptly indicted and tried before Hon. X G..
| Jackson then judge of that circuit as able
judee as VIRGINIA has hal. and a we'll
'error to evildoers. and Notwithstanding that
| personally
defended. he was convicted in short order and
hurg speelilv as law and decency allowed
The Alters had nothing to do with this new
T., Alien chapter, which II correctly written could
only reflect credit Carroll county, her Of
| ficers and people.
| JUSTICE.