Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-26
THE HILLSvILLE TRAGEDY.
Trial of Court House Assassins to Be
Commenced April 80.

COmmcnC6Q HpEiI oVs
Hillsville, Va, April 23.-Desperate
but futile efforts were made late to-
day, according to the detectives here
to smuggle weapons to six members
OF the Allen clan in Jail. Early In
the day they had pleaded not guilty
to indictments charging them with
house on March IA, and their trials
were set for April 80, at Wytheville,
in an adjoining county. The prison
ers will be taken there during the
night and strict precaution will be
taken during their transfer from
here, as the days developments show
ed that the Aliens had many friends
who might attempt a rescue.
On the pretense Of being intoxicated
Wesley Smith attracted attention
around the Jail and was locked up.
In an alteration with Detective H.
H. Lucas, Smith drew a dagger, but
the detective knocked him uncon-
scious. Smith is said to be a friend
Of the Aliens, and his plan Is said to
have been to get into q cell adjacent
to Floyd Allen, to communicate with
him. Later in the day, at the point
drove ]. c. and David Strickland
from the vicinity of the Jail. The
two brothers who hitherto have been
under suspicion Of aiding Sidna AL
len and Wesley Edwards, still at large
in the mountains, were charged by
Payne with lettering in front Of the
Jail and acting threateningly.
Counsel for the Aliens were ap-
pealed to by the Strickland boys, one
of them declaring that Payne had
struck him. The attorneys sought out
Judge Walter Il. Staples, who visited
the Jail and secured Payne's version
of the affair. The judge told: Payne
not to relax his vigilance in guarding
the prisoners.
In the court proceedings early to-
day it was decided that the bullet
SCARED court house in Carroll county
would not be the scene Of the Allen
trials Attorneys for the six men,
bers of the Allen clan thought the
lead -punctured walls and chairs
would be prejudicial reminders to a
jury Of the tragedy of March, IA, when
the judge, the prosecutor, the sheriff,
a juror and a bystander were killed.
The application of the defense for a
change of venue was not opposed by
the prosecution, and Judge Staples
granted it.
To all indictments the six defend
ants pleaded not guilty. Their attor-
neys announced a severance of the
cases and the commonwealth will try
Floyd Allen first and probably his
sons, Claud and Victor, next, then
his nephews, Friel Allen, Sidna Ed
wards and Byrd Marion.
Toward the close Of the days pro-
ceedings reference was made to Sidna
Allen, who with his nephew, Wesley
Edwards, is still being hunted in the
mountains by detectives.
N. P. Oglesby, of Bristol, of counsel
for the prisoners, moved that attach
ment of Sidna Aliens property be dis
missed as had been done with the
other defendants.
The prosecution inquired how Mr..
Ogelsby had been selected to act for
Sidna Allen, and If he had commune:
Gated with the latter about the sub
ject. The attorney replied that he
was acting for Sidna Allen at the di-
rection of Mrs. Sidna Allen. The
court reserved decision.
Court proceedings drew a pictures
que crowd Of mountaineers. Judge
Staples sat in the same chair In
which Judge Thornton L. Massie met
his death. Behind the rail was a
detective, a six-shooter hung con-
spicuously on his hip. Among the six
prisoners, as we'll as the various STRAIT
egic points in the small court room,
armed pickets were stationed. AS the
crowd filed in the room, Detective
Tom Felts, assisted by Sheriff Ed
wards searched all for concealed
weapons. Some who had ridden in
from the mountains expressed sur
prise at the unusual proceedings, but
precautiOn was not lacking. A cor
don of armed deputies guarded the
six prisoners as they were brought to
count of the injured knee, had to be
carried, but the other five defendants
strobe slowly to the court house in
marked contrast to the morning Of
March IA, when they galloped into
town and defied the law.
AS Clerk Dexter Goad read the five
separate indictments charging five
murders, the six defendants listened
indifferently and answered in mono
tone mot guilty" Reminders Of the
court house tragedy were numerous
on SCARED chairs and the walls.
Clerk Goad and Floyd Allen met for
the first time since their pistol duel
outside the court house on March IA,
which left a red scar on the face Of
Goad and two bullets in Floyd AL
lens knee
AS Clerk Goad, in an even voice.
read the long indictments the scene
in the court house was one Of grim
silence. except for the maneuvers Of
a big New Foundland dog that slowly
crept around under the knees of the
spectators. calmly surveying the pris-
oners and finally reposed beside the
judges bench.
Not a woman or a negro attended
the trial. though many were on the
court house green.