Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-19
MARSHAL LAW
IN H|LLSV|LLE.
Roanoke Militia, Familiar With
Mountains, TO he CHARTERED
in Place.
MILITARY MAYOR OF TOWN,
Posses Despair of Covering Gang
Without Being Backed by Formid-
-. able Militia. -,.s,.--... a..

HillSrille, Va, March g. Martial
law for Hillsville was decreed today
and arrangements completed for ac'
comodation here of l50 men. The
militiamen will probably come from
Roanoakc, and because Of their fam
ilarity with the mountain section
Company F, second Virginia FOlun'
teers, will probably be assigned.
Capt Harry F.. Devant, Of Com
pany +, will be military mayor.
He has been here since Thursday and
on Sunday had long conference
with Major Allen Potts, of Richmond
who came as a special representative
Of Governor Mann.
1t is believed here that the posses
despair of cornering the Allen gang
unles backed up by formidable mi
litia. The soldiers are expected tO
he detailed along the entrances 10
the mountain passes, to guard all
exists from the Businesses, while de-
lectives and special deputies push
forward into the laurel covered will
derness of crag and peak, hunting
Tor the outlaws.
More than score of man hunters
remained in the mountains last night
No word has yet come from them.
Progress toward such strongholds as
Devils Den and Fancy Gap, Chisel
Knob, Reamer Knob and others is
slow, because Of the necessity of beat
ing every clump Of mountain laurel
and securing every mountain thick
ct, lest the outlaws, skilled in wood
craft, slip through the line and make
il necessary again TO go over the same
ground.
A telephone message from the
mountains today said that Sidna Ed
wards. nephew OF Sidna and Floyd
Allen, and one of The ringleaders in
the clan, has been captured, but no
direct word came from the posse 10
this effect. Communication with
the mountains is becoming more and
more difficult by reason Of the fact
that the purSuers. in order TO pre-
vent possible communication between
mountaineers friendly TO the Aliens
who might warn the gang OF the ap-
proach Of the posses. are cutting tel
ephone wires. Fancy Gap is now
isolated, wires having been cut from
Steve Williams home in the noun
tains to that point because Mrs. Sidna
Allen was there. She is OF stern,
type of mountain woman
of the same mould as her husband.
and detectives feared she might be
keeping in touch with the gang lead
er, advising him Of the progress OF
the man hunt. The posses are still
closing in on Devils Gap, where the
outlaws are believed to be barri-
caded.
A friend Of Mrs. Sdna Allen. who
saw the wife of the outlaw chief
Yesterday quoted her as declaring
that she had no idea where her hus-
band was.
II wish 10 God ] did" she told the
friend. Il wish there hadn't been any
gun made. left our home the
night this awful thing happened. be-
fore my husband went. He told me
to do everything could for our two
little girls and 10 be kind to his dog
and cat. | haven't seen him since
haven't heard from him. | don
know where he is nor how 10 reach
him, he may be lying exposed with
his two wounds. perhaps dying
Whatever he did in county court,
believe he is now truly repentant lof
it but he won't give up unless ap'
peal to him for our childrens' sake
No father ever loved his children
more. nor was a kinder husband
but he has the Allen temper. and that
caused all this trouble.
When the Carroll county court re-
convenes here, March 26. date vii
be set for the trial of the Aliens or
charge Of murder in the first degree
Judge W. r. Staples said today that
the prisoners will be tried in Wyth'
ville-the change being made partly
because of fear of possible violence
and also to insure the accused fail
trial. Al Hillsville, there are no law
years who will take the Allen defense