Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-25
Claude Swanson Makes a
Clean Getaway,
But Rest Of the Gang Is
Closely Pressed.
Their Capture Now Expected a Mat.
ter Of Few Days.

GalaN, Va. March A-Claude Swan
son Allen, the 23-year-old son OF
Floyd Allen and one of those indicted
for the Hillsville court house murders
has clearly eluded all pursuers, but
his uncle Sidna Allen, and cousins
Wesley Edwards and Friel Allen, are
so closely pressed on the south side
of the Blue Ridge that they probably
will be captured. within a few days.
This information came, today. from
leaders of the hunt for the gang. who.
on March "A, sweeped down on the
Carroll county court, killed Judge
Massie. Prosecutor Foster. Sheriff
Webb, Juror Fowler and Miss Nancy
Ayers. and wounded two bystanders.
Claude Allen, who once attended a
military school at Raleigh n. c.. and
knows more of the outside world than
the average mountaineer. it was
learned, today, took a pocket full of
gold from the family cash drawer on
the night of the tragedy, put on his
best clothing and vanished on horse
back beyond the North Carolina line.
Hope of finding him in the mountain
region has now been abandoned.
Not so. however, with the three 9TH
er outlaws, who are lodging about in
the crevices of the Blue Ridge between
here and Mount Airy, n. c. They have
Leen seen at a distance and detectives
have been within 80 minutes of them.
Il hope they will all give themselves
up, they had better do it, for they
have no chance at all" was the frank
comment of Sidna Edwards. likewise
indicted for murder, who was taken.
today, for safe keeping to the Roam
oke Jail, where he Joined his uncle,
Floyd Allen, his cousin, Victor Allen,
and his chum, Byrd Marion, all indiet
ed for completely in the court house
shooting.
Edwards swung his tall robust figure
into the train at Galax about noon. He
was brought here from Hillsville I'M
der a heavy guard. With him was
Sergeant White of the state militia.
He arrived in Roanoke. tonight SEEM
ingly as carefree as a school boy oil
a lark. From 30 miles around the
country side people gathered at the
railroad stations to catch glimpse
of the prisoner. They had no difficult
ty, for Edwards projected his broad
shoulders through the train window
and waved to each group, not few
of whom We're friends or relatives, for
Carroll county's population is COM
posed largely of Aliens or their kins.
folk.
There was plaintive note in the
boys voice however when Henry Al
len. cousin, attired in the blue uni
form of an officer of the peace. stepped
aboard the train at Byrllsbey. They
shook hands and eyed each other in
silence for "a moment
I'm sorry to see you in a bad serape
like this" said Allen.
We'll, sir, I'm sorry to be in it. but
i just couldn't help it, was the meek
reply
Edwards reiterated his protest eli in
rocencc
Il had a hard time of it," he said.
For two weeks | had been in bed with
pneumonia and they dragged me out
to come to court to be a witness i'll
Uncle Floyds trial. l wish now
hadn't gone The shooting began all
of sudden and the room was filed
with smoke in second. Bullets were
flying from one side to the other like
lightning. l got out as fast as | could.
ran away because | heard they's
shoot us all on sight. | slept in barns
and hid in the fodder, but | knew l
was caught some days ago. They
could have arrested me much easier"
Detective Thomas l.. Felts and Albert
NJ Baldwin, whom the county has placed
in charge of the search for the Aliens,
rode with Edwards to Roanoke. They
confirmed his statement that capture
could have been accomplished sooner
explaining that their purpose was to
follow Edwards about in case he at
tempted to join the other outlaws.
Edwards, whose manner is open, hard
ly seemed to realize the seriousness of
his plight He laughingly read one of
the circulars giving descriptions of
himself and companions. Last night in
a moment of thoughtlessness he refer
red, the detectives say, to his revolver
declaring that he had fired some shots,
Hitherto he had claimed not to be
armed Witnesses before the grand
jury said as he came out of the court
house he gave his pistol to Floyd AL
len, so that the latter might continue
his pistol duel with Clerk Dexter Goad
on the court house green
To Hillesville today came reports
that the various posses are still on the
watch on the mountains
Most of the Allen family, though not
involved in the tragedy, included among
which is Jasper (Jack) Allen, We're to-
day placed under close surveillance. Of
fers of surrender, it was authoritative
ly said, tonight, emanated from some
Allen nom combatants. The detectives
are positive that the outlaws have au
| thorized no one to make proposals Oh
| their behalf because communication
| with the bandits in the mountains hal
been blocked, The formal arraignmen
| of the prisoners was definitely set, to
day. for April 18th, at Hillsville. 4
| change of venue to Wytheville, Wyth
county, is likely.