The Green Forest tribune., 1912-09-20
ALLEN CLANSNEN
 FINALLY CAUGHT
Detectives Follow Sweetheart of Wesley Edwards and
 Make Big Catch.
ALLEN TELLS OF THEIR FLIGHT
Would Have Given Himself Up Ii Orders Had Not Been Issued
 to Shoet on Sight.

Des Moines, Iowa.-Led by an 1S- year-old girl, who unwittingly be- trayed her sweetheart in to the hands of justice, Detectives Baldwin, Lucas and Munger of Roanoke Va, arrested Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards, leader and member, respectively, of the Allen gang of outlaws who killed Judge Massie and several other men in the courthouse at HillsYille, Va, last March.
 Neither Allen nor Edwards desired to remain in this state and readily agreed to return to Virginia.
 Maud Iroler of HillsviIle, sweetheart of Edwards, came here to marry him. She was followed on the same train by Detectives Baldwin, Lucas and Munger, who trailed her to lodging house, where both men were living, and where Allen was arrested after he had attempted to draw revolver on the officers. Wesley Edwards was caught as he was working with street paving gang in one of the sub urbs of Des NIoines. Allen has been known here by his real name, but Ed wards has been going as Joseph Jack son.
 Letters from Edwards to the lroler girl, while she was still in Hillsyilles led to the discovery of the mems whereabou
 In Virginia Sidna Allen is known as the old fox of the blue ridge, and is the leader of the Allen clan, whose members have been at variance with the law for years. Floyd and Claude Virginia now for the shooting at the trial of another member of the family. Floyd is a brother of Sidna Allen and Claude is Floyd Aliens son.
 Two other members of the gang, Friel Allen and Sidna Edwards, the latter a brother of the man captured here have been sentenced to long prison terms. Victor Allen, another defendant, was acquitted at Wythe- vile, Va, Sidna Allen and Wesley Ed wards were hunted through the Vir- ginia mountains with bloodhounds for weeks until all trace of them was lost.
 Sidna Allen told a story of every thing that has transpired in the drama in which he was a central figure. He told how he once had been within 15 feet of the posses that were search ing for him. He denied that he had ever sent threats against the officers. He told how he had decided to run away rather than face a trial which he thought would be unfair He also made public the method in which his hiding place and the hiding place of his nephew, Wesley Edwards, had be- come public. In telling his story he used the best of English.
 There never was feud. l don't know what that is. have never been in one," said Allen. "The trouble in the courthouse came as unexpectedly as anything in my life. Floyd Allen was charged with releasing prisoners from the sheriff. The evidence was overwhelmingly in his favor, yet they convicted him.
 eve were standing there when the. people near and around the officials, began to shoot The sheriff, 1 have heard, not long before that, had cb- tained loaded cartridges and said that he would show the Aliens when they were in the court. They tried ts get the judge to carry gun before he went upon the bench.
 "I started away from there the same night of the trouble. The posses once were within 15 feet of me, but they did not know it. 1 never sent word back that I would shoot any of the of- ficials. I thought for a while of going back I did not think I could get a fair trial When l heard that there were orders to shoot me on sight, l changed my mind about going back.
 q had been to Alaska about 12 or 13 years ago. I thought that if we stopped here they would search for me in Alaska. No, won't say where I was before I came here, several months ago.
 Here I have been doing some car pentering work. 1 had not been work ing, and was doing some writing this morning, when they came in. I had heard that Wesley and this girl were to be married and that she was com ing here.
 "Wesley went back to Mount Airy N. C., her home, about four or five weeks ago and remained there several ~7-~>-->-->->-->-->--@--->-->-