Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-23
ALIENS TRIAL COMMENCES
Members of Outlaw Gang Brought 10
Trial in Hillsville-Plans Tor
Their Defense

HlIISVlIe, Fd'J HP'"
men members of the Allen clan, which
For years has terrorized the country
side. were brought here tonight from
Roanoke, where for more than a
month they have been prisoners, IN
dicted for the five murders in the Car
roll county courthouse here. A string
of mud covered conveyances, guard
ed by group of horsemen, armed
with rifles and pistols, arrived at night
fall. after a 15-mile drive from the
nearest railroad station, giving Hills
Vile thrill of excitement.
Tomorrow Floyd Allen and his two
sons, Claude and Victor, and his ne
phews, Sidna Edwards, Friel Allen,
and Byrd Marion, will be formally ar
ranged, and perhaps their trials be-
gun in the same bullet-scared court
room, where on March Ia, hail of
lead assassinated the officers Of the
Carroll county court.
Tomorrow, however, acting Sheriff
Edwards will search all persons enter
ing the courtroom and for the first
time in its history Carroll court will
be in session withoue the spectacle
of weapons burging from hip peck
cts or trouser belts.
Except for the Baldwin-Felts detec-
tives, detailed by Gov, Mann to guard
the prisoners, no one will be permit
ted in the courtroom with arms on his
person.
Interest centered tonight on the
probable proceedings of the morrow,
especially as to whether change Oh
venue will be granted. Neither the
defense, consisting Of five attorneys
nor the prosecution committee OF
four, especially appointed would ad-
nit that they desired change. Conn-
sci for the prosecution declared per-
sons friendly to or terrorized by the
Aliens might hang the jury. Attor-
neys for the defense expressed them
selves as satisfied that fair trial
could be obtained here,
Council for the defence outlined
their plans formally. 1t will be ar
gued that Floyd Allen shot only al
ter he had been fired upon by court
officers, and that his son Claude and
nephew Friel Allen, fired in the ex-
citement of the moment, but did not
kill anyone. Sidna Edwards Byrd
Marion and Victor Allen will deny
having done any shooting. 1t was In
timated by the defense that cu!pabi-
lity for all five murders would be
shifted to Sidna Allen and his nephew,
Wesley Edwards, the only two men,
bers of the Allen clan still at large.
The prisoners were placed in the
small brick Jail near the courthouse,
guarded by squad of detectives.
The cavalcade Of horsemen and car
riages drew the attention OF the en-
tire mountainside, but no on toward
incident occurred. Floyd, Allen who
was wounded duringli his pistol duel
with Clerk Dexter Goad, the only
court officer not killed, had to be car
ried into the Jail from buggy. His
right knee was held rigid in cast.
Tears glistened in his eyes as he rec
opnized the number Of acquaintance.
It was the first indication of emotion,
as the cheerful exposure of none OF
the group had hitherto been broken.
Hunt Aliens on Coast.
Los Angeles, CAL, April 22,-Priv~
ate advices that Sidna Allen and Wes-
lev Edwards, fugitive leaders Of the
Allen gang from Carroll county, Va,
have friends in southern California,
and probably are travelling hither, has
created activity in the sheritt's Of
fees.