Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-03-19
ALIENS SAFE
IN MOUNTAINS
Seige by Militia Thought to be the
Only Means of
Capture. .
PREPARE FOR THE TRIAL
State Soldiers Will at Least Protect
Court at Arraign
ment.
PREPARE FOR THE TRIAL

Hillesville, Va, March 1S.-Two
thousand feet above sea level among
the crags of the Blue Ridge noun
tains, the Allen gang, who demon
strated their contempt of constitut-
ed law by massacre of the judge,
the prosecutor and the sheriff at the
Carroll county court last Thursday,
continued yesterday to defy capture.
The days search by a posse of sew
enty-five detectives and citizen vol
unteers demonstrated that unless
the militia is sent here to begin a
systematic siege of the hiding places
of the outlaws they never may be
brought to answer to the indict-
ments for murder returned here
Saturday. For such plan camp
ing site was selected yesterday by
representatives of Governor Mann.
County authorities are working in
harmony with the state and orders
may be issued soon for companies OF
militia, If not for the search, GER
tainly for the formal arraignment
OF the prisoners, which is scheduled
for March 26. The arraignment is
likely, to be postponed.
Those who know the paths and
passes of the high land and the
points of vantage from which out
laws could ward off an attacking
force with least injury to themselves
say that the Aliens unquestionably
are concealed behind the overhang-
ing precipices of, Devils Den, half
way between here and Mount Ayr,
N. C. There, with provisions and
ammunition, of which it Is said
they have plenty, an attacking
force would find the aim of the Al
lens deadly. Some think it may be
necessary to dynamite the mountain
scitadels.
E Quiet prevailed in Hillsville yes
terday. The village pastor preached
in favor of capital punishment at
all times, and there was no mistak-
ing whom he meant From the
countryside came the curious on
horseback, muleback, by OK carts
and rigs of every description, ford
ing the high water of the creeks
and climbing the steep hills to the
summit, where reposes the hamlet
OF Hillsville.
Andrew Hewlett and Stuart Wor.
rell, bystanders wounded at Thurs
days assassination, yesterday rested
easily. One has a bullet in the
lungs and the other was shot in the
side. Juror Columbus Kane, who
was shot in the abdomen and is most
seriously injured of all, may die,
which would bring the death list to
six.
Over the rain channeled noun
tain side the posse skulked yester-
day to no avail. They conducted
their movements in the broad glare
of hot sun, which, however, help
ed to dry the muddy roads, making
prospects for today encouraging.
Contrary to earlier reports, the tele-
phone wires throughout this dis
trict have not been cut by the AL
lens or any one else. Communica-
ton from the outside world has
been difficult in the last two days
principally because of the heavy
outflow of press dispatches, which
are being telephoned from here to
Barren Springs and being telegraph
ed from there
Jasper Allen, known as Jack. who
is a brother of Sidna and Floyd, but
who Is said not to have been in
volved in the tragedy, made a state
ment last night on behalf of the AL
lens at mis- home seven miles from
Hillsville.
Il am greatly surprised and
shocked at what has happened" he
said. Il do not think my brothers
had made any plot or plan. When
j saw Sidna the night of the shoot
ing he told me he knew nothing of
any trouble beforehand and was .
surprised himself when the shooting
began in the court room. II
II don't believe my relatives will '
give themselves up, for l am not
sure that they would get a fair
trial in Carroll county. /
my brother Sidna was wounded
when he passed my house Thursday q
night and was alone; / don't know t
where he has gone and have receiv- C
ed no word from him since. l shall
not try to advise them about CIV /
ing themselves up. They must do
as they think best" j