The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-17
NO PART GOES
TO DETECTIVES
Question, Therefore, as to Whe.
Their or Not Maude Iroler or
Father Betrayed Outlaws
Will Never Be Officially
Announced-It's Public
Policy"

oficially Uniformed as to the identity
Of the person or persons VINO will re-
ceive the reward for the capture OF
Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards Gov.
ernor Mann said last night that ne will
make out the States warrants on the
Auditor of Public Accounts in favor Of
the BaldwinFelts Detectives, Inc, and
that agency will distribute the money
There will be no other public record
and no one save the head of the agency
the recipient and the Governor will
know where it went
This secrecy. commented the Gov
ernor, is a matter Of public policy. To
announce the names of persons t.
whom money is paid for information
would be to shut the door against cap
lures by such methods in future The
individual Will not divulge his know
ledge if he has reason to think. from
the past. that the Governor will make
public his name and the circumstances
of his connection with the officers Of
the law
Detectives Not Rewarded.
OF course. no part of the reward will
remain in the hands OF the detective
agency nor Of its members. They are
not permitted to work for rewards nor
to receive them The State or the in
dividual pays definite sums for ser
vices performed. and this covers the
compensation.
The total reward offered for the
two men is $500 by the State of
Virginia and $500 by the United
States. OF this sum. the Governor Of
fered $780, for information leading
to The capture of Sidna Allen and $500
for his arrest. making a total of ST.
800 in his case. For Wesley Edwards
$500 was proposed to be paid for in.
formation leading to discovery OF
his whereabouts and $500 for his ar
rest. In addition, the Department OF
$500 reward for Sidna Allen. who re-
Gently forfeited his bond. He is
charged with perjury in connection
with his testimony in a counterfeiting
prosecution.
Girl Probably Innocenf.
Touching the part played by the
girl. Maude Iroler. in the capture OF
the fugitives. Governor Mann has no
information to give. ". G. Baldwin.
who is in possession of the details.
has made a statement to the effect
that the girl did not betray her low
er, Wesley Edwards, but was the in
nocent cause of his apprehension.
This statement will be accepted by the
Governor. who has not been informed
OF all the details in the Search for
the accused murderers. While nc
knew that it was hoped to catch the
men through the affection of Edwards
for the girl. he does not know IL she
proved traitor to her ahianced.
The long search for the two men
lasting six months to the day. hae
been costly. but the Governor feels II
has been worth il. II Is probable that
the cost will reach close up to $4,000
exclusive of the reward. This. Of
course, includes only the work Of the
detective agency In prosecuting the
hunt for all the family. and in guard
ing the prisoners in the Hillsvflle and
wytheville tails. II the cost Of turies,
witnesses, fees and judicial expenses
are considered. the total will be large.
Uaexpla1seA Shsts.
To Sidna Allen is attributed . state
ment made In Roanoke to the eject
that he Is certain he did not shoot
anybody in the courtroom murders.
This has been characteristic Of the
prisoners throughout the entire series
Of trials. Floyd Allen swore that he
fired three shots. no one OF which took
effect Claude swanson Allen testified
that he fred only at Dexter Goad. who
was slightly wounded. Friel Allen
said he fred once at Commemorative
Attorney Foster. Sidna Edwards said
he did not FIRE at all Victor Allen
said he did not IRE and had no pistol.
Now comes Sidna Allen and Is sure
he shot nobody. Yet Judge Massie
Is dead. commonwealth Attorney Fcs-
ter is dead. Sheriff Webb Is dead.
Juror Fowler IN dead. Juror Cain was
wounded. Stuart woTrell was wounded.
Miss Ayers Is dead. and there are
many shots otherwise unaccounfed
for. Clerk Goad alone exhibited eleven
bullet holes In the suit he wore on
the witness stand At wytheville