Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-17
ALIENS IN CAVE,
AWAITING ATTACK
Officials Locate Hiding Place
in Mountains of Members
of Gang.
nEonHnArT nArrl
DESPERATE BATTLE
LIKELY TO FOLLOW
Juror Fowler Dies of Wounds, Max
ing Fifth Victim.
EIGHT OF BAND ARE INDICTED

/
Will Be Put on Trial
March 90.
| HlLLSFlLLE, March 16-Sidna Allen.
| Claude Allen, a son Of Floyd; Sidnn Ed
| wards. nephew of Floyd: Fr,eland
| Allen, a son of Jack Allen. and about
! twenty associates have been located near
Devlis Den on the top Of the Blue Ridge.
on the border between Virginia ana North
| Carolina. The officers are securing Car
| roll county for courageous men who are
willing to assist them in surrounding and
capturing the desperadoes. Fight to the
| death is expected.
| Devils Den is probably the most in
accessible point in the entire range OF
mountains The large cliff that forms the
natural cave and fortifcation is owned
by Robert Harris. brother-in-law OF
Sidna Allen, who lives within three hum
dred yards of the mouth of the cave on
the side of the mountain. This den is
frequently visited by summer tourists
who stop at a mountain resort two miles
distant which is owned and operated by
/ Cicero Mitchell. Sfdna Aliens father-in--
law.
On the road leading from Mount Airy.
~ C., to Hillsviile. Va. not more than
three miles from DEVILS Den. is the
1 home of Floyd Allen.
Beyond Robert Harris home. distance
| OF probably a mile from the mouth OF
the cave Victor Allen, another brother
and member of the Allan clan. has his
home. A little way from this spot. and
not over a mile apart, are the homes Of
Garland and Jack Allen.
i L.
The approaches to the Devils Den lie
in two directions. and are guarded by
huge rocks forming a veritable fortress.
behind which handful Of men with guns
might defy an entire regiment for days.
The mouth Of the cave is not over
twenty feet square, and leads into a nat
ural corridor extending back into the
mountains some distance to q large OPEN
ing or chamberlike room. In this OPEN
Ing Is fine spring Of water flowing from
water for hundred people indefinitely.
On two sides Of the den are solid rock
cliffs running to a height Of from so to
by man with any degree Of safety. To-
ward the opening persons concealed be-
hind the great rocks can, with the aid
of field glasses, see people on the streets
of Mount Airy.
Eight Are Indicted.
The machinery of the law adjusted It
self in Carroll county today. when a
special grand jury summoned yesterday
by Judge Staples returned indictments
for murder against eight members of the
Allen band.
One more victim was added to the list
when Juror Augustus Fowler died this
afternoon. This brings the total num-
ber of dead up to five.
|
covering from his wound, Floyd Allen.
directly charged with the murder OF
Judge Thornton L. Massie, went tonight
under heavy guard to Roanoke, where
he will be placed in Jail for safekeeping.
His son Victor, Bud Marion. Cabell StricK-
land and John Moore went with him.
Floyd Allen did not seem to be worried
or alarmed over the situation. He re-
clined in a hack which was driven across
heavy mountain roads to Galax, where
the party boarded special train. The
other prisoners remained in the Carroll
county Jail. heavy guard standing by
during the night
Raid Without Result.
Completely without result was the raid
made this afternoon on the home OF
Sidna Allen. the erroneous report of
whose capture was sent yesterday to
Gov Mann by his chief of detectives
and the attorney general. His wife was
not killed Detectives and constables and
Roanoke militiamen visited I'll; Allen
home on the mountain side. but found
neither the owner nor the members OF
| his family the premises. Not much
information was gained from the care
| takers.
| Conflicting reports come from the noun.
| tains as to the route taken by the OUT
laws when they raced away from Hills
| vile. In the village tonight there Is in-
tense excitement, the feeling being gem
eral that the next twenty-four hours may
bring a climax to the reign of terror
which has prevailed since Thursday FORE
noon.
| The special term of court was ad.
| journed to March 26. at which time tha
prisoners will be put on trial. State troops
will be sent here to preserve order and
| to prevent a repetition of the tragic evenr
which wiped out the entire court. Ala
members of the Allen band arrested in
| the meantime will be sent to Roanoke.
Proceedings Are Brief.
Quietly and without fear of the BAN
dts who have spread terror throughout
the community, the grand jury today
| went about its work in manner that
/ brought forth the commendation Of the
court and the governor of the common
wealth. The proceedings were brief.
You gentlemen" said Judge Staples.
speaking to the seven citizens who faced
the bench. have been sworn to inquire
| into an affair that is not only more dis
| tressing and humiliating than any othe:
thing that has happened in the county
| of Carroll and the commonwealth OF Vir-
ginia, but on the American continent.
With the fear Of God in your heart, and
| only that fear, You must do Your duty
| and assist in bringing these parties to
| Justice
Judge Staples assured the jury that
! 1.-The entire body of Virginia citizenship
| is prepared to sustain your presentmens
| in this case"
AS the court dwelt upon the crime and
declared that an outraged people demand
ed that ii be avenged. the seven stalwart,
rugged mountaineers nodded approval.
and then went quietly to the little room
to weigh the evidence. Dexter Goad. the
court clerk, his head bandaged and still
showing the effects of his injuries. was
the first witness.
Those Who Are Indicted.