The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-30
WAS STARVED OUT
F'rieI Allen, Youngest of the
Gang, Surrenders.
Says His Uncle and Cousin
Never viii Be Taken.

Hillsville, Va, March 30.-Detective
Felts and his men early today resumed
their search for Sidna Allen and WeS-
ley Edwards the last free members of
the gang that shot up the Carroll
court house. 1t now seems certain that
the fugitives are hiding within the ter
ritory known as mo mans land On
the North Carolina border and the de-
tective is confident that it will be only
a matter of hours before they are
beaten out of the mountain brush. Di-
rect word from Allen and Edwards
came to the searchers for the first time
when young Friel Allen, the II year old
nephew of Sidna and one of the eight
indicted for the court house murders
was captured at the home of his father
Friel, who left the mountains and
came home, expecting capture, because
he was plumb starved out" told his
c2ptors that ne parted from his cousin
and uncle at the top of the mountains
Wednesday night. He declared that
both told him as he left that they
would never be taken alive: that they
would die Shooting at the detectives
The uncle, he said, admitted that he
killed Judge Massie, while Wesley Ed
wards confessed that Commonwealth
Attorney Foster was his mark Accord
ing to the young prisoner the older men
slaughter of the court officials in ad-
vance.
He had nothing to say about his own
part in the tragedy, being advised to
keep silent by his father.
F'r1el and Claud Swanson Allen. who
were together in the Hillsville Jail last
night will be taken to Roanoke TODAY.
F'rlel Allen two days ago deserted the
Two men still at large and brought back
thelr ultimatum Of defiance. Both are
prepared to resist until death
A fathers anxiety to have his Young
est son spared terrible death in the
mountains is assumed to be the cause
of Friel Aliens capture
HlllsVille had hardly digested the
excitement incident to Claude Aliens
plooqless capture yesterday when
frlel Allen galloped into town, the
prisoner of Detective Thomas L. FeIts
and Detective E. c. Payne
Admit the Killing.
The young prisoner talked glibly of
ms conversations with Sidna Allen
and Wesley Edwards. The former, he
said, admitted killing Judge Thorn
ton l.. Massie, while the latter ac-
knowledged shooting Comm onvvealth's
attorney William M. Foster. His own
part IN the tragedy he discreetly
ever first hand information of the
desperate straits of Sidna Allen. lead
er of the band, and his consciousness
OF guilt.
Uncle Sidna told me-" related the
boy frankly, that he never expected
to see his family again. He hopes the
detectives will get discouraged so that
he can get away, but if they keep af-
ter him, 1 think he will be shot kill
ing them. He will never surrender
He didn't like it when l left him, He
told me | was making a mistake, but
was tired and hungry.
Sidna said he shot his pistol emp
I al xxr.,x
cry with Judge Massie. He said he
shot Judge Massie and that Wesley
shot Mr.. Foster. Uncle Sidna said
he intended to get as many of the
court officers as he could. When he
was shooting the people in the street,
he really didn't know he was firing
at any of the jury. He said he saw
men running and thought they needed
shooting at.
1.-The day after, Uncle Sidna and
mountains. We were on the ridge and |
were hidden under a ledge of leaves.
From there we moved to another rock
and saw the officers raid my Aunt Al
berta's house.
''Some of the detectives came with
in or 20 yards of us. 1 wanted to
leave, but Uncle Sidna said if the de-
tectives came closer he would fire.
Uncle Sidna was shot in the arm
at the court house and the same bull |
let went into his side and back. 1t
is still there Uncle Sidna got some |
food in d sack We had plenty of |
crackers and stayed in the ivy and |
laurel bushes for ten days. but with |
nothing else to eat except those crack |
them on the mountain top"