The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15


 Des Moines, la, September 14-Sidna Allen, leader of the Allen clan, which shot up the Carroll county courthouse at Hillsvlle, Va. March 14, killing Judge Massie and others. and his nephew, Wes- ley Edwards are en route to Virginia in the custody of detectives, having been started on the homeward trip as soon as possible after the arrest of Edwards
 Edwards, for the love of whom Miss Maude Iroler of Mount Airy, N. C., had innocently led detectives to Des Moines, was captured tonight as he was returning to his boarding house, after having worked all day with a paving gang. Just us he boarded a street car detectives and officers surrounded it. Edwards was try ing to escape by crawling through the front end of the car when the officers caught him. The arerst of sidna Allen was effected earlier in the day.
 Edwards Visited Sweetheart
 visit by Edwards to Miss Iroler in her North Carolina home about month ago and the accidental loss of a letter put the detectives on the trail. The fugitives had been in Des Moines since April 2s Allen, under the name of Tom Sayre, worked as g carpenter and Edwards, under the name of Joe Jackson, was employed with a city paving gang.
 Allen was arrested at the home of John Cameron at Eleventh and Iocusts streets, where he and his nephew had been room- if4.r l..r Tct ivac pa11 1upip 4dundy of Roanoke. The arrest was made few minutes after Miss Iroler stepped into the Cameron home to meet Edwards, who she was to wed tonight according to an arrangement made when he visited her in North Carolina. Detective Lucas was at her heels. Allen was in an upper room When informed that visitors wanted to see him he came downstairs. As he did so Detective Lucas covered him with a revolver and asked him to surrender. Allen hestitated, then threw up his hands, saying as he did so, T guess I'm your man. Allen was handcuffed and placed under a guard of city detectives, while Colonel Baldwin and Chief Jenney of the local department went in search Of Edwards. who was said to be at work in the western part of the city. Appar- entity Edwards heard that his uncle had heen captured. because he was not to be found until tonight
 Miss Iroler arrived Tn Des Moines this morning unaware that on her same train were detectives who wanted her sweetheart. She went straight to the Cameron home, having previously been provided with the address. and the of ficer followed.
 Shows Little Concern
 She took the arrest of Allen and the capture of Edwards with little show of concern.
 Wesley was down home a r-onth ago." she said. We were to be mar ried. He gave me the money to come to this city and this address. I had no idea that anyone was following me. ' Sidna Allen in his cell tonight talked freely of the events of the last few months but declined to say much con corning his movements immediately af- ter the courthouse tragedy He and Edwards remained In the mountain country of Virginia and North Carolina for about q month and then got over into Kentucky, going to Louisville, where they spent several days. Their next stop was in St Louis, where they remained a week. They had sufficient money for their needs and travelled as first class passengers.
 T don't know why we came to Des Moines." said Allen, unless it was that I thought we would be safer here. Sev- eral years ago I was in the Klondyke and I figured that the officers would tblnk I had gone back there So we came to Des Moines and l got work as a carpenter and expected to remain here until it was safe back home.
 Did Not Get Square Deal
 " would have given myself up long ego if had thought we could get a square deal But see what they have done to Floyd. my brother. and Claude
 Allen declared that the courthouse tragedy was the fault of the officers who. he said, began the shooting.
 We heard few days before Floyd l Aliens trial began that Sheriff Webb hat bought 100 rounds of cartridges aud had made the remark that he was going to show that Allen gang some real court but we did not expect trouble that day, and there wouldn't have been any if the officers had not begun i..'
 Allen denied that after the tragedy he had ever sent threats to the off cers
 .The trouble in the courthouse came as unexpectedly as anything ever could" he continued Floyd Allen was on trial. The evidence was overwhelm- fngly in his favor. Yet they convicted him.
 Officers in 15 Feet of Him
 ''I started away from Hillsville the HiSHt oi int tlouple. rue OulCciS Wtie once within l5 feet of me, but they did not know it. I thought for a while would go back, but when l heard there were orders out to shoot me on sight I decided I'd better get out oi that country.
 T was writing when the detectives came today. l had heard that Wesley and his girl were to be married and that she was coming here. If he hadn't heen blamed fool and gone back to North Carolina and dropped that lettei we wouldn't be in this fix tonight. don't blame the girl. I don't know her but her mother, Mrs Frank Iroler. was once my sweetheart"
 Allen was much interested as to what would be the reception of him. ->-->--~---~>-- (Consinued on Page Ten)