The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-19
THE ALLEN GANG
 STILL SAFE IN . THE MOUNTAINS
MiIitiamen Now To Take Up
 Pursuit Of Outlaws
Wife of Sidna Allen Says He Was Kind Husband and Father But Had Allen Temper
Especial from United Press.)


 Especial from United Press.)
 Hillsville. Va. March 19-Word reached here this afternoon that from another side, a posse-made up almost exclusively of mountaineers-is wind ing its way through the mountains toward the strongholds of the Allen gang. in Devils Den.
 The new pursuing party was organ fixed almost exclusively from the coal miners along New river. Every dep uty knows the mountains.
 Two hundred strong, this force is creeping southward towards the haunts of the murderers. The gang is threatened on three sides, now. from Mt. Ayrie. from Hillsville and from the original manhunt.
 Influential citizens here started a movement to induce Governor Mann to hold the trial of the Aliens for murder at Hillsville and not to per init a change of venue. The better class here believe that the men should be brought to answer for their crimes before the very jurybox which they stained with the blood of Judge Mas sic and other court officials.
 The new commonwealth's attorney, S. Floyd Landreth, today declared that he had proof to support the be- lief that the murders were part of a pre-arranged plot. He will be assist gang by commonwealth attorneys from Pulaski and Wytheville.
 It became known here this after noon that, on the morning of the tragedy, Commonwealth Attorney Eos ter told his stenographer that To-day A. .t~1 l4, orfb h iC statement, it was said, was made when the stenographer remarked on Fosters action the day before in taking out $5,000 additional life insur- ance.
 Hilisville, Va. March 19-Martial law for Hillsville was decreed, today, and arrangements completed for ac- commodation here of 15O.
 It is believed here that the posses have despaired of cornering the AL len gang unless backed up by for midable force of militia.
 More than a score of the man hunt CTS remained in the mountains, last night. No word has yet come from them
 A telephone message from the mountains today, said that Sidna Ed wards. nephew of Sidna and Floyd Allen and one of the ringleaders in the gang, had been captured but no direct word came from the posses. Communication in the mountains is becoming more and more difficult.
 The pursuers. in order to prevent possible communication between mountaineers friendly to the Aliens, who might warn the gang of the ap- proach of the posses. are cutting tele- phone wires. Fancy Gap is now iso- lated, wires having been cut from Steve Williams home in the noun tains, to that point because Mrs. Sid- na Allen was there.
 She is of the stern. unyielding type of mountain woman, of the same mould as her husband and detectives fear she might be keeping in touch with the gang leader, advising him of the progress of the manhunt.
 The posses are still closing in on Devils Den, where the outlaws are believed to be barricaded. A friend wife of the outlaw chief yesterday, quoted her, today, as declaring that she had no idea where her husband was.
 'I wish to Gsd I did, she told the friend, T wish there hadn't ever been a gun made. I left our home the night this awful thing happened be- fore my husband went. He told me to do everything I could for our two little girls and to be kind to his dog and cat. I haven't seen him since haven't heard a word from him. don't know where he is or how to reach him He may be lying expos ed with his two wounds perhaps dy- ing
 Whatever he did in county court I believe he is now truly repenteni for it but he won't give up unless appeal to him for our children's sake No father ever loved his children Iyir hr,c hut he has the Allen temper and that caused all this trouble.''
 When the Carroll County court re- convenes here. March 26. a date will be set for the charge of the Aliens on the charge of murder in the first today, that the prisoners will be tried in Wytheville, the change be- ing made partly because of fear oi possible violence and also to insure the accused of a fair trial.
 At Hillsville there are no lawyers who will take the Aliens defense.
 Mrs. Sidna Allen returned to hel home, today. and has been endeavor- ing to persuade nephew to open her husbands store, closed since the tragedy in the courtroom.
 Sidna Allen hurried away from ap- preaching pursuers without even a horse, according to William T. Quis. enberry, who has been in his employ for years Quisenberry said today that he first knew of the shooting on Thursday night when he walked into Aliens home to find Sidna on the couch wounded through the left arm and with flesh wound in the stom- ach. He contradicted the story told by Mrs. Allen, by declaring that he left the husband and wife together and when he came back in the morn ing both were gone
 The confiscated 'moonshine" and the stills, captured at the Edwards and Allen homes. was brought to Hills vile, today. The liquor was spilled into the street and the stills burned
 The mountain wireless today, re- peated a rumor that the Aliens were cornered at Devils Den or a spoi nearby called Squirrels Spur. From Mount Ayrie word was received that two score detectives are ap- preaching these strongholds from the south and the Hillsville posse is push ing forward from the north. Rein Agreements are being made ready here and at Mount Ayrie
 City Clerk Stephen F. Boucher was 2 kept busy answering telephone and