The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-09-19
ALLEN CLAN CHIEF
AND KIN CAUGHT
Alleged SIayers in Virginia Court.
house Arrested.
GIRL IS INNOCENT CAUSE
Young Woman Goes to Iowa to Be
Bride of Wesley Edwards and Be.
trays cIansmen to the De.
tectlves.

Des Moines, Ia, Sept 16-Sidna Al.
len and his nephew, Wesley Edwards,
outlaw clansmen long sought for the
Quintuple murder in the courthouse at
Hillsyille, Va. when judge, prosecutor
and others were slain, were arrested
In Des Mofnes and were taken east to
stand trial for their lives in Virginia.
Edwards, for the love of whom Miss
Maude Iroler of Mount Airy, N c.,
had innocently led detectives to Des
Moines, was captured as he was re-
turning to his boarding house after
having worked all day with paving
gang.
Just as he boarded a street car de-
tectives and officers surrounded 1t.
Edwards was trying to escape by
crawling through the front end of the
car when the officers caught him.
Lost Letter Uneovers Trail.
A visit by Edwards to Miss Iroler
in her Virginia home about q month
ago and the accidental loss of letter
put the detectives on the trail. The
fugitives had been in Des Moines since
April %, Allen, under the name OF
Tom Sayre, working as a carpenter
and Edwards. under the name Of Joe
Jackson, employed with a city paving
gang.
Allen was arrested at the home OF
John Cameron, where he and his
nephew had been rooming, by detec-
tives of a Roanoke agency. The ar
rest followed few minutes after Miss
Iroler stepped into the Cameron home
to meet Edwards, whom she WAS to
wed here, according to an arrange.
ment made when he visited her in
Virginia.
Allen was in an upper room, and
when informed that visitors wanted to
see him came down the stairs. AS he
did so Detective Lucas covered him
with a revolver and asked him to sur.
render.
Gives Up Without Struggle.
Allen hesitated, then threw up his
hands, remarking: II guess I'm your
man." He was promptly. handcuffed
and placed under guard of city de.
tectiyes, while Colonel Baldwin and
Chief Jenney of the local department
went in search of Edwards, who was
said to have been at work in the west
ern part of the city. Apparently he
heard that his uncle had been cap
tured. because he was not to be found
until night.
| Miss lroler arrived in Des Mones
unaware that on the same train were
| detectives who wanted her sweet
heart She went straight to the Cam
eron home. having previously been
provided with the address, and the of.
| ficers followed
Although surprised. she took the ar
rest of Allen and the probable cap.
ture of Edwards with little show OF
| concern.
Wesley was down home a month
ago" she said. We were to be mar.
ried. He gave me the money to come
| to this city and this address | had
no idea that any one was following
me"
Allen Tells Of Escape.
Sidna Allen talked freely of the
events of the last few months, but
declined to say much concerning his
movements Immediately following the
courthouse tragedy.
Allen and Edwards remained in the
mountain country Of Virginia and
| North Carolina for about month, and
then got over into Kentucky, going
to Louisville, where they spent sew
eral days. Their next stop was in
ST. Louis, from which city they came
to Des Moines.
Allen declared that the courthouse
tragedy was the fault of the officers
who, he said, began the shooting.
Detective Had Assistance.
Although Col. w. G. Baldwin, of the
detective corps who ran down Sidna
Allen and Wesley Edwards here and
took them back to Hillsville to stand
trial for the court house murders
refused to talk on the subject it is
understood that Preston Dickens a
mountaineer who has known the Al
lens for years worked with the officers
and gave them valuable information.
While he will probably get a large
share of the $2,250 reward for the
capture of Allen and Edwards, re-
venge was his governing motive.
Dickens it is reported was sent to
prison on information furnished by
the Aliens and as the officers failed
! to run down the Aliens with blood
hounds 1t is reported that they turned
to Dickens and secured his pardon
from prison that he might return to
his mountain home and work on the
case. 1t is said he kept track of the
Aliens and their friends and watched
Miss Maud Irolier, sweetheart of Ed
wards and gave the officers valuable
information which may secure
complete pardon later. Police officials
here chargrined because they missed
the big reward and allowed Allen and
Edwards to live here peaceably for
six months assert that Miss Irolier
Is In conclusion with the detectives
but this is denied and Is pointed out
that a woman will rarely betray her
lover particularly mountain girl,
that If Miss Irolier wanted to betray
Edwards for the reward she would
Ixr ~ ~.