Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-20

ARREST OE TWO SUSPECTS
Gne Says Ii Was Flareup Of Tenn
per-Declares Court Officials Fired
First.

ed today the return Of posse which
hurried off inrO the mountains last
night after q mud-bespatrered mess
enger brought word that five ring.
leaders Of the Allen gang had been
cornered Lee Felts, head of the
man-hunt, reported by The messenger
that he had Sidna Allen. Chieftan
Of The clan; that he was seriously
wounded. and was hidden in place
known 10 his pursuers. together with
four other desperados.
Every available man in Hillsville
took to the mountains, following the
road toward Piper Gap-a direction
not heretofore taken in the search for
the courtroom murderers.
Shortly before dawn. four Of The
purSuerS slowly pushed back 10 town,
with horses white with foam. but no
news. They said they We're not able
TO keep up with the main body of the
pursuerS.
Word reached here from MI. Airy.
y. G.. today that John Moore. one OF
Aliens supporters. arrested Friday.
but released The following day. had
been again arrested. Detectives. il
is said. let him go with the hope that
he might try 10 make his way into
the mountains 10 join the Allen gang.
Jack Allen. brother of Floyd. now
held at Roanoke TO answer for his
part in the murders Oi Il week ago.
declared his belief today thai the AS
Sassinations were not premeditated
and were only precipitated after court
officials had fred the first shots.
Il think i, was just Il flare up of
temper" he declared. All the AL
lens regret The shooting as much as
anyone else. For once in my life.
I'm glad | was sick. Monday and
Tuesday | was in court but Wedncs-
day | stayed away. being sick. That
afternoon my son Claude and my
nephew Wesley Edwards came 10 my
house and told me about the shoot
ing. They said Floyd Allen was
probably dead. thought some of
his kin ought to be near him so |
saddled my horse and rode into
town. had long talk with Floyd.
He said he didn't shoot until the
court officers began the firing.
Il think if the shooting had been
arranged beforehand. I'd have been
invited 10 join in it. bur ! wasn't.
when got home after seeing
Floyd my son and nephew had gone.
haven't seen nor heard from them
since-I'm glad of it, and don't
want 10 know where they are.
don't intend 10 have any part in this
business. used 10 be as willing
as anyone 10 fight out 4 Disagree
ment. bur for the last couple years
I've been trying 10 lead different
life"
Jack Allen visited Juror Cane
who was wounded in the courtroom
melee and told him he was sorry
for the outbreak OF his kin.
Hillsville. Va. March 2O--Beliei
that the Allen gang Of murderers has
scattered in the face Of pursuit by
an overwhelming number OF man
hunters. and that its members are
now sneaking one by one through
the mountain defiles. seeking escape
into North Carolina. was strength
eneG here today by messages from
Mount Airy. y. G.
Word was brought here that two
men answering TO the descriptions
,of Friel Allen. one of the outlaw
brothers. and Wesley Edwards. neph'
ew of Sidna Allen. head of The clan
had been seen dodging along a rail-
road track high up in the mountains
eight miles below Mount Airy. Dep
uties at Pilot Mountain Immediately
set out in pursuit.
One thing further that strength
ems the belief here that the gang
tend 10 offer pitched battle 10 the
Baldwin detectives, deputy sheriffs
and volunteer man-hunters. is the
fact that up 10 late this afternoon
no word had come down from the
mountain from the posse which hur-