The Washington times., 1912-03-30
STARVATION SIEGE
OF TWO FUG|TNES.
DETECTIVES PLAN
Sidna Allen and Wesley Ed
wards Said to Be
Suffering.

HTLLsVILLE, Va. March 3O.-A
etarvation campaign against the two
lone memebrs OF the outlaw Allen gang,
still fugitives in the Blue Ridge, was
started today. The defiant message
from Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards,
brought to the detectives by Frlel Allen
when he was examined in Hillsville
Jail--that they will never surrender-to-
sether with the halt-starved condition
OF the outlaw STRIPPING, decided the posse
leaders that loss of life would be avert
cd II the siege plan were adopted.
Whlle the manhunters will not aban-
don their plan of gradually decreasing
the circumference of the circle of pick
cts within which Sidna Allen and Wes-
ley Edwards are believed to be in
hiding Riding, the posse will take it's time.
Just captured, say their kin are suffer-
ing for food. A few days more of
lodging through the mountains, the
detectives think, may crush the Allen
spirit.
Plan Aliens Defense.
Carroll county prosecuting officials are
working steadily to obtain statements
from all ye-witnesses. The Aliens de-
tense will be that Floyd Allen, the
prisoner on trial before Judge Massie
on the day of the murders, did not fire
Until court officers opened the fuslllade.
ment he made to an inside pocket, to
get paper, was mistaken by Sheriff
Lew webb as an attempt to pull a gun,
ana that the Sheriff opened fire at once;
It was considered doubtful here that
F,riel Aliens frank admission to inter
viewers yesterday, that the gang had
planned the courtroom murders, could
be used against him in the trial.
Neither the detective chiefs nor the
people OF Tlillsville place much cra-
dence in the report that the two fu-
gitives have committed suicide.
A fathers anxiety to have his young
est son. spared II terrible death in the
mountains Is assumed to be the cause
M FreL Aliens capture Jack Allen
shooting. but It known that since his
son Friel jored the outlaws he has
been endcavOring to advise him to sub
nit to the law. Just how the parent
been disclosed.
Excited Town Anew.
TIillsville had hardly recovered from
the excitement incident to Claude AL
lens bloodless capture Thursday when
Friel Allen sallped into town late yes
terday, the prisoner OF the detectives.
Thomas l. Felts and e. c. Payne. who
made the arrest.
The young mountaineer of slender
build and boyish face was not hand
Cuffed, and Cantered into town with
smiles and mods to those who recog-
nized hira. He showed, however, the
Ill effects OF two weeks with little food
or shelter. The young prisoner talked
glibly Of his conversations with Sidna
Allen and Wesley Edwards. The form
er man, he said. admitted killing Judge
Thornton l.. Massie. while the latter
acknowledged shooting the Common
wealth's attorney, William NJ. Foster
His own part in the tragedy he evaded
discussing. He brought, however. first
hand information of the desperate
straits of Sidna Allen, leader of the
band, and his consciousness of guilt
In the dialect of the mountains he
told his story, needing Interruptions
and answering all queries.
The Boys Graphic Story.
Uncle Sdna told me-" related the
boy, with unrestrained frankness. that
he never expected to see his family
again. He hopes the detectives will get
discouraged, so that he can get away,
but II they keep after him I think he
will be shot killing them. He will never
left him. He told me I was making
a mistake. but l was tired and hungry.
"Sidna said he shot his pistol empty
three times. He always was angry
Judge Massie and that Wesley shot Mr.
Foster. Uncle Sidna said he intended
to set as many of the court officers as
he could. When he was shooting the
people In the street he said 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.
The day after Uncle Sidna and
Cousin Wesley and l went to the noun.
tains Wesley had two pistols, and I'm
Gle Sidna had a revolver and shot.
gun. We were on the ridge and were
hidden under a ledge by leave. From
there we moved to another rock and
saw the officers raid my Aunt Alberta's
house.
Some of the detectives came within
,fitteen or twenty yards of US. I wanted
to leave, but Uncle Sidna said If the de-
tectives came closer he would fire"