Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-23
ALLEN GANG SENDS|
THEIR DEFIANCE.
Overtures Rejected, Fugitives Re
treat TO Spurs and Gaps in
Mountains.
'lLAST CHANGE IS CUT OFF
Gang Will, II Is Thought. Take Final
Stand and Offer Desperate Battle
To BeSiegers.

To BeSiegerS.
IIillsville, Va, March 23.-Cling-
ing tenaci0usly to life and liberty,
dogged at every side by human blood
hounds, their overtures rejected, and
death the sentence already passed
on them for the murders in Judge
Massie's courtroom, the remnants Of
the Allen gang To-Day sent defiance
to their pursuers and retreated deep
er into the mountains.
This was the word that comes from
the spurs and gaps today. Men who
know the mountains and mountain
folk say the rejection of the Aliens
offer of surrender cuts of the last
chance of taking the outlaws alive.
Like Floyd Allen who tried to slash
his throat when the hand of the law
closed tight on him, his kin were ex-
pected to make Their final stand in
some mountain fastnesS, there to Of
fer desperate battle to besiegerS, and
to save single cartridge each for
himself.
Meanwhile Sidna Edwards, the
youth captured yesterday, was un-
dcrgoing that sort Of an ordeal that
nearer civilization is called the third
degree Throughout the long night
half dozen husky detectives sat with
the young outlaw striving by threats
and promises to draw from his lips
the whole story of the courtroom
tragedy. and for some exact clue as
to the whereabouts OF MS kinfolk in
the hills. But Edwards, true 70 The
Allen blood, withstooo all.
II know nothing about the other
Aliens" he asserted. 81 haven't been
with them. didn't have anything
to do with the shooting. only ran
away because had heard that the
detectives had word to shoot an AL
len on sight They got me because
my injured foot kept me from trav-
cling fast. and because didn't have
a gun"
Certain that someone in Hillsville
is keeping the fugitives advised Of
every movement of the pursuers. de-
tectives here today began a roundup
OF all suspected in any way of hav-
ing been concerned in the shooting,
or of sympathizing with the Aliens,
either before the murders or after
wards.
Gordon Edwards and Alex Thomas
were today held on $500 bond on the
charge of aiding he outlaws in their
get away after the murders.
Under the belief that Jack Allen,
the only one Of the clan not 1T the
courthouse on the day of the murders,
and the only Allen VINO has conspic-
uously kept in sight of the detectives.
may be keeping his kinfolk informed
of all the moves of the posses, detec-
tives today put several of their num-
ber secretly to work watching his
every move. 1t was pointed out that
Jack Allen was on hand immediate
" after his brother Flowd was ar
rested; was with Sidna Aliens wife
when the officers saw her; joined the
captors of Sidna Edwards few mo-
ments after his capture, and has gen.
orally taken charge Of the affairs Of
the fugitives. 1t was believed here
that it was Jack Allen who yester-
day offered compromise to the
Baldwin Detective Agency at Roam
oke.
Prosecutor S. Floyd Landreth said
today that when Carroll county court
reconvenes next Tuesday, additional
indictments will be reported for the
death of Juryman c. c. Fowler and
Miss Betty Ayres. Squire Landretn
does not believe that the trial of the
Aliens so far captured will be held
before April Is, though his chief as
sistant, Prosecutor Joseph Draper of
Pulaski, declared today it was the inr
t,ntion to proceed Immediately against
Floyd Allen.
Strict censorship is being maintain
ed on all the telephone lines out of
Hillsville The only word that comes
from the mountains over Sidney
Owens telephone lne-the only wire
connection towrd Mount Airy and
Devils Den-was that the detectives
were confident of bottling up the out