Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-22
Preparations are being made for

! the trla or FLOYD anu VlctorS Allen
here next week. Tonight temper
ary prosecutor, S. Floyd Landreth
and his assistants. John S. Draper
and J. C. Wysor vii confer in Pulaski
over their plans for bringing those
under indictment by the Carroll coun-
ity jury to trial. Owing to the belief
that it viii be impossible to get twelve
jurymen in Carroll county who have
not formed an opinion in the court
room murders, or are not related to
! the defendants, the prosecutors are
planning to go outside the county.
It was learned today that the Com
monwealth has secured valuable evil
dence from a former friend of the
Aliens tending to show that the muir
ders were a planned plot. 7Floyi AL
len was to give the signal for the
shooting by voicing protest against
further proceedings. Court officials
who examined the wounds on the
victims of the courtroom tragedy say
that it was evident that each men,
Der of the party that did the murders
evidently had the killing of certain
orcial assigned him. Judge Massie
Prosecutor Foster and Sheriff Lew
Webb were each riddled with half
a. dozen shots.
Judge n. H. Hairston and R. H.
Willis, counsel for Floyd and Victor
Allen arrived here today to prepare
for their clients defense. Frank
Smith, of New Jersey, and w. A. Wis
ler. of Pulaski, brothers-in-law of Vic
tor Allen have been gathering evil
dense for their side since early yes
terday.
Some OF the stories of the wealth
of the Aliens are disproved by tax
records here. Sidna Allen, leader Of
the clan, reported as fabulously rich,
own 973 acres of realestate. assessed
at $1,174 and personal property at
s537, according to the records. Floyd
Aliens belongings, according to the
tax books amounts to 80 acres Of
land, valued at S193 and personal
property, s252.
Practically every bit of this is now
tied in liens secured by the heirs of
those whom the Aliens murdered.
1t was said today, however, that
friends of the prisoners, now held at
Roanoke under strong guard, had
offered financial aid in their de-
fense.
Contrary to all rumors, Sidna Allen
has not returned to his montain home
since he fled precipitately last We'd
nesday night. Under the; hope that
the outlaw leader might try to sneak
back home for supplies, or medical
attendance, a strong guard has been
patrolling every approach to the
house throughout the past week. Sid
ma Allen is known to be suffering
from at least two. wounds, one Of
these either in his chest or abdomen
and his pursuers cannot understand
how the mountaineer, who must be
in ggreat pain, if not critically ILL.,,
has been able to roam the mountains
in the damp cold night air, and ap-
parently without medical attention.
It is upon the 100 mountaineers
in the posse organized in the coal
mining region to the southwest, that
the townspeople are pinning their
faith in the early capture or death
at bay of the outlaws. Nearly all
the detectives sent to Hillsville are
unacquainted with the mountains or
the sort of war fare in vogue there,
but the posses sent from Mt. Airy,
n. C. and the coal mining section are
composed of hardy mountaineers who
know the ground almost as we'll as
the Aliens. They will do the actual
hunting down of the fugitivees, while
Felt's men here guard the outer pass
es to prevent. escape from the north
ern side of the hills.
Sidna Edwards was captured by
Detectives Lee Felts and W. W. Thaut
and without a shot being fired. The
prisoner is suffering from severe
turn on his left foot, sustained more
than week ago when he stepped in
hot corn mash at his mountain still.
To avoide any possible delay, Ed
wards was started on his way to Hits
Vile before news of his capture was
pernitted to be known. Then no de-
tails were obtainable.
It was the belief here that the piis'
oner was unarmed when arrested
Last Sunday when the detective posse
visited his home in the mountains
near Hillsville they surprised him
and ne fled without his revolver.
! 2@Altbouoh Edwards is said to be in