Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-29
Allen was tried in the United States

Allen was tried IN the united states
court at Greensboro. N. c., coun-
terfeiting twenty dollar got Ies,
the Aliens had agreed amo>-- -hem-
selves that if verdict Of guilty was
rendered they would shoot their way
out This was known to United States
officials and has been established by
their published statement.
The Judge Warned.
AS has already been published, how
ever, Judge Massie had received infor-
nation recently convincing him that
trouble would result If Floyd Allen,
who was to be tried at this term of
court. was convicted. He went to his
duty with a strong reason to believe
that he was going to his death.
AS has been said, the Aliens have
been giving trouble and spreading fear
of themselves in Carroll county for the
last ten or fifteen years, known as des-
perate and dangerous men, despite
their financial responsibility and the
increasing ages of the brothers. Mr..
Foster, the commemorative attorney,
had told his friends frequently he be-
lieved the Aliens would kill him or try
to do it. Mr.. Goad, the clerk Of court,
had been threatened personally by
members of the family because he had
stood against them politically.
Tho Immediate Trouble.
These were the conditions. Every
body was more or less apprehensive
and there was more or less nervous
ness through the Hillsville community.
The immediate trouble began last
April Then two Of the Edwards boys
were arrested for disturbing religious
meeting, having gone to a church and
cursed and threatened some Of their
supposed enemies and been generally
disorderly. In truth, 1t may be re-
marked that while the Aliens are sup
posed to have been involved in the
moonshining business, none Of them
are heavy drinkers. All of them use
liouor with more or less freedom, but
it is said that they rarely or never
show the effects Of it; and peculiari-
ty of Sidna Allen is said that in his
deadliest moment, when he Is most in
tent on killing, he is smiling and
laughing. A warrant was issued for
the Edwards boys. Deputy Sheriff
Samuels, as brave a man as there was
in the county, served the warrant.
Faithful to the family tradition, or
compact, against allowing any Of it's
members to be imprisoned, Floyd AL
len, notwithstanding his 55 years, at
tackled the deputy sheriff savagely and
beat him badly with pistol, besides
him with immediate death
unless he left the boys alone. In the
face of this attack and the accompany
ing threat, Samuels released his pris-
oners, reported the facts and had a
warrant issued. In his usual defiant
way Floyd Allen surrendered and gave
bail.
Drove Samuels Out.
Samuels was and is a brave man,
but few human nerves could endure
the reputation of the Aliens. their con-
tinual threats and bluster and the in
fiuence of the surrounding dread Of
them. Believing that his life was en-
dangered and that he had not safe
moment, day or night, Samuels left
the county and went over into North
Carolina. He returned, however, for
the trial.
AS far as can be discovered now, all
the officials concerned, including the
jurors, did their duty fearlessly. The
only mistake seems to have been that
a special force had not been summon
ed to maintain order and that the AL
lens were not searched, as the sheriff
and former Sheriff Blankenship sug-
gested to Judge Massie should be
done. They rode into town the day Of
the trial. The evidence and argument
were concluded Wednesday evening.
The charge of the Judge to the jury
was strong against Floyd Allen,
almost to instructions to
convict.