Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-16
Sidna and Floyd Allen,
Assassias, in Jail.
Formers House in Mountains
StorTned--H Wife Slain.
Both Prisoners Severely Wounded
Capture Of Others Planned.

NfANt
of the days chase of the Hillsville
raiders brought the death list in the
court house tragedy and its sequel up
to FIVE.
Sidna and Floyd Allen, two of the
chiefs of the band, who rode down on
the Carroll county court house, yes
the prosecutor and the sheriff, are in
captivity, both severely wounded. Sid
ma Aliens wife was shot dead in a
pitched battle with posse in the
mountains while helping defend her
outlaw husband.
The fifth death was that of Nancy
Ayers, 19-year-old girl, who was ac-
cideEtally shot during the volleys in
the court house, yesterday. The other
members Of the gang, probably 49, are
up in the mountains off towards the
North Carolina line, Well armed, Well
supplied and determined not to be
taken.
The storming of Sidna Aliens house,
late today, was the next thing to a
hombardment. The posse trailed him
through the bush for miles up the
ridge and surrounded his cabin in Il
grove. Allen, expecting their coming.
was barricaded, we'll supplied with
rifles and ammunition which he had
brought from a store in which he was
a partner. From behind stumps. rocks
and trees and other natural fortresses
of the mountain side, the posse shot at
the house and Allen shot back at the
posse as fast as the women of his
family could reload his rifles. In a
lull in the firing the posse rushed the
house, broke down the doors and found
Mrs. Allen dead and Allen groaning in
heap, bleeding profusely.
You got me because | couldn't fight
no longer" he is reported to have said
to the men who brought him back to
Hillsville more dead than alive. At
torney General Williams of the state
who is here, today. said that Sidna
Allen's bullets killed Judge Masse on
the bench. yesterday.
Floyd Allen, the cause of the tragedy,
was taken to the lookup. this morning,
under heavy guard and Immediately
whipped out pocket knife and slashed
his throat. His wounds, however, are
not serious. Aliens son, Victor, Cabel
Strickland and Byrd Marion were also
locked up as witnesses.
Juror Fowler who was wounded in
the firing. is not expected to live
through the night The wounds of
Jurors Kane and Wordell and Clerk
Goad are not serious. Tonight the man
hunt is in allegiance to await daylight
No native, let alone stranger will
travel the roads after dark. At day
break one set of detectives which had
reached Hillsville Joined party of
deputy sheriffs from the neighborhood
and set off up the mountain side. The
travelling slow and tedious. The other
party which went up the north side of
the ridge, stormed the Allen house.
With the arrival of help, confidence
began to replace the terror which pre-
vailed at Hillsville for "a hours. Judge
Staples designated by Gov. Mann to
come here and hold court, took the
bench and summoned a special grand
jury to indict the murderers This one
act had more to do with the restoration
of quiet than any other The re-or-
ganiZation of the court which was all
but wiped out yesterday, by the work
of assassins had a great influence.
Early in the day, a report came from
Mount Airi that the Allen band mad
raided a hardware store there and stock
ed up with guns and cartridges. Sidna
Allen was part owner of the store and
his associates probably found supplies
ready. Reports have been coming dowr
the mountain, all day, that the outlaws
have recruited a large number of men
for their defence. officers think this not
unlikely. An element of which the Al
lens were leaders has ruled the noun.
tain fastness for years. There is a say
ing among revenue officers that every
pine tree shelters a whiskey still A
battle between law and crime is sure
to enlist men here.
Tonight, guard of mountain sharp
shooters surrounds the Jail ready sol
any attempt to take off the two prison.
ers. The officers think. however, that
with both the Aliens wounded, the out
laws may have less stomach for a fight
The outlaws could not have picked a
letter time to make stand against theil
pursuers Every mountain brook is a
little creek, every creek is a small river
have melted the mountain SHOWS, washed
out the roads, carried off the bridges and
made mud knee deep. The hardest po-
MES founder up the grades with great
effort
With daylight the pursuit will be -e.
newed with reinforcements that are still
coming from the countryside.
Features of the tragedy have been SO
many that all probably never will be
told. One came to light. today.
Walter Upton, a lawyer who was de-
Tending Floyd Allen in court, YESTERDAY
was a brother-in-law of Commonwealth
Attorney Foster, who was killed. Tiptoa
stood beside his relative when Allen
poking the muZzle of his gun under TIN.
TONS arm, shot down Foster. Who kill
ed Sheriff Webb is not definitely known
Seventeen hundred of the 34o0 mine
workers who quit work at the collieries
of the Lehigh Coal q Navigation Co,