Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-04-24
THE HlIII.svlLIiE OUTLAWS
Taken from Roanoke TO IIillsville Un-
der Heavy Guard

lakcn from ltONnOk0 % u1llSV1llo Un-
der Heavy Guard,
Fillsville, Va, April 22.-Six lsins--
men, members of the Allen clan,
which for years terrorized the coun-,
try-side, were brought here tonight
from Roanoke, where for more than
month they have been prisoners,
indicted for tho five murders in tho
Carroll county court house here A
string OF undiscovered conveyances,
guarded by a group Of horsemen
armed with rifles and pistols, ar
rived at nightfall after n 15-mile
drive from the nearest railroad sta
ton, giving Hillsville u thrill Of eX-
element, as tomorrow Floyd Allen,
his two sons, Claude and Victor, and
his nephews, Sidna Edwards, Frlel
Allen and Bird Marion, will be for
mally arraigned and perhaps their
trials begun in the same bullet-scar-
red court room, where, on March 4,
n hail OF bullets assassinated the Off
CT, rs Of the Carroll county court.
Tomorrow, however, Acting She
riff Edwards will search all persons
entering the court room, and for the
first time in It's history, Carroll coun-
ty court will be In session without
the spectacle OF weapons bulging
from nip pockets or trouSer belts.
Except for the Baldwin-Felts de-
tectives, detailed by Governor Mann
to guard the prisoners, no one will be
permitted in the court room with
arms on his person.
first venire Of "a was drawn to-
day, not one OF whom lives within
three miles Of here.
Tho Scapcgoats.
Counsel for tho defense outlined
their plans Informally. 1t will be ar
gued that Floyd Allen shot only af-
ter he had been fired upon by court
officers and that his son, Claude, and
neb.iew, Friel Allen, fired in the ex-
citement Of the moment, but did not
kill any one. Sidna Edwards, Bird
Marion and Victor Allen will deny
having done any shooting. 1t was
intimated by the defense that culpa-
bility for all Ave murders would be
shifted to Sidna Allen and hls-ne-,
phew, Wesley Edwards, the only two
members of the Allen clan still at
large. s,t8i8.s ls,SsEtH
Whole Country Interested. NJ B
4 / he horse men searrla gessS dpeMs
the entire spopulace OF thesmountain-
side, but no untoward incident oc-
Cured Floyd Allen, who was wound
ed during his pistol duel with Clerk
Dexter Goad, tho only court officer
not killed. had to be carried into the
jail from buggy. His right knee
was held rigid In a cast. Tears glis-
tened in his eyes as he recognized
number OF acquaintances. 1t was the
first indication OF emotion, as the
cheerful comDOsufe Of mono Of the
group had hitherto been broken.
Allen Clansmen Arraigncd.
lIilisvillc, Va, April 23.--The six
Allen clansmen, charged with muir
der, were arraigned in Carroll coun-
ty court house this morning on in
dictments returned after the assas-
sination Of the court officers OH
March l4th. Each pleaded mot
guilty"
A change of venue was asked and
granted, the court announcing 1t
would hold tho trial at Wytheville,
beginning next Tuesday, April 80.
The defendants will be tried sepa-
rately. They were taken to Wythe-
Vile tonight.
The prisoners, Floyd Allen, upon
whom prison sentence was about 10
be imposed when the shooting be-
gan; his sons, Claude and Victor,
and his nephews, Sidna Edwards and
Byrd Marion, are charged with mur-
der in the first degree.
Attorneys for tho accused have ad-
mitted that an effort will be made to
place responsibility for all five of the
murders upon Sidna Allen and Wcs-
ley Edwards, the only two members
OF the gang still at large.