The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-03-18
ALLEN OUTLAWS DEFY
AN ARMY OF PURSUtRS
Continued from First Page.

even 1uTtneT Inan tnlS. oicTW Nepp
had received word before the calling OF
the court that unless the court officers
left their rifles at home the Aliens would
not appear at the trial. Sheriff Webb
was advised not to pay any attention to
the message. but he disreearded this ad-
vice and neither the Sheriff nor his dcpu-
ties were armed except with pistols.
The Aliens knew they could not carry
rifles into the court house and II is charged
that they cunningly rlsnnned to protect
themselves. Letters found in the pockets
of Judge Massie indicate that he realized
his danger when he entered the court
room last Thursday. although he had been
assured that Floyd Allen would submit
" convicted. These letters we're anony-
NOUS and threatened the Judge with death
II he should sentence Floyd Allen. They
will figure in the trial,
Stories of the high handed lawless
career of the Allen family in Carroll
county are coming TO the surface now
attack Of the Aliens on the Carroll County
Court officers of the State of Virginia had
no real conception Of conditions in that
part of tho Commonwealth The law
abiding element in the community was
held in constant fear of the daring and
unscrupulous methods of this family
right OF way and to allow them to do
about as they pleased rather than incur
their hatred. Hence many things hap
pened back in the mountains of Carroll
county. Blood was shed and an entire
community terrorized without the full
extent of the conditions coming to the
knowledge of the State officials.
The Aliens gradually came to regard
themselves as above the law. to set them
selves up as kings over little region in
which their word was final and their every
act law.
1t was the awakening. caused by the
determination OF Judge Massie and Sheriff
Webb to place n limitation on the lawless-
ness OF the Aliens that resulted in their
desperate act OF last Thursday.
month ago the question of u stranger
in this town in regard to the Aliens would
have been met merely by a shrug of the
shoulders. Nobody cared to make him
self Il target for their bullets. Their aim
was too good and their vengeance too
certain. Now. however everything is
changed even among neighbors of the
Aliens out in the Fancy Gap country.
Carroll county believes that the Allen
star is waning and welcomes chance TO
rid this region of the family.
Nearly everybody now has a story OH
his lips of the lawless doings of this power
full clan. Even the officers of the State
have been astounded at some of the
stories that have been told. One story
well illustrates the intolerance OF the
Aliens and the terror they had inspired
throughout the community. Floyd Allen,
the leader Of the clan, who is now behind
the bars in the Roanoke Jail. was driving
light wagon across a mountain stream
a few years ago. Monroe Ward of GalaS
was coming down this incline TO the
stream in another wagon. Ward lost
control of his wagon and the tongue hit
the end board of Aliens rig. Il beg your
pardon. sir" said tho man from Galax.
Floyd turned md a"ovled. but said
nothing. He bad driven OH possibly hall
u mile to narrow point in the road when
suddenly ne jumped to the ground. drew
his revolver and pointing it at Ward said
IN learn you to hit my wagon"
Ward protested that the collision had
been accidental, but Floyd refused to
accept any apology and declared he had
determined to fill him full OF lead One
or two other vehicles drew up behind the
Ward rig and the men in them jumped
out and pleaded with Allen not to shoot
q defenceless man.
Damn We, this il none OF your business.
he replied, shifting the aim of his weapon
from Ward to the others. IF We interfere
here III drop We all"
Allen was finally persuaded to let Ward
of. but not until he had abused him
roundly Ward upon his return to town
swore out u warrant against Floyd Allen
Judge Oglesby, who M that time was
slit ing in the Carroll county court. adv ised
Ward To drop the matter. Judge Oglesby
knew. as most of the other officers of the
county have known. that IL Floyd Allen
wa- dragged into court there would be
bloodshed. Ward accordingly dropped
the complaint.
That is a fair sample of the way tina,
the Aliens have bulldo2ed Carroll county
for years. They openly boasted that they
would shoot their way out OF the court II
they ever had TO.
Another striking instance OF the dar-
ing efforts of the Aliens TO override the
administration of Justice was in the
case OF Judge Robert jackson. who was
assigned TO the Carroll county circuit.
Judge jackson declared when he went
upon the bench that if possible he was
, that Carroll county had borne for years
IA the home of lawlessness. He sent
| for the Rev. Joseph Easter Dunkard
minister in the Fancy Gap region, and
got him to testify before the Carroll
county Grand jury and the Grand Jury
Gap gang. The action OF the Grand
Jury amounted to notice to the lawless
element back in the mountains that the
new Judge meant business.
After Peters had been convicted, the
old Dunkard Clergyman, who really had
been obliged to testify against his
wishes, was called from his house and
shot To death. Thirty-six slugs We're
found in his body. The mountaineers
had given their answer to Judge Jack
son.
The murderer waded for half a mile
ND the bed Of a mountain stream. Three
days later George Peters was arrested or
the charge OF having murdered the clergy.
man. He was convicted and sentenced
to be hanged. As he mounted the scaf-
fold he looked the crowd in its face, ano
pointing at the men from the Fancy GAP
district he said;
"If you had done your duty by me
wouldn't have been here.
That is the spirit in which the Aliens
are expecting TO find aid. 1t explains
why many of their friends and followers
are risking death by joining them in
DEVILS Den their mountain fortress
There is bond between these daring
mountaineers that seems stronger than
the love of life. While the Aliens were
never known to have any direct connec-
ton with this = eters case. they sym
pathized with him and were bitter in theiI
opposition to, Judge jackson.
Soon after this occurrence Judge Jack
son resigned. The real reason was never
given, but people here will tell you tina,
il was because Judge jackson fealized
that no man could deal with this situa
tion in Carroll county without daily tax
ing his life in his hands
Ind oa Ma usia aucceadpd .Ii,lUa ,Incksor