Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-17
CAPTURED AT LAST.
Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards
Caught in Des Moines, Iowa.

Allen, leader OF the Allen clan which
shot up the Carroll county court house
at Hillsville, Va. March IA, killing
Judge Massie and others, and his
nephew, Wesley Edwards, tonight are
manaclcd In cells at the city Jail as a
result OF love affairs which led detec-
tives to them. Both have announced
their willingness to return to Virginia
without requisition.
Edwards, for the love of whom, Miss
Maud Irolery of Mount Airy, N. c., had
innocently led detectives to Des Moines
was captured tonight as he was return
ing to his boarding house, after having
worked all day with paving gang.
Just as he boarded a street car, detec-
tives and officers surrounded 1t. Ed
wards was trying to escape by crawl
ing through the front end Of the car,
when officers caught him. The arrest
of Sidna Allen was effected earlier In
the day.
A visit by Edwards to Miss Iroler in
her North Carolina home about a
month ago, and the accidental loss
of letter put the detectives on the
trail. The fugitives had been in Des
Moines since April %. Allen, under
and Edwards, under the name
city paving gang.
Allen was arrested at the home of
John Cameron at Eleventh and Lo-
Gust streets, where he and his nephew
had been rooming, by Detectives Bald
win, Lucas and Munday Of Roanoke,
Va. The arrest occurred few minutes
after Miss Iroler stepped into the Cam
eron home to meet Edwards whom she
was to wed tonight according to an
arrangement made when he visited her
in North Carolina. Detective Lucas
was at her heels. Allen was in an up
per room. When informed that visi-
tors wanted to see him, he came down.
stairs. AS he did so Detective Lucas
covered him with a revolver and or
dered him to surrender. Allen hesi-
tated and then threw up his hands, re-
marking as he did so:
II guess I'm your man." Allen was
handcuffed and placed under guard
of city detectives, while Colonel Bald
win and Chief Jenney Of the local de-
partment went in search Of Edwards.
who was said to be at work in the west
ern part Of the city. Apparently Ed
wards heard that his uncle had been
captured because he was not to be
found until tonight.
Miss Iroler arrived In Des Moines
this morning unaware that on the same
train were detectives who wanted her
sweetheart.
She went straight to the Cameron
home having previously been provided
with the address, and the officials fol-
lowed.
Although surprised, she took the ar
rest Of Allen and the capture Of Ed
wards with little show Of concern.
Wesley was down home a month
ago." she said. I'VE were to be mar
ried. He gave me the money to come to
this city and this address. had no
idea that anyone was following me-"
Sidna Allen, in his cell tonight, talk
ed freely of the events Of the last few
months, but declined to say much con-
cerning his movements Immediately af-
ter the court house tragedy. He and
Edwards remained in the mountain
country of Virginia and North Caroli-
ma for about a month and then got over
into Kentucky, going to Louisville,
where they spent several days. Their
next stop was in st. Louis, where they
remained a week. They had sufficient
money for their needs and travelled as
first class passengers.
Il don't know why we came to Des
VhoihCopf -odia fhitCht athSoc ~ wa
that thought we would be safer here.
Several years ago I was In the Klon-
dyke and I figured that the officers
would think that I had gone back
there. So We came to Des Moines, and
/ got work as carpenter and expected
to remain here until 1t was safe back
home.
Il would have given myself up long
ago II I had thought we could get q
square deal. But see what they have
done to Floyd, my brother, and Claude.
Allen declared that the. court house
tragedy was the fault Of the officers.
who he said, began the shooting.
I'VE heard few days before Floyd
Aliens trial began that Sheriff Webb
had bought a hundred rounds Of car :
tridges and had made the remark that
he was going to show that Allen gang
some real court but we did not ex-
pect trouble that day, and there would
mt have been any II the officers had
not begun It,"
Allen denied that after the tragedy
he had ever sent threats to the officers.
THE trouble in the court house came
as Unexpectedly as anything ever
was on trial. The evidence was over
"
victed him.
I'VE started away from Hillsville the
night Of the trouble. The officers were
once within fifteen feet Of me, but they
did not know 1t. thought for a while
I would go back but when heard there
were orders out to shoot me on sight
decided I'd better get out Of that coun-
try.
Il was writing when the detectives
came today. / had heard that Wesley
and his girl were to be married and
that she was coming here. II he hadn't
been a blamed fool and gone back to
Virginia and dropped that letter, we
wouldn't be in this fix tonight. don't
blame the girl. I don't know her. but
her mother, Mrs. Frank Iroler, was once
my sweetheart"
Allen was much Interested as to
what would be the reception given to
himself and Edwards when they re-
Pm rp ad homo