The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-03-28

lntN n1u money 10 an extent. AT
least. social prestige and the con-
SANITY increasing terror of the Allen
name and clan. IL is characteristic
little incident. told 10y the young lady
i'm charge Of the telephone office. that
not very long ago. when she had trOu-
BILE i'm giving a connection from a !
country house. the mans voice from
the other end of the line remarked
sharply:
Il reckon you don't know who 1 /
am. ] am one Of these fighting AL |
lens. And you had better giVe me |
connection quick"
To which she responded promptly: !
We'll, L 2m one of the lighting |
WilccNos. and if you come about me
I'll be prepared for you"
Contrary TO usual conditions, how
ever. the women Of Hinsville seem to
be i'm about as much fear of the AL
lens as any OF the men, always dread
ing lest some of the men of their
families might be hurt.
Political Complications.
Political animoSitieS bred among
the Aliens deep personal resentments.
Several years ago a son of Jack AL
len, one of the oldest of his genera
ton and TO whom the family looked
with pride to win for it new prOmi-
hence and power, was a candidate
for commemorative Attorney He
was educated at Washington and Lee
University, took a law degree and was
bright and promising. He was defeat
/
after close and hot fight. This en-
Filtered his whole connection, espe-
cially against the Commonwealth At
torney and the Republican officehold-
ers around the courthouse. The feel
ing against Hillsville and its people
became hercer and more intolerant
than ever.
Should Never go to Jail.
Among the other family traditions
they had established among them
selves was that none of the Allen kith
on kin ever should wear stripes or
go to Jail. In other words, having
pretty well tyrannized over the peo-
pie, they determined to assert them
selves as above the law and its rep
rsntatives. Possibly they did not re
atlze that they were defying the Com
monwealth, the country and the world
They never were people who Travelled
much or looked much beyond their
own immediate surroundings and cir
Gle. They viewed the law through its
representatives in and about Hills
Vile and probably acquired more or
less contempt for it. They fought the
local Republican organization, the do
minant political force in Carroll, on
all occasions. They declared repeated
ly their purpose to prevent any of
their people being punished for any
offenSe against State or United States
law. 1t is related that Jack Allen
once was driving along a public road
with wagon load of moonshine
/ liquor. He met United States deputy
marshall who stopped him and in
CURED with what he was loaded. His
response was with whiskey and man
hood" and the marshal did not care
to interfere.
The family took the same attitude
toward the State court. During Judge
jackson service on this circuit he
was annoyed continually by hearing of
/ the defiance and threats of the Aliens
On one occasion one of the Edwards
/ boys. nephew of the Older Allen, was
convicted of a n'isdemeanor and SEN
| fenced to Jail. Word was sent into
/ Hillsville that the town would be
shot up If any attempt was made to
/ incarcerate this young man. However
/ the Aliens somehow were reconciled
and the young man was taken TO jail
/ by the sheriff single handed.
IL is believed that Judge Masse to
a short time before his death was
deceived into the belief that the
fighting Aliens" had been brought to
see reason and To consent to obey the
/ law and TO yield themselves TO its
mandate. This was despite the fact
that it was generally known that when
Sidney Allen was tried in the United
States court at Greensboro. N G.. for
counterfeiting twenty dollar gold
pieces the Aliens had agreed among
themselves that if a verdict OF guilty
was rendered they would shoot their
way out. This was known to United
D 4
ed by their published statement.
The Judge Warned.
As has already been published. how
ever, Judge Massie had received in
formation 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 MS ruty with strong reason to be-
leVe 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
the last. ten or fifteen years, known
as desperate and dangerous men, de-
spite their financial responsibility and
the increasing ages OF the brothers.
Mr.. Foster, the Commonwealth at
torney. had told his friends frequently
he believed the Aliens would Kill him
or try TO do IT. Mr.. Goad, the clerk
OF court, had been threatened per-
sonally by members of the family be
cause he had stood against them poll
tically.
The Immediate Trouble.
These were the conditions Every
/ body was more or less apprehensive
and there was more or less nervous
The imII rebate trouble began last
/ April. Then two of the Edwards bows.
were arrested for disturbing a re-
llSious meeting, having gone to a
| church and cursed and threatened some
OF their supposed enemies and been
generally disorderly. In truth it may
| be remarked that while the Aliens are
/ supposed TO have been involved in the
moonshining business. none. of them
are heavy drinkers. All of them use
! liquor with more or less freedom, but
! II is said that they rarely or never
show the effects of it; and a popularity
of Sldna Allen is said to be that in his
deadliest moment when he is most in
tent on killing he is smiling and laugh
ing. 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 its members
TO be imprisoned, Floyd Allen, NOT
outstanding his ffty-five years at
tackled the deputy sheriff savagely
and beat him badly with a pistol, be-
sides threatening him with Immediate
death unless he left the boys alone.
In the face Of this attack and the
accompanying threat Samuels released
his prisoners, reported the facts and
had a warrant issued. In his usual de-
FAINT way Floyd Allen surrendered and
gave bail.