The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-19
All Exits From the Fastnesses OF
Blue Ridge Are Guarded While
the Allen Gang Is
Surrounded.
PROGRESS IS SLOW
Martial Law Has Been Declared for
HiIlsMlle With Militia
Captain as the
Mayor.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.1
HILLSvILLE. Va. March 49,
Martial law for Hillsville was decreed
today and arrangements completed
for accommodations here for $50 men.
The militiamen will probably come
from Roanoke, Company F. Second
Virginia Volunteers.
Captain Davant, of Co. F, will be
military mayor" He has been here
since Thursday and on Sunday had
long conference with Major Potts, Of
Richmond, special representative OF
Governor Mann.
II is believed here that the posses
have despaired OF cornering the AL.
len gang unless backed UP by q form
liable force of militia. The soldiers
are expected to be detailed along the
entrances to the mountain passes, to
guard all exits from the Businesses.
while the detectives and special depu-
ties push forward into the laurel-cov-
cred wilds of crag and peak, hunting
for the outlaws.
More than a score Of the manhunt-
ers remained In the mountains last
night. No word has yet come from
them. Progress toward such mountain
strongholds as Devils Den, Fancy Gap.
Chisel Knob, Reamer Knob, and 9th
ers, is slow because Of the necessity
OF beating every clump Of mountain
laurel and securing every mountain
thicket, lest the outlaws, skilled in
woodcraft, slip through the line and
make 1t necessary again to go over
the same ground.
A telephone message from the
mountains today said that Sidna Ed
wards, nephew of Sidna and Floyd All
len, and one of the ringleaders in the
clan, had been captured but no direct
word came from the posse to this ef-
feet Communication with the noun.
tains is becoming more and more diff
cult because the pursuers are cutting
the wires, believing friendly noun
taineers might warn the Allen gang
of the approach of the posses. Fancy
Gap is now isolated, wires having
been cut from Steve Williams home
in the mountains to that point, BE-
cause Mrs. Sidna Allen was there.
She is of the stern, unyielding type of
mountain woman, Of the same moult
as her husband and detectives fear
she might be keeping in touch with
the gang leader, advising him OF the
progress of the manhunt.
The posses are still closing in on
Devils Den where the outlaws are
halIay,d +1 ho orrino flad
A friend Of Mrs. Sidna Allen, who
saw the wife of the outlaw chief yes
terday quoted her today as declaring
| that she had no idea where her hus-
band was. Il wish to God | did, she
| told the friend. Il wish there had not
ever been a gun made. l left our
home the night this awful thing hap
pened before my husband went He
told me to do everything I coud for
our two little girls and to be kind to
his dog and cat. haven't seen him
since: haven't heard a word from him.
/ don't know where he is. He may be
1 lying exposed with his two wounds,
! perhaps dying
Whatever he did in youth I be-
lieve he is now truly repentant for it,
/ but he won't give up unless I appeal
4 to him for our children's sake. No
] father ever loved his children more,
or was kinder husband, but he has
the Allen temper and that caused all
this trouble"
When the Carroll county court re-
/ convenes here March 26, date will
! be set for trial of the Aliens on the
charge of murder Judge Staples
! said today that the prisoners will be
tried in Wytheville, the change being
made partly because of fear of posi-
4 Bile violence, and also to insure the
accused fair trial At Hillsville
there are no lawyers who will take the
4 Aliens defense
Mrs. Sidna Allen returned to her
home today and has been endeavoring
to persuade nephew to open her
husbands store. closed since the
courtroom tragedy Sidna Allen hur-
ried away from approaching pursuers
without even a horse. according TO
William 7. Quisenberry, who has been
in his employ for years Quisenberry
said today that he first knew of the
shooting on Thursday night when he
walked into Aliens home to find Sid
ma on the couch wounded through the
! left arm and with a flesh wound IN