New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-25
ALIENS HARD PRESSED;
POSSE NEAR OUTLAWS.
Detectives Believe Leaders OF
the Virginia Clan Will Be
CAPTURED in a Few Days.
CLAUDE ELUDES PURSUERS
Bandits Have Not Authorized
Any One to Make Overture tor
Surrender-No Chance
to Escape.

Galax. Va. March 21-Claude Swan
son Allen, the wenty-two-year-old son
Of Floyd Allen and one Of those indicted
for the Hiilsville Courthouse murders
has euded all pursuers. but ms uhcle'
Sidns Allen, and cousins, Wesley Ed-
wards and Friel Allen, are so closer!
pressed on the south side Of the Blue
Ridge that they probably will he capt
ured within few days.
This information came to-day from
leaders of the hunt for the gang VINO
on March If swOoped down on the Car
roll County Court. killed Judge Massle'
Prosecutor Foster Sheriff Webb Fowler,
a Juror, and Miss Nancy Ayres' and
wounded two bystanders,
Claude 5. Allen, who once attended
military school at Raleigh, y. c., and
knows more Of the outside world than
the average mountaincer, it was learned
to-day took a pocketfu of gold from the
family cash drawer on the night of the
tragedy, put on his best clothing and
vanished on horseback beyond the North
Carolina line Hope Of finding him in
the mountain region has now been aban-
doned.
Not so, however, with the three other
outlaws who are lodging about in the
cFevices of the Blue Ridge between here
and Mount Airy, n. c. They have been
seen at distance detectives having
been within thirty minutes ride of them
Have No Chance to Escape.
Il hope they will all give themselves
up: they had better do it, for they have
no chance at ALL" was the frank COM
meHt Of Sidna Edwards likewise in
dictsd for murder who was taken to- day
for safe keeping to the Roanoke jail
where he joined his uncle, Floyd Allen;
his cousin, Victor Allen, and his chum
Byrd Marion, all indicted for complicity
in the courthouse shooting.
Edwards swung his tall, robust figure
\ into the train at Galax about noon. He
M was brought here from Hllsville under a
" heavy guard. With him was Sergeant
white. Of the state militia. He arrived
ia Roanoke tonight seemingly as care
free as a gchoolboy on lark. From
fifty miles around the countryside peo-
pie gathered at the railroad stations 10
catch a glimpse of the prisoner. They
had no difficulty for Edwards projected
his broad shoulders through the train
window and waved to each group, not a
few Of whom were friends or relatives
Cor Carroll County's population is com
posed largely of Aliens or their kinsfolk
There was a plaintiye note I'm the boys
voice, however, when Henry Allen, a
cousin, sttired i'm the blue uniform of an
officer of the peace. stepped aboard the
train AT Byllsbcy. They shook hands
and eyed each other in silence for mo-
ment
I'm sorry 10 see you in bad scrape
like this" sighed Allen.
We'll. sir, I'm sorry to be in it, but I
Jest couldn't help IT," was the meek reply.
Edwards reiterated his protest of inno-
eence.
II had hard time OF it," he said
For two weeks ! had been i'm bed with
pneumonia and they all dragged me out
to come to court to be witness in Uncle
F'loyd's trial ! wish now ] hadn't gone
The shooting began all of sudden and
the room was filled with smoke in a sec
ond. and bullets were flying from one
side 10 tho other like lightning. / got
out as fast as 1 could, l ran away be-
cause | heard they'd all shoot us on
sight | slept in barns and hid in the
fodder. but / knew I was caught some
days ago. They could have arrested me
much easier"
Detective Thomas i. Fcltz and Al
bert ~. Baldwin, whom the county has
l1aced i'm charge of the search for the
Aliens rode with Edwards to Roanoke.
They confirmed his statement that capt
ure could have been accomplished soon
or, explaining that their purpose was to
follow Edwards about in case he at
tempted TO join the other outlaws.
Edwards Fired Some Shots.
Edwards, whose manner is guileless
and open, hardly seemed to realize the
seriousness Of is light. He iaughingly
i