The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
Reiterates His Protest of In- nOcence-H0pes Gang
 Will Surrender
OUTLAWS HAVE BEEN
 SEEN BY DETECTIVES
Believed Gang Will Be Caught Within Three Days-Most of Allen Fami- ly Placed Under Close
 Surveillance

Galax, Va, March 24-Claude Swanson Allen, the 22-year-old son of Floyd Allen,
 and one of those indicted for the Hills vile courthouse murders has eleanly
 eluded all pursuers, but his uncle. Sidna
 Allen, and cousins, Wesley Edwards and
 Frie Allen; are so closely pressed on the southern side of the Blue Ridge that they
 probably will be captured within three days. This information came today from the | leaders of the hunt for the gang who on | March II swooped down on the Carroll | county court, killed Judge Massie, Prose
 cntor Foster Sheriff Webb, Juror Fowler | and Miss Nancy Ayres, and wounded two | bystanders.
 Claude Eludes Pursuers l Claude Allen, who once attended a mili-
 tary school at Raleigh. N. C., and knows
 more of the outside world than the aver age mountaneer. it was learned today | took a poeketful 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 mountains has
 now been abandoned.
 Not so, however, with the three other outlaws who are lodging about the
 crevices of the Blue Ridge between here
 and Mount Airy They have been seen at distance, detectives having been within 30 minutes of them. q hope they will all give themselves np; they had bet | ter do 1t. for they have no chance at all" was the frank comment of Sidna Edwards likewise indicted for murder.
 who was taken today for safekeeping to
 the Roanoke jail where he joined his uncle. Floyd Allen his cousin. Victor Al-
 len, and his chum, Byrd Marion. all in-
 dicted for complicity In the courthouse
 shooting.
 Edwards Goes to Roanoke Edwards swung his tall, robust figure l into the train at Galax about neon He was brought here from lIiiisylne under q
 heavy guard. With him was Sergeant White of the state militia. He arrived in
 Roanoke tonight seemingly as carefree 1 as a schoolboy on a lark People from
 30 miles around the countryside gathered
 at the railroad stations to catch glimpse
 
 l for Edwards projected his broad shoul-
 ders through the train window and waved 1 to each group. not q few of whom were friends or relatives, for Carroll county's population is composed largely Of Aliens
 or their kinsfok. There was a plainiive
 note in the boys voice. however. when Henry Allen, a cousin, attired in the blue
 uniform Of an officer of the peace stepped
 aboard the train at Byllsbey They shook | hands and eyed each other in silence for a moment.
 I'm sorry to you in a bad scraps like this" sighed Allen.
 well, SIT, I'm sorry 10 be in it, but jest could not help it. was the meeN
 reply.
 Edwards reiterated his protest of inno- cence
 Regrets Occurrence "I had hard time of it." he said. For two weeks 1 had been in bed with pneu-
 monia and they all dragged me ou' to come to court 10 e a witness in Uncle
 Floyd's trial. | wish now had not gone. The shooting began all of a sudden and the room was filled with smoke in a sec
 ond, bullets were flying from one side 10
 the other like lightning. got out as fast as l could. ran away because heard they would all shoot us on sight. |
 but l knew I was caught some days 1go. They could have arrested me much
 easier'
 Detective Thomas L. Fest and Albert Ii. Baldwin, whom the county has placed in charge of the search for the Allens, | rode with Edwards to Roanoke They confirmed his statement that capture could have been accomplished sooner, cN- plaining that their purpose was to follow Edwards about in ease he attempted to join the other outlaws.
 Edwards whose manner is guileess and open. hardly seemed 10 realize the sefi ousness of his plight. He laughingly read one of the circulars giving descriptions of himself and companions Last night in a moment of thoughtfulness he re- ferred the detective said. to his revolver,
 declaring that he had fired some shots. Hitherto he had claimed not to be armed. Witnesses before the grand jury said that
 as he came out Of the courthouse he gave
 his pistol to Floyd Allen. SO that the lat
 ter might continue his pistol duel with
 Clerk Dexter Goad on the courthouse
 green,
 Family Being Watched TO Hillsvile today came reports that tho various posses are still on the watch in the mountains. Most of the Allen family, thought not involved in the trag edy, included among which is Jasper AL 1 len, were today placed under close suf- | veiiance. Offers of surrender, it was
 authoritatvely said today, emanated from some Allen non-comhatants. The detec- l tives are positive that the outlaws have authorized no one to make propositions on their behalf because communication with the bandits in the mountains has
 been blocked
 The formal arragnment of the prisoners
 was definitely set today for April l5 Tt l Hillsyilie. A change of venue 10 Wythe vile, Wythe county. Is likely. Gave Uncle Pistol Roanoke. Va. March 24.-Detective Tom ! Felts who arrived here this afternoon with Sidna Edwards, said tonight that sdna confessed to him this afternoon on ths train that he handed his uncle. .I'loyd Allen, a pistol the morning of the shoot Ing at Hiilsvile The prisoner said he was standing in the courthouse door when Floyd came by and asked him 10 give him his pistol. He did so, but later
 got it back from Allen after the latter
 ---I 4laAE