The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-05-01
GUARD THE JUDGE
STORMY DAY MARKS The TRIAL
OF The OUTLAWS
Who shot Up The COURT

Armed Pickets Were Scattered at
Several Points in and About the
Court House to Protect Court from
Another Attack from Outlaws.
Desperate but futile efforts were
made late Tuesday, according to the
detectives here, to smuggle weapons
to six members of the Allen clan in
jail at Hillsrille, Va, Early in the
day they had pleaded not guilty to
indictments charging them with FIVE
murders in Carroll county court
house on March IA, and their trials
were set for April 80 at Wytheville,
in an adjacent county The priso-
ners will be taken there during the
night and strict precautions will be
taken during their transfer from
Hillsyille, as the days Developments
showed that the Aliens had many
friends, who might attempt rescue.
On the pretense Of being intoxicat-
ed, Wesley Smith attracted attention
around the Jail and was locked up.
IN an alteration with Detective H.
H. Lucas, Smith drew dagger, but
the detective knocked him uncon-
scious. Smith is said to be friend
of the Aliens and his plan is said to
have been to get into cell adjacent
"a Floyd Allen to communicate with
him Later in the day at the point
of a rifle, Detective E c. Payne
drove j. C. and David Strickland
from the vicinity of the jail. The two
brothers, who hitherto have been
under suspicion Of aiding Sidna AL
len and Wesley Edwards, still at
large In the mountains were charged
by Payne with lettering in front OF
the jail and acting threateningly.
Counsel for the Aliens were ap-
pealed to by the Strickland boys, one
OF them declaring that Payne had
struck him. The attorneys sought
out Judge Walter R. Staples, who
visited the Jail and secured Payre's
version of the affair. The judge told
! Payne not to relax his vigilance IN
guarding the prisoners.
In the court proceedings early
Tuesday it was decided that the bull
let-scarred courthouse Of Carroll
county would not be the scene Of the
Allen trials. Attorneys for the six
members of the Allen clan thought
the lead punctured walls and chairs
would be prejudicial reminders to a
Jury of the tragedy of March IA.
when the judge, the prosecutor, the
sheriff, Juror and bystander were
killed. The application OF the de-
fense for change of venue was not
opposed by the prosecution and
Judge Staples granted it.
To all indictments the six defend
ants pleaded not guilty. Their attor-
nevs announced severance Of the
cases and the Commonwealth will try
Floyd Allen first and probably his
sons, Claude and Victor, next, then
his nephews, Friel Allen, Sidna Ed
wards and Byrd Marion. Toward
the close Of the day's proceedings
reference was made to Sidna Allen.
who with his nephew, Wesley Ed
wards, is still being hunted in the
mountains by detectives.
y. P. Oglesby, of counsel for the
prisoners, moved that attachment Of
sidna Aliens property be dismissed
as had been done with the other
prisoners. The prosecutor inquired
how Mr.. Oglesby had been selected TO
act for Sidna Allen, and if he h"d
communicated with the latter abou
the subject The attorney replied
that he was acting for Sidna Allen
at the direction OF Mrs. Sidna Allen.
The court reserved decision.
Court proceedings drew pic
turesQue crowd Of mountaineers.
Judge Walter r. Staples sat in the
same chair in which Judge Thorn
ton L. Massie met his death. Behind
the rail was detective, six-shoot-
er hung conspicuously on his hip.
! Among the six prisoners, as we'll as
various strategic points in the small
courtroom. armed pickets were sta
toned. AS the crowd filed in the
room Detective Tom Felts, assisted
by Sheriff Edwards, searched all for
concealed weapons.
Some who had rode in from the
mountains expressed surprise at the
unusual proceedings, but precau-
tion was not lacking. 4 Gordon OF
armed deputies guarded the SIX
| prisoners as they were brought to
the court room. Floyd Allen, on ac-
count of an injured knee. had to be
carried, but the other five defend
ants strobe slowly to the court house
in marked contrast to the morning OF
March "a, when they galloped into
town and defed the law.
AS Clerk Goad read the five sepa-
rate indictments charging five mur-
der, the slX Ge1endantS llsteAeu III
differently and answered in mono
tone Not Guilty" Reminders of
The court house tragedy were numer-
!cus-on the SCARED chairs and the
walls. Clerk Goad and Floyd Allen
met for the first time since their p!s-
tol duel outside the court house OF
March "A. which left red scar on
the face Of Goad and two bullets in
Floyd Aliens knee
AS Clerk Goad read the long in
dictments. the scene :: the court
house was one Of grim silence, ex-
cent for the maneuvers of big New
soundland dog that slowly crept
around under the knees Of the spec
tators, calmly surveyed the prisoners
and finally reposed beside the