The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-03-21
Previous Reports Confirmed.

Shortly before ~ o'clock the Gov
ernor received a lOng-distance tele-
phone message from the Baldwin De-
tectivc Agency. in Roanoke, verify
printed by The Journal to the effect
that a gang Of mountainous had
looted a hardware store at Mount
Airy, n. c., of quantity OF arms and
ammunition, and that Floyd Allen. his
son, Victor, and a member of the AL
len gang named Strickland had been
arrested and placed in jail.
The agency also notified the Cover
nor that members or friends of the
Allen gang had attempted to wreck
the telegraph line leading out of Hills
Vile. However, at that time the con-
nection between Hillsvill and the out
side world had not been completely
severed. The detectives feared that
the line would soon be broken. 1t was
then in such bad condition. he said.
that but little information could be
received over it. This statement is
certainly true as regards the service
TO Richm ond.-Ed.1
Asked how the mountaineers had
attacked the wires. he said that they
had shot down a number Of the glass
and china insulators along the tine.
and had seriously injured. the wires.
That the line would be broken has
been feared since the Aliens escaped
into the mountains yesterday. But a
thin thread OF wire connects HflfSville
with the rest OF the world-one soil
tary wire, il is said-and il that should
he broken the community. buried As
it is in the mountains. would be al
most completely cut off from the out
descend upon il and wreak dreadful
vengeance for the wounding and cap
ture of their leader. and no one in
Richmond or elsewhere could learn Of
il until hours later.
The Baldwin detective also said that
the gang which had wrecked the
Mount Airy store was composed. he
understood. OF about eight members.
All were on horseback. After footing
the store the gang went into the North
Carolina mountains.
Wire to Carolina Governor.
He asked that the Governor notify
the sheriffs of Surry. Stokes. Yadkin.
Wilkes and Allegheny counties TO be
on the lookout. He advised the Gov
ernOr that he had also notified them.
The Governor at once sent the fol
lowing telegram to the Governor OF
North Carolina:
Richmond. Va, Mar. is, 1912.
Hon. w. w. kitcllin, Governor of
North Carolina, Raleigh. N.
e.:
"a party of men. supposed 90
be the Allen gang, who murdered
the OFFICIALS of Carroll county, last
night broke into hardware store
at Mount Airy and took guns,
rifles, pistols and Ammunition. My
detectives think these men will
pass through one or more of the
following counties in North Caro-
lima: Surry, Stokes, YadlIins,
Wilkes and Allegheny. i will
thank you to instruct officers In
those counties TO look out for
them. i have increased the re-
ward TO $4,000.
"WM. HODGES MANN,
Governor"
Governor to Attorney General.
To Attorney General Williams the
Governor then sent the following:
"RiChmond, Va, Mar. 15, 1912.
"IIOn. Samuel w. Williams, Hills
Vile, Va:
Please secure description of
all parties engaged in murder
yesterday and telegraph with re-
ward offered TO Surry, Stokes,
Watkins, Wilkes and Allegheny,
y. C.. and suitable points in Vir-
ginia. These people probably
have with them arms taken from
MI. Airy store last night, which
may identify them.
"WM. HODGES MANN"
Governor"