The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-15
ALIENS PLANNED
TO SHOOT Up COURT
Minister Writes Sidna Would
Have Killed Federal Judge
and Attorney.
Boosted OF HIS INTENTION
Told Preacher He and Brothers
Would Never Go to
Penitentiary.

Evidence to show that Sidna Allen
and his brothers had agreed that none
of them should ever so TO tho peniten-
tlary, and that they had planned to
shoot up the Federal court at Green's
boro. n. c., IL Sidna Allen had been
convicted of counterfeiting, has come
to light since Governor Mann made his
final decision not to interfere with the
sentences of Floyd and Claude Allen.
II came from Rev. Edward r. Carter.
ID. D.. pastor of Middle Street Baptist
Church. OF Ncwbern, \. c., to whom
Sidna Allen uttered his threats ana
told of the existing conspiracy and OF
what would have happened had he been
found guilty.
crnor by DR.. Carter. a friend Of the
executive secured copy and gave il
out yesterday to the newspapers,
thinking the public entitled to the
information. The author OF the letter
has no objection to the publication.
and says no will stand BY his state
ment
This recalls the Combs case in Car
roll County, when Floyd Allen was
given Il fine and short TAIL sentence
The imprisonment feature was climi-
mated by the Governor. and Judge Ro-
bert C. Jackson. then on the bench, be-
lievcs to this day that il the Governor
had not complied. the tragedy Of 1912
would have been enacted IN 1902, with
himself as one of the victims. 1t is
stated that Floyd Allen forced Noah
Combs, who had been shot, to pay the
fine.
Eerc Prepared to Shoot. :,
The letter from DIR. Carter is as fol-
lows:
The Baptist Parsonage.
Newborn. n c.,
March I. 1913.
To Governor Mann, Richmond, Va:
Honorable and Dear Sir,-I have Just
learned through the press that you
have decided that tho sentences i'm
posed against Floyd Allen and his son
for murder must be carried out. Now
that your decision has been reached
If the paper reports are correct, ] de-
sire to say that have been acquainted
with the Allen gang for some time. and
most heartily concur In your decision
I am now pastor Of the First Baptist
Church. of Newborn, y. c., but at the
time Sidna Allen was tried for coun
tcrfcitinE In Gree boro. / was the
minister at Mount Airy. and the day he
was acquitted, l returned TO the latter
city on the same train with Sidna
Allen.
We Eaged in conversation about
tho trial. and In response to a remark
| made about the narrow escape he
had from a penitentiary sentence, he
said: Yes, II was a mighty close call
but u was d. good thing for tho
court that was acquitted" asked
him why. and he said: My brothers
were in court and If I had been CON
victed Judge Boyd and Attorney Hol-
ton would have been shot dead"
Thinking II was simply a boastful
remark, | suggested that he would not
have attempted any such thing to
which he replied 'Wc had our guns
with us. and Judge Boyd would never
have lived to sentence me- for my
brothers and l have made an agree
ment that not one of us shall ever go
TO the penitentiary." Seeing looked
somewhat skeptical. he insisted that
he meant every word he said.
l write this, because ! know YOU
were DESTROYS of doing everything YOU
could for these two men, and of show
ing them mercy had there been any
way 10 do SO. About the son. I know
nothing, and until this sad affair had
never heard a thing against him My
only object In writing this Is TO cause
YOU TO feel that you have made no
error in deciding that the law must
take its course.
If have erred in writing you.
trust you Will pardon me.
] remain. honorable and dear sir,
Yours sincerely.
(Signed) EDWARD r. CARTER,
Baptist Minister