The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-15
Clansmen Had Agreed That
Not One Should Ever Go
to the Penitentiary
HAD GUNS READY
AT PREVIOUS TRIAL
Acquittal Of Sidna Only Thing
That Saved Federal Judge
Boyd at Greensboro.
Evidence of Minister

mat tHGTe existed u uSutibC c@h'
well planned conspiracy 10 shoot up
the United States Circuit court at
Greensboro, n, c., when Sidna Alien
was on trial for CONTRIBUTING that
would have proven as successful as
the Hillsvilie horror had this clans
man been convicted, Is established by
the testimony of a Baptist minister
TO whom Sidna Allen boastingly told
of the clan agreement the day ne was
acquitted.
TO this minister who then had the
charge at Mount Airy. and who met
Sidna Allen on the train homeward
bound, on the day he was acquitted
the acknowledged leader of the clan
declared that ii was good thing Tor
the court that he was acquitted.
Pressed for an explanation, Sidna
Allen said,
.'My brothers were in court and II
7 had been convicted Judge Boyd and
Attorney Holton would have been
shot dead"
Tells of Agreement.
Thinking Il simply boasduI re
mark. the minister demonstrated with
Allen. but the latter replied.
I'VE had our guns with us. ana
Judge Boyd would never have lived
to sentence me. for my brothers and
/ have made an agreement that not
one Of US shall ever go to the peniten-
tiary,"
The minister 70 whom this undying
defiance at the law was made on the
mart Of the Allen clan WAS Rev. Ed
ward r. Carter, who IS row pastor or
the leading Baptist church OF New
bern. N. e. Rev Mr.. Carter took no
part In any az the trials and kept his
own counsel until after Governor
Mann had rendered his final decision
In the cases Then he wrote the exc
eative Il letter commencing him for
his action. and stating that Governor
Mann had made no error in allow
ing the law 10 take its course. ana
lsr had arrived NJ this conclusion from
Tong acquaintance with the Allen
gang,
The letter was not given out by
Governor Mann. but by friend OF
the executive after the Rev. Mr.. Car
ter had written explaining that his
letter 10 Governor Mann was intend
ed to he open TO the public,
Rev. Mr. Carriers Letter.
The letter follows.
The Baptist Parsonage.
New Bern. y. C,
March :, 1918.
To Governor Mann. Richmond. Va;
; Hon and Dear Sir.~~I have just
learned through the press that You
have decided that the sentences I'M
posed against Floyd Allen and his
son. for murder must be carried out.
Now that your decision has been
reached. IL the paper reports are cor
rect I desire to say that | have been
acquainted with the Allen gang for
some time and most heartily concur
in your decision. I am now pastor az
the First Baptist church Of New
Rern. Y c. but at the time Sldna
Allen was tried for counterfelting In
Greensboro, / was the minister at
Mount Airy. and the day he was &C
Quilted I returned to the latter city
on the same train with Sidna Allen.
We engaged In conversation about the
trial and in response 70 remark
made about the narrow escape ne
had from penitentiary sentence. he
said; 'Ycs II was a mighty close call.
hut Il was Il good thing for
the court that | was acquitted"
asked MIN why. and he said; MY
brothers were in court and If ] had
been convicted Judge Boyd, and At
tornev HoItnn would have heen shot
dead Thinking it was simply
hoastfuI remark I suggested that he
would not have attempted any snch
thing. to which he replied: I'VE had
our guns with us, and Judge Boyd
would never have lived to sentence
me for my brothers and have made
an agreement that not one OF US snail
ever go 10 the penitentiary Seeing
i looked somewhat skeptical, he In
sisted that he meant every word ne
said write this, because l know
you were DESTROYS of doing everything
you could for these two men. and of
showing them mercy had there been
any way to do So About the son
know nothing, and until this sad af-
fair 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 it's course.
If have erred in writing you.
trust you will pardon me.
/ remain. Hon. and dear sir.
Yours sincerely
(signed) EDWARD r. CARTER.
Baptist Minister.