VIRGINIAN OUTLAWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 47, 13 July 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

VIRGINIAN OUTLAWS

CONVICTED OF MURDER. New York, May 27. Advices have been received from Wytlieville, Virginia, stating that Floyd Alien lins been found guilty of murder: in the first degree, the penalty for which is death. Floyd Allen is one of a family of outlaws who for a long time terrorised a portion of the State of Virginia. They were finally surrounded and captured by a strong force of police and military. Many murders have been attributed to the gang. Some idea of the last fight of the outlaws is given in reports from Hillsville under date March 30, 1912. Accounts written from the scene of action read as follows: "The Aliens have been surrounded on the south side of Sugar Loaf Mountain, about twenty miles from Hillsville. This information was brought in by a member of one of the posses late this afternoon. Every avenue of escape is believed to have been cut off. A fight to the finish is hourly expected, and that the outlaws will either be killed or captured within the twelve hours is definitely stated. The posse, headed by Detective Felts, came upon a leaf-bed in which the fugitives slept last night. They believed they were only an hour behind them, and are sure they are closing in rapidly and certainly. This assurance is further strengthened &y the finding of a receipt for 750d01., which has been paid Sidna Allen since his participation in shooting up the Hillsville Court. Detectives refuse to tell the name of the men who took part in this transaction, but the paper is dated in Sidna's handwriting. . ' Sugar Loaf is nearer to Fancy Gap than to Pipers' Pass. This shows the outlaws have been working eastward. Captain Felts led his part* out shortly after 1 to-day. As he vaulted into the saddle, he told a newspaper correspondent that the "trail is growing warmer," and it was not unlikely he would return with the men he was looking for. The little village here is becoming hourly more excited, and reports of a battle between the detective forces and the outlaws are expected at any time. But it is by no means certain that Sidna Allen, of the Blue Ridge, will not again outwit his pursuers. He is believed to have left his opportunity at No Man's Land, and to have succeeded in making his way to the Pinnacles of Dan (beyond Buzzard'* Roost). The Pinnacles of Dan are high mountain peaks near the source of the rise of the little river of that name. The territory is filled with immense boulders, but lias great barren spaces, which makesconcealment in it more difficult than in the undergrowth of No Man's Land. The outlaws are believed to have passed, through to the Pinnacles of Dan by way of their home, where it is likely they got fresh supplies of food. It is in this neighborhood that posses are working to-day. HILLSVILLE IN PANIC. "The Aliens are coming!" This is the cry which rang through Hillsville the second time in the darkness late last night. The reports spread that Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards, reinforced by their friends, were riding upon the town determined to storm the gaol,, rescue Claude and Freel Allen, clean out the detectives here, or meet their death as they had promised they would, with their boots on. Incredible though it may seem, this report was firmly believed by fully half the population. Women and children, terror-stricken, ran into their houses and locked their doors. Detective Faddis, armed with two magazine rifles, took his post in the shadow of the post-office building. Captain Davant, Detective Payne, and Detective Pelts, all heavily armed, joined him there. They watched for half tin hour the approaches to the town. "We were not afraid of a raid," said one of them, "but we did not want to be in hotel rooms in case anybody tried to start anything." Sergeants White and Hardigan, who are on guard over the prisoners in the gaol, securely fastened the door, and waited for whatever might occur, with loaded rifles crossed on knees, and revolvers loosened in their holsters.

Few in Hillsville got much sleep dur ing the right.

Fred Wed<lell. under indictment for moonshining. rode into town and told Captain Felts that he had just seen Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards run out of his barn and head for Buzzard's Roost. Weddell lives fourteen miles south-west of Hillsville, and is in the heart of the Allen country. He is considered one of their best friends, and after a long talk with him Mr. Felts said he did not put much reliance in the report, but wouia investigate it. Captain Oavant halted and searched a two-ox team driven into town by Arthur •Tones .another friend of the Aliens. It is believed that Captain Davant thought he might find one of the outlaws in the body of the waggon. Theie were only wicker chairs and bags of chestnuts. The most picturesque arrival of the day was "Big Ed." Miller, from the mountains of North Carolina. He came to volunteer his assistance to the detectives. To a group of correspondents and detectives he said, ''Stranger, I'm from Boone, near the Tennessee line. When I heard about this here outrage I was aworkin' on my fencing. I dropped my tools, went to the store, bought a coat and ■hat. and set out for here.

"This shooting up a court, is more, I reckon, than any man will stand for. So I came along on foot to help you all catch the Aliens. You all show me where they are hiding, and I will go into any hole or cave and bring them out myself. They call me 'Big Ed. in iny county." This mountaineer is over, six feet tall, weighs probably 200 pounds, has a long white beard and flashing eyes. He had not heard of the tragedy until last Tues.day. News of it so incensed him that without stopping to bid his family goodbye he set out on his long tramp of 120 miles, reaching here at noon to-day. He had little money when he left, and friends stlong the road gave him food and shelter. He was much disappointed when told that his services could not be used.