3 More of Allen Clan Located

The Bluefield Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va. Sunday, March 24, 1912

THREE MORE OF ALLEN CLAN ARE LOCATED

That They Will Not be Taken Without Bloodshed Freely Predicted.

SIDNA ALLEN BELIEVED TO BE NOT FIVE MILES AWAY

Posse Sends to Mt. Airy for Reinforce- ments and Sheriff With Deputies, Dozen Detectives and Several Volunteers Starts for Scene.

SIDNA EDWARDS NOW ON HIS WAY TO ROANOKE JAIL

Mount Airy, N. C., March 23. --Three more members of the Allen clan--Claude Swanson Allen, brother of Floyd; Freel Allen, son of Jasper Allen, and Wesley Edwards, the more desperate of the two Edwards boys, have been located by detectives in the mountains ten miles north of Mount Airy and their capture tonight or early Sunday morning is practically certain. That they will not be taken without bloodshed is predicted.

The outlaws were located late today and word was sent and reinforcements asked by the posse. Immediately the sheriff of Surry county, with a number of deputies, a dozen detectives and several citizen volunteers started up into the hills. They will work their way to the south of the place where the outlaws are in hiding. On the north the outlaws are confronted by a hundred men--detectives, deputy sheriffs and volunteers working from the Hillsville end. When the Mount Airy squad arrives on the south the officers will surround the hiding place and cut off all escape of the outlaws.

Sidna Allen, leader of the clan, is believed to be in hiding in Sugar Leaf mountain, five miles away from where the Edwards boy and the other two Allens are said to have been located.

Galax, Va., March 23. --Sidna Edwards, the mountain youth indicted for murder in connection with the Hillsville court house tragedy, arrived from Hillsville at dusk tonight, in custody of Sergeant White, of the Virginia militia, Detective Thomas L. Felts and several other detectives. Edwards is being taken, for safe keeping, to the Roanoke jail, where his uncle, Floyd Allen; his cousin, Victor Allen, and his chum, Byrd Marion, are being held pending trial. He was lodged in a farmhouse for the night and is being guarded by detectives. They will continue to Roanoke tomorrow.

The situation at Hillsville today was quiet. Detectives are in the mountains following every possible clue and guarding every position. Developments are expected hourly. Only three of the detective force were in Hillsville today, all the others being in the mountain section many miles to the south and southeast. It is believed here confidently that the other outlaws will be captured. Being startled by the capture of Sidney Edwards the others will for a day or two exercise the greatest caution and keep close within their hiding place. They are weary and worn and suffering from both fatigue and privations and soon or late must come forth and wander around looking for something to eat.

The cold and rainy weather which set in last night, while adding to the difficulties of the pursuit, will increase the sufferings of the fugitives and contribute to their speedy downfall.

Roanoke, Va., March 23. --A report is being circulated all over the country that Floyd Allen had confessed to the Baldwins. When asked about the matter, W. G. Baldwin said he knew nothing of any such confession. Officials at the jail denied that Allen had confessed, and the Rev. T. Clagett Skinner, spiritual advisor of the wounded prisoner, said no confession had been made to him.