Court House Death-List may be Increased

The Bluefield Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va. Thursday Morning, March 21, 1912

COURT HOUSE DEATH-LIST MAY BE INCREASED

Andrew Howlett, Shot While Trying to Protect Wife, Said to be Dying.

NO AUTHENTIC REPORTS OF MOVEMENTS OF OUTLAWS

Allens and Their Henchmen Are Somewhere in the Mountain Fast- Ness But This Far Law Has Been Unable to Meet Situation

OVER TWO HUNDRED BULLETS FOUND IN COURT ROOM

Hillsville, March 20. --With the search for the Allen gang fruitless on the eve of the seventh day since the courthouse tragedy, it seems probable that the death-list may be increased to six before morning. Andrew P. Howlett, who was shot in the back, is likely not to live through the night. He was trying to protect his wife from the shower of lead which killed the judge, prosecutor, sheriff and two others.

The detectives who were hurriedly summoned by messenger yesterday to the supposed hiding place of the Allen gang had not returned from the mountain quest at nightfall. With almost a week elapsed since the shooting up of the court, not a single authentic report has reached here of the movements of any of the outlaws who have spread terror throughout the country side for more than a generation.

The Allens and their henchmen are somewhere in the mountain fastnesses but the law of Carroll county thus far has been powerless to meet the situation. Upwards of two hundreds of bullets were found in the court room and the wonder more persons were not killed by the fusillade.

Detective T. L. Felts, who is in command of the forces in Carroll county, has ridden all the way from Hillsville to Mount Airy. He followed the main road, which for a large part of the way leads through mountain defiles. He spent some time at Mount Airy, and then left on his return to Hillsville. Mr. Felts while in Mount Airy said that throughout his long ride he saw not a single trace of the Allen fugitives.

The detectives and deputy sheriffs are using the utmost vigilance and activity in pressing into the mountains in their efforts to locate the fugitives.

The officers do not hesitate to enter the hills and to plunge into the thickest parts of the wilderness, showing that they have absolutely not the least fear of the outlaws and are anxious to get a chance at them.

The detectives working from Mt. Airy are in the very heart of the outlaws' country, all about the vicinity of Fancy Gap, Harper's Gap and Ward Gap. They are searching the ground thoroughly, but thus far have failed to locate the whereabouts of the fugitives.

Hunting for the Allens in that country is like hunting for rabbits in a dense brier patch. The outlaws being accustomed to make their way through mountain fastness can move about more easily than their pursuers, and no matter how brave and active the latter may be the difficulties before them are tremendous and the advantage nearly always is with the fugitives.

Another False Scent.

Hillsville, Va., March 20--It was another false scent that drew into the mountains last night nearly, every man in this section that could ride a horse and carry a gun. The location of the Allen gang is still a mystery.

A part of the posse returned here today weary and discouraged, reporting that the gang was not found at Chestnut Ridge, where it was believed to have been trailed.

The returning posse found gathered on the court house green, anxiously awaiting news from the night's sortie, practically every woman and child left behind by the man hunters.

It was with mingled feelings of disappointment and relief that families of members of the community learned that the outlaws had not been encountered or located.