Another Day's Search

The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Friday, April 5, 1912

ANOTHER DAY’S SEARCH FOR ALLENS FRUITLESS

Effort of Detectives to Learn Where- abouts of Remaining Outlaws From Kinsman Was Unavailing.

Hillsville, Va., April 4. -Another days’ pursuit of the court house assassins still at large brought no news of success from the posses in mountains late tonight. Jordan Edwards, one of the Allen kinsmen, arrested yesterday charged with giving aid to Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards, was grilled at the hands of the detective chiefs in the hope he might tell the whereabouts of his kinsmen. The mountaineer was firm and did not betray them. He scorned the offer that the $1,500 offered for the men should be his if he gave them up. It developed that he is in Sidna Allen’s debt. The detectives found many others in this county in the same plight, who fear being suspected of aiding officers. A change of venue for the trials of the murderers seems certain. Clerk Goad, the only officer of the Carroll court who was not killed in the assassination of March 14, is the principal witness for the prosecution. The Allens probably will not be tried in a court where one of the officers was a prosecuting witness.

The Bluefield Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Saturday Morning, April 6, 1912

SIDNA ALLEN AGAIN SEEN THURSDAY NIGHT

Called at Home of Mountaineer Twelve Miles From Mt. Airy to Ask for Food.

Mt. Airy, N. C. April 5.-Sidna Allen, one of the outlaws hunted in connection with the Hillsville courthouse assassinations, was seen again last night in the mountains twelve miles from here.

Sheriff Haynes, of Surry county, N. C., with detectives and bloodhounds, started on the trail. Shug Smith, a reputable resident of the mountains, telephoned Sheriff Haynes that Allen was at his home last night for food. He told the sheriff to come immediately with bloodhounds.

Smith lives between Ward and Willis Gap in a section where Allen was last reported four days ago. Smith did not inform the sheriff whether he gave Allen food, but is presumed he did, and that the outlaw went back into the mountains to his hiding place.

Edwards With Allen

Hillsville, Va., April 5. -According to Shug Smith, who lives near Mt. Airy, toward the Carolina line, Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards came to his cabin last night and begged for food. Allen came to the door and Edwards stood guard. Allen declared that neither had eaten food that day. They got none from Smith and took to the mountains. The mountaineer feared to tell the detectives until midnight and it was morning when the posse took up the trail. Sheriff Haynes, of Mount Airy, took bloodhounds but they refused to scent the trail and the posse went off on Smith’s directions.

Posses are posting copies of Governor Mann’s proclamation calling upon all citizens to withhold aid from the fugitive outlaws.

The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va. Tuesday, April 9, 1912

ALLEN KINSMAN GIVES NO INFORMATION OF FUGITIVES

Posses Watch Basket of Food Under Laurel Bus All Day But Out- laws Fail to Come for it.

Hillsville, Va., April 8. -This day was the twenty-sixth since the Allen gang shot up the Carroll county courthouse and Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards, two of the assassins, are still at large. Another day of raiding in the Blue Ridge promised a clue but did not pan out. On one of the lonely roads the posse found a basket of food under a laurel bush with a white handkerchief tied upon it. The posses watched the point all day expecting that the outlaws would appear to get the rations, but the maneuver was a vain one. The posse also raided a long cabin near Sidna Allen’s home without result. Detective Payne returned today after meeting Beck Allen, one of the clan, who gave up no information of fugitives.