Two Woman Added to Death List

Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Saturday Morning, March 16, 1912

TWO WOMEN ADDED TO HILLSVILLE'S DEATH LIST

Wife of Sidna Allen, Trying to Defend Her Outlaw Husband, Killed in Pitched Battle With Officers

NANCY AYRES VICTIM OF AN ACCIDENTAL SHOT

Storming of Desperado's House Was Next Thing to a Bombardment. Two of Chiefs of Mountain Out- Law Band That Rode Down On Carroll County Court House Thursday. Both Severely Wounded. Are In Captivity, But Eighteen Well Armed, Are Still at Large.

FLOYD ALLEN CUTS THROAT BUT WOUND IS NOT SERIOUS

Hillsville, Va., March 15--The end of the day's chase of the Hillsville raiders brought the death list of the court house tragedy and its sequel up to five.

Sidna and Floyd Allen, two of the chiefs of the band which rode down on the Carroll county court house yesterday and assassinated the judge, the prosecutor and sheriff, are in captivity, both wounded severely. Sidna Allen's wife is dead, shot in a pitched battle with a posse in the mountains while helping to defend her outlaw husband.

The fifth death was that of Nancy Ayres, a nineteen-year-old girl, accidentally shot during the fusillade in the court house yesterday.

All the other members of the gang, probably eighteen, are up in the mountains off toward the North Carolina line, well armed, well supplied, and determined not to be taken.

The storming of Sidna Allen's house late today was the next thing to a bombardment. The posse trailed through the brush four miles up the ridge and surrounded the cabin in a grove. Allen was barricaded, well supplied with rifles and ammunition and determined not to be taken.

The storming of Sidna Allen's house late today was the next thing to a bombardment. The posse trailed through the brush four miles up the ridge and surrounded his cabin in a grove. Allen was barricaded, well supplied with rifles and ammunition which he had brought from a store in which he was a partner. From behind stumps, rocks and trees and other natural fortresses of the mountainside, the posse blazed at the house and Allen blazed at the posse as fast as the women of the family could load the rifles. In lull the posse rushed the house, broke down the door and found Allen's wife shot dead and Allen himself groaning in a heap, bleeding profusely.

"You got me because I couldn't fight no longer," he is reported to have said to the men who brought him back to Hillsville, more dead than alive.

Attorney General Williams, of the state, who is here tonight, declared that Sidna Allen's bullets killed Judge Massie on the bench yesterday.

Floyd Allen, the cause of the tragedy, was taken to the lockup this morning under a heavy guard and immediately whipped out a pocketknife and slashed his throat. His wounds however, are not serious. Allen's son, Victor, Cabell Strickland and Byrd Marion were also locked up as witnesses.

Juror Fowler, who was wounded in the firing, is not expected to live through the night.

The wounds of Jurors Kane and Worrell and Clerk Goad are not serious.

Tonight the manhunt is in abeyance.

With the arrival of help, confidence began to take the place of the terror, which prevailed, unrestrained for twenty-four hours. Judge Staples, designated by Governor Mann to come here and hold court, took the bench and summoned a special jury to indict the murderers. The reorganization of the court, which was almost wiped out yesterday by the assassins, had a great influence. Early in the day a report came from Mt. Airy, N.C., that the Allen gang had raided a hardware store there and stocked up with guns and bullets. That probably is partially true. Sidna Allen was part owner of the store and the gang probably found supplies ready.

Reports have been coming from the mountain all day that the outlaws have recruited a big band in their defense. Officers think this not unlikely. A lawless element in which the Allen's were ringleaders has ruled the mountain fastnesses for years. There is a saying among revenue officers that every pine tree shelters a whisky still. A battle between law and crime is sure to draw recruits here ready for any attempt to take off the two prisoners.

The outlaws could not have picked a better time to make a stand against their pursuers. Every mountain brook is a little creek; every creek is a small river. The heavy rains of the last few weeks have melted the mountain snows, washed out the roads, carried off the bridges and made mud knee deep. The hardiest ponies flounder up the grades with great effort. With daylight the pursuit will be renewed with reinforcements that are still coming from the countryside.

Features of the tragedy have been so many that in all probability they never will all be told. One came to light today. Walter Tipton, a lawyer, who was defending Floyd Allen in court yesterday, was a brother in law of Commonwealth's Attorney Foster, who was killed. Tipton stood beside his relative, when Allen, poking his gun under Tipton's arms, shot down Foster. Who killed Sheriff Webb is not definitely known.

Detective T. L. Felts, of Bluefield, W. Va., and twenty picked men, reached here today and took charge of the legal machinery.

They formally arrested Floyd Allen, the desperado who started the murder in court, and his son, Victor, and immediately instituted search for the seventeen mountaineers who shot up the court room.

A mountaineer named Strickland, who last night paraded the village streets, showing firearms, was arrested.

"Everything looks like trouble," and Felts, "I am prepared for anything."

Funeral of Judge Massie

Pulaski, Va., March 15.--The funeral of Judge Massie will be held tomorrow morning. Short services will be held at his home in Pulaski tomorrow morning at nine o'clock and his body will be taken on the Norfolk and Western train, No. 14, to Lynchburg for interment.

Four Under Arrest

The following message was received yesterday at the Bluefield offices of the Baldwin-Felts detective agency: "Have four men under arrest and in jail, including Floyd Allen. Wound not fatal. He got hold of knife and attempted suicide by cutting his throat in jail. Also hope it is not fatal. Woman who was shot in fight yesterday died a few minutes ago. One of the jurors expected to die any minute. Four or five connected with the murder still at large. These parties raided hardware store at Mount Airy last night, stealing all firearms and ammunition. Supposed are arming in mountains. "T.L.FELTS."