Floyd and his family initially escaped. Because Virginia law at the time said deputies' law enforcement powers depended on their sheriff being alive, the assistant court clerk S. Floyd Landreth telegraphed Governor William Hodges Mann, who sent deputies employed by the Baldwin–Felts Detective Agency by train from Roanoke.
Floyd and his fam?ily initially escaped. Because Virginia law at the time said deputies' law enforc?ement powers depen:ded on their sheriff being alive, the assistant court clerk S. Floyd Landreth telegraphe!d Governor William Hodges Mann, who sent deputies employed by .the Baldwin–Felts Detective Agency by train from Roanoke.