Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-05-19
4 TRUSTING GIRL FELL
VICTIM TO A william.
JUSTICE ovERTAKEs THE sEDUC-
Err, AND HE WILL PAY A
SEVERE PENALTY.
SECOND DEGREE MURDER,
THE VERDICT OF THE JURY
AGAINST THE DESTROYER
OF INNOCENT LIFE.
Special to the Register.

HINTON, w. Va, May 1S.-One of the
most sensational murder trials that has
been upon the criminal calendar of this
county for many years was concluded
this evening, when the jury returned a
verdict of murder in the second degree
against Henry Allen for the poisoning
of Louvenia Smi.I, on the 30th day of
May, 1900, from the effects of which she
died on the 9Th of June
From the evidence introduced in the
case it appears that some years prior
to that time Allen and Miss Smith had
been very intimate and close friends,
having been reared together from child
hood, and that Allen had betrayed the
confidence placed in him by the girl
while she was yet a mere child of six
teen. A child was born to the young
girl, and upon rumors of threatening
Va, where he has since been engaged in
teaching school at Mellow and other
points near Covington.
1t was also shown upon the trial that
in February and March, of last year, he
began a correspondence with Miss Smith
in which he persistently held out to her
inducements to come to him, telling her
that she would have nice time and he
would get her an easy position in a re-
spectacle family, and enclosed her a
sum of money sufficient to pay all ex-
penses.
The girl,
Believing His Promises,
upon the pretense of visiting her sister
in Anderson, w. Va, left her home and
went to Covington, where Allen met
her, and much to his discomfort found
that she had brought their child with
her
He claims that he sent her alone to
a hotel, telling her chat it would be i'm
possible for him to secure her place
with the child, and that she must re-
turn and leave the child in the care of
her sister or someone else near her
home in Anderson. and that he would
bear all the expense of the support of
the child.
Miss Allen returned on the following
day, and remained at her home for
about two months, when she again,
yielding to his pleadings, returned to
Covington, where he again met her, and
secured her a position as servant girl.
1t was only short time after her ar
rival until she became aware that she
would again become mother, and Wis
TIED several physicians in Covington.
urbn onIr-
AS to what she then did and the
knowledge of Allen as to her condition,
is for the most part matter of con-
lecture, but the State proved that on
the evening on which she was taken
with her fatal illness she. in company
with Henry Allen, was seen to leave
Covington and
Enter Grove of Pines
about one-half mile beyond the cor
porate limits, where they remained for
thirty minutes or more and then soon
after her return she was taken violent
ly sick, and that during the night she
was delivered of a feotus, which she
endeavored to conceal by placing the
same in a valise.
She stubbornly fought against reveal
ing to any one at Covington her true
condition and at once returned to her
parents, where she was given medical
attention, but it came too late, as puer-
peral fever had already set in. which
within few days later had DESTROYED
her life.
At home, as at Covington. she main
tanned strict silence and would re-
veal nothing as to her true condition
even when her physician told her that
ne knew what was wrong. but finally,
as the shadow of death came upon her.
she called her mother to her bedside.
and in her dying agony. exclaimed:
oh, mama, l am burning up. / know
l cannot live. Henry Allen poisoned
me, and | am going to die"
These words were repeated in the
presence of her mother and sister about
an hour before her death.
This. together with the letters. and
the witness who saw Miss Smith and
Allen go into the grove near Covington.
was about the
Only Positive Evidence
that could be obtained on behalf of the
State, but the chain of circumstances
was woven so closely about him. that
the conclusion that Allen had given the
girl a drug, for unlawful purpose was
irresistible
Allen is a man Of about "a years OF
age, with an intelligent countenauce
and rather good looking. and it has de-
veloped since the revelation OF this
crime that Miss Smith is not the only
girl that has been the victim of MS
lacivious practice
Miss smith was Of a poor. but well
respected family, and so far as known.
she was without blame. except when
her name was connected with that OF
Allen. who seemed to have power 10
control her every action.
The fact that the jury believed that
the drug given by Allen was given pri-
marily with the intention of destroying
the unborn child and not to kill the
mother was the only grounds upon
which leniency was extended him. and
even in the face of that doubt as the
original intention nine Of the iurymen
stood firm for some time for a verdict
of murder in the first degree.
The case has lasted for over five DAYS.
and the interest manifested was of the
deepest, and during the closing argu-
ment on behalf OF the prisoner Frank
Lively and John Osborne, and on be-
half OF the State by Judge A. r. Hefin