The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-11-26
WALTER ALLEN LEAVES PRISON.
Young White Man Receives Thanks
giving Gift From States Chief
Executive.

Columbia, Nov. 24.-As Thanksgiv-
ing gift, Gov Ansel today paroled
Waiter Allen, the celebrated young
mountaineer from Greenville county,
who, while serving a life sentence in
the State penitentiary, escaped and
then voluntarily returned. He was
convicted in 1901, in Greenville coun-
ty, Of murder and was sentenced to
life.
Allen killed Henry Trammell, a
neighbor. Trammell, a bachelor, went
to Aliens house in Aliens absence
and made an insulting remark to Mrs.
Allen, then young and pretty wo-
man. Mrs. Allen also testified that
Trammell attempted to catch hold of
her, but she broke away from him. On
her husbands return she told him of
the visit of Trammell and he went in
search Of Trammell. A difficulty en-
sued, in which Trammell was killed.
Appeals for Pardon.
On the trial of Allen in the fall OF
1901, Judge Townsend presided and
Mr.. A. H. Dean, for Solicitor Boggs,
prosecuted the case. When he was
sent to the penitentiary Allen. soon at
tracted the favorable attention of the
prison authorities and was made
trusty, frequently driving the buggy
of Superintendent Griffith and having
charge of the horses at the peniten-
tiary. In 1907, at the October meeting
of the board of pardons, petition
for Aliens pardon was presented, haV-
ing the endorsement of Judge Town
send. Among those who had written
strong personal appeals to tire COVER
nor in Aliens behalf we? the late
James L. Orr and ". E. Beattie, of
Greenville.
Capt. Blacks Efforts.
The first record of Aliens efforts to
get pardon are found in a letter from
Capt. ". D. Black, then captain of
the guard at the penitentiary, in which
he says to Solicitor julius E. Boggs
that Aliens friends would get up
Rumerously signed petition provided
the solicitor would agree not to en-
sorse it unfavorably. This letter from
Black was sent by Boggs to Allen with
the following endorsement:
ssDear Allen: If you can get the en-
aorsement set forth in this letter from
your friend Black, I shall be pleased
10 make favorable report. I send
YOU his letter, as it may give you
pleasure to know your friends eff
forts" This was dated July 3, 1905,
when Allen had served three and one
half years of life sentence.
Capt. D. J. Griffith, in a personal let
ter to Gov. Hayward, stated:
- Capt. Grifith's Letter.
ssWa1ter Allen was sent here from
Greenville county December l, 1901,
and has proved a most excellent prls-
ener. Has obeyed all rules of this in
stitution to the letter in every parti-
eular. I would respectfully add that
his morals have been good. He has
never been guilty Of profanity or other
immoral conduct while here
- Or account of the failure of his at
torney to present certain papers to
the board at that meeting the board OF
pardons did not act on the petition at
the October, 1907, meeting. Had they
done so it is probable that pardon
would have been recommended. Mean
while Allen received letter from his
young wife, stating that she was i'll
and that she wanted to see him once
more before she died.
Escaped and Returned.
1t was easy enough for Allen to
escape. He was a trusty, and at day
break he simply walked out Of the
prison barn yard, along with Jim Sud-
dath, another mountaineer, who had
been sent down from Greenville for
murder. That was on October IS,
1907.
A reward was offered for Aliens
capture, but it was not necessary. In
a few days Capt. Griffith received a
letter from Aliens wife, who was then
working in cotton mill in Greenville
county, saying that she had heard
Walter had escaped and that when he
came to her she would send him back
to the prison. She did so.
Allen returned within few days to
the Denitentiary and again donned the