The Washington herald., 1912-03-16
WIFE SHOT DEAD
DEFENDING
Continued from ras. one.

the boys execute. That is why the main
force Of the law is riding after the fugi-
tives who crossed the border this morn
ing.
''They viii get them" said an old
mountaineer to-day, ''and THEY will get
THEM"
It was not publicly reported until this
morning that a young woman was among
the victims Of the desperate fussillade
in the courthouse yesterday. She was
Miss Bette Ayers, eighteen years old,
one Of the prettiest girls Of the town,
and In no way connected with the fued-
lists A stray bullet happened TO strike
her. She died last midnight.
Town Is Helpless.
This town is in a state OF helpless
calm. The name of the Aliens is name
cogent of peril The townspeople are
simply waiting. Some of them will join
posses II authorities are here to organ
lie posses. But none will take the initia-
tive. States Attorney General Williams
and Corporation Judge W. r. Staples ar
rived tonight, and the legal control OF
the village was resumed in a measure.
Meanwhile, only the private detectives,
inspired by the rewards offered by Gov.
Mann-$S00 a head, dead or alve-are
doing real work. .....
A guard of twelve armed men was
placed tonight around the jail where the
two Aliens and Strickland are confined.
The whole object OF the shooting yester-
day was to set Floyd Allen free. That
failed and another attack is expected, In
spite of the fact that most Of the clan
is completely occupied now in the saving
of their own skins.
There is a report that Floyd Allen tried
to kill himself by slashing his throat
with a pocketknife in Jail to-day. His
friends say that Floyd did not do II.
Still the report is mentioned IN the fol-
lowing telegram sent by Detective Felts
to Baldwin headquarters in Roanoke:
Have four men under arrest and in
jail, including Floyd Allen. His wound
not fatal. He got hold OF a knife and
attempted suicide by cutting his throat
in jail. Also hope II is not fatal. Woman
who was shot in the fight yesterday died
a few minutes ago. One Of the Jurors
is expected to die any minute. -Four or
FIVE others connected with the murder
are still at large. These parties raided a
hardware store at Mount Airy. n. c., last
night, stealing all the firearms and am
munition. Supposed to be arming in the
mountains.
IT. L. FELTs.
Commanding men in Carroll
Describes the Killing.
The remains of Judge Massie were re-
moved to his home at Pulaski last night
and will probably be sent to Lynchburg
for burial. A son of Judge Thornton
Massie, who witnessed the terrible trag-
edy. described the killing as follows:
Floyd Allen. his brother, and his
father came into court together. All had
been drinking heavily. Barely a moment
after court had convened Judge Massie
called Floyd before him and sentenced
him to one year in the penitentiary.
You -. you can't send me to jail.
yelled Floyd, and at the same moment
he drew a revolver and fired point blank
at the Judge. Two bullets struck the
judge, one in the head, the other in the
chest. He fell forward over his desk.
THE sheriff and the Commonwealth s
attorney both leaped at Floyd. but be-
fore they reached him both were killed
by Floyd's brother and father.
with revolvers leveled at the crowd.
the three Aliens then began backing to-
ward the court room door. Several of
the spectators in the court room opened
fire on them and a moment later Floyd
Allen fell with three bullets in his body.
His father and brother then turned and
ran. They reached the door in safety
and closed II behind them. Once outside,
they leaped on horses and, escaped.