Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-18
Supreme Courtof Virginia
Refuses to Reopen Case
of SIayers.
is FIRST BLOW AT GANG
LaWIeSSneSS of Clan Has for
Years Terrorized People
of State.

Richmond, Va, Nov. 1S-The su-
preme court OF Virginia today refused
a new trial to Floyd Allen and his son,
Claude Swanson Allen. The men are
condemned to die in the electric chair
next Friday for the murder OF Off
cials Of the Carroll county court at
Eillsville March II.
The execution of the Aliens will
mark the first blow OF justice upon the
notorious Allen clansmen whose law
lessness for years held the natives Of
the Virginia mountains In terror and
eliminated early this year in the
shooting up Of the Carroll county court
when five persons lost their lives. The
news OF the crime sent a thrill of hor-
roi throughout the nation and the
shocked Virginia authorities moved ex-
peditiously TO bring the criminals TO
justice.
On the morning of March IA, Floyd
Allen stood before the bar OF the Car
Tol! county court house at Hillsville
20 receive sentence for his part in
aiding the escape of another noun
taineer from the custody of the sher-
iff. a crowd packed the little court
room. for the character OF the pris-
ouer was we'll known. Members Of
the Allen family were known to be in
court and trouble was thought immi-
nent.
SHOOT FOLLOWING SENTENCE.
The jury having announced a ver-
dict OF guilty. Judge Thornton l.. Mas
81. sentenced the prisoners TO one
year at hard labor. With the last
word OF the sentence, a crash OF fire
arms broke from the spectators
benches. Floyd Allen, the prisoner,
with a smoking revolver in his hand,
lsaped from the prisoners dock and
soined the rush of the gang toward
the door.
Nnen the courtroom was cleared
the body of Judge Massie, riddled
with bullets, was found lying over his
desk: Commonwealth Attorney VII
liam Foster and Sheriff L. F. Webb
lay dead on the floor; Augustus Fow-
Ter. jurer. and Elizabeth Ayes, a
SPECTATOR. we're bleeding from wounds
which proved fatal the next day: and
Dexter Goad. clerk OF the COURT, was
shot through the neck. Goad was one
q the principal witnesses for the
state at the conviction of the pris
oters.
When the court room was examin
ed later Il was found that more thar
two hundred shots had been fired
Twenty-seven shots took effect upon
those killed or wounded.
SEARCH IN MOUNTAINS.
An army OF detectives and newspa
per correspondents soon was securing
the muddy roads of the mountains IL
search for the prisoners. Floyd Allen
the cause OF the shooting, who haC
hten wounded by Sheriff Webb In chs
courtroom was taken the day OF th'
crime. together with his son. Victor
Allen. and his nephew. Bird Marion.
Sidna Edwards, a nephew of the AL
len brothers was captured in a hut II
the mountains March %. Edwards
Who is lame, had eaten nothing fo
several days and was very weak wheI
found. Claude Swanson Allen. anoth
er son OF Floyd Allen. walked up 4
posse in the mountains and sur
Tedered himself on March 2S. Tn,
next day Friei Allen. youngest mem
Ter Of the gang, WIS taken at his faith
er's home.
Floyd Allen. charged specifcall,
with the killing OF Commonwealth Al
first degree murder on May II, an'
sentenced TO death. Claude Allen
his son, was tried on a charge of kill
ing Judge Massie. and convicted o
murder in the second degree. Tn
jury recommended a sentence OF i
years in the penitentiary. The stat
demanded a new trial and a verdic
OF guilty in the first degree was rt
turned and he was sentenced to death
GIVEN LONG TERM.
Friel Allen pleaded guilty OF mul
Gel in the second degree and on Aus
ust IA was sentenced TO IS years 4
prison. Three days later SidnA Et
wards pleaded guilty 20 a like charg
end was given a sentence Of is year.
Victor Allen was acquitted Of a charg
Of having participated in the mui
dtrs.
Sidna Allen. brother OF Floyd Ale
end recognized leader OF the clan. an
his nephew. Wesley Edwards, elude
pursuit for many weeks, and ever
tually escaped out OF the Virgini
Mountains and made their way ives
They were captured at Des Moinei
Iowa. Sept. Il. as the result Of a Low
fNair OF young Edwards. A lette
ftcm him was lost by Maude Iroler {
Mount Airy, y. C., and detectives 70