The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-05-16
SISTER: OF Dead s.
GIRL ON STAND
WYTHEVuLE. VA

II is thelr purpose TO put Floyd Allen
or the other prisoners on the witness
stand. Mr.. Willis said Friday
that really he and his associates did
not know what they would do in this
matter. He explained that a decision
, could be reached only after the other
witnesses had given their testimony
and their evidence had been weighed.
IL is said among those who profess
10 know that Claude and Friel Allen
will testify today. This prediction is
based on information gathered at the
Jail The prosecution can only guess
what the other side will do. 1t is
not posted as to their action, but is
prepared to meet any contingency
Should Floyd Allen testify it is like
" that he will be kept on the stand
for several hours. And it is said on
good authority that the States law
yerS will ask him some embarrassing
questions designed to show his hos
tility TO Judge Massie. These ques-
tiOns couldn't be asked on direct ex-
animation. but would be permissible
on cross examination.
First Woman on the Stand
The first witness called at this
mornings session Of court was Mrs.
/ David Ayers. sister-in-law of Betty
Ayers, the girl killed in the court
room shooting. Witness was with the
young girl when she received her
death wound. Mrs. Ayers said that
l
room.
This witness was the first woman
| to appear on the stand in the trial
Of Floyd Allen. She is about twenty
five years old, thin faced and angu-
lar This morning she wore a big
slat bonnet, a lilac calico shirtwaist
and a Bingham skirt Around her
neck was a black velvet collar orna-
mented by a string of beads. Mrs.
Ayers can be called neither pretty
&c
are red from labor, she Is a frail
1 looking woman. In a low voice she
told Of the panic that followed the
shooting, and described the wound
which proved fatal to Betty Ayers.
Mrs. Ayers said the bullet which hit
Betty struck her in the left side. She
did not appear to have a clear idea
of all that occurred. for she, as we'll
as Betty. was bent on flight when
the first signs Of shooting occurred.
The two women were much bufTeted
about by the men seeking TO escape.
( Mrs. Ayers. under the circumstances,
could not definitely indicate from
what direction the shot came. They
We're surrounded by men when Betty
was struck.
It may be assumed from what this
witness said that the shot which hit
Betty Ayers came from the direction
of Clerk Goad's desk, though she was
10y no means positive as 10 this Her
D
ing glance.
Husband Follows Wife.
David Ayers, husband Of the wo-
man witness. was the next TO testify.
iIc said that on the morning Of March
18th. before the shooting. he OBJ
served one mana deputy sheriff
who had three pistols. The officer in
question was a clean shaver young
man. lie had one in a scabbard. and
two i'm his hip pockets. Ayers. on
van inn ion H.
lively that the man was a deputy
sheriff. nor was his description of
individual a clear one He did not
know the name Of the walking arse
called the supposed deputy. Ayers
would not admit that the person in
question was Friel Allen. Asked how
he came TO be n witness Ayers. point
ing towards Attorney willis, OF the
defense. said: THAT there fellow
asked me-"
DO you know the difference be-
tween duck and corduroy?" asked
Lawyer Willis. re-eXamining the man
a moment later.
somewhat puzzled; but duck is
white"
DO you know whether that mans
trousers were duck or nOt?"
NO"
IHusviIe JaiIer Next.
Deputy Sheriff r. J. Burnett. the
Hmsvine jailer. was next examined.
Did you have any conversation
with Floyd Allen and Sidna Allen on
the morning of March 14th in refer
enee to taking care of their horses ?"
Where did you see Allen after the
shootnS?"
He was lying in a stable shed"
How was he dressed?"
~ couldn't say"
What became Of his coat?"
Mr.. Bob Blankenship said he gave
II to the detectives"
Who helped to carry him from the
stable TO Hairs hotel?"
II don't know"
do YOU know how he was carried?"
DO YOU know a deputy sheriff named
Dalton"
Yes.
rs he clean shaven?"
| What is his fgure?"
! He is low and heavy set"
! How was he dressed that day?"
! 81 can't say"
How does he usually dress; what
/ kind of pants?"
! Il can't say"
Where did you see Dalton that
/ morning.
I can't recollect seeing him that
Did he sometimes wear light cordu-
/ roy pants?"
! Z really couldn't say. He may have
] Hdu lNeiu on ana not Know 1t.
| Witness failed to answer the In
! terrogatories Of the defense in the way
! Allen lawyers had expected.
Judge Hairston said he had been
| taken by surprise. Evidently the de-
! Tense expected to prove that Deputy
! Dalton was the walking arsenal
| Ayers had referred to.
! BY the prosecution:
! Dave Ayers has described a certain
| deputy as goOd-looking, clean shaven
man. Dalton has mustache hasn't
! hep"
/ Il cant say"
! witness Burnett proved most I'M
satisfactory as witness. He wasn't
! certain about anything.
! Mr.. Willis announced that his side
wanted Floyd Aliens coat and the pis-
! tolls OF Claude and Sidna Edwards
which are now in the custody of the
state. The prosecution interposed no
| objections.
County Treasurer ]. 3. Marshall
was questioned concerning the pistols
Of Commonwealth Attorney Foster
and Sheriff Webb. He examined the
weapon of the latter a few minutes
after the shooting. 1t contained five
bullets and was a, seven-shooter, he
believed. He picked it up in the