The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-05-09

j
place. You might shoot down the
Commemorative Attorney and the
speaker who addresses you. but others
would take their places, and on and
on until the crack Of doom.
| Honor. integrity, justice and law
viii exist with the human race. They
viii stand while vice and murder will
so down.
I'VE charge that the prisoner at the
bar is the arch conspirator Of the
whole thing. He led his sons and his
nephews. He is the chief conspirator,
We think, and. according to the proof
he planned and he instigated the af-
, fair. He has inveigled himself. his
sons and his brothers and his nephews
all into the great trouble. so that he
has shot his property away, himself
| a way, his sons away, his nephews
away. All this lies at his door,"
The prisoner WINGED perceptibly I'M
der Wysor's terrible eXcoriation, which
lasted over fifty minutes.
Ma Willis Speaks.
r. II. Willis began the opening
statement for the defense shortly after
II o'clock. He says that he and his
associates, as we'll as the attorneys for
the State, regarded the Hillsvilie az
fair as a frightful crime. But, after
inQuiring into the facts" added Mr..
Willis, I'VE considered it as much our
duty 10 represent these men, whom we
believe TO have been grossly wronged
as Mr.. WysOr considered it his duty TO
represent the State.
BlameS the Newspapers
Mr.. Willis declared that all Of the
accused had been the victims of gross
xaggerauons-that they had been
represented as outlaws and despera-
does, when, in fact, they were law
a abiding, home-loving citizens of sta
Dlhty and substance. Incidentally Mr..
Willis paid some rather doubtful
compliments to the newspapers. in
. O
II don't blame them
much" he added. 1T is encumbent
upon the press to create sensations for
the public. 1t is the way to conduct
a modern newspaper"
Referring to Mr.. Wysor the eloquent
young attorney said that Mr.. Wysor
had ''vociferously and loudly de-
claimed statements by which he Wilt
hes this defendant"
Mr.. Willis said that although his
client is charged with the murder of
Miss Nancy Elizabeth Ayers. il was
either Clerk Dexter Goad or his deputy
whose bullets killed her
They say these men were guilty Of
conspiracy to shoot up the court
ROOM" scornfully exclaimed Willis.
land yet, forsooth. they didn't have a
round of cartridges to load their guns
with. We admit that Floyd Allen was
not on friendly terms with Dexter
Goad and his deputy. The evidence
had guns in their pockets. 1t is going
to be shown that preparations had
been made for the Aliens"
Gun on Hip.
little later, referring to the things
Immediately leading up to the shoot
ing, Mr.. Willis declared: Floyd AL
len did not have gun in the inside
pocket of his sweater, as has been
alleged. He drew his gun from his
hip pocket, and the evidence is going
to show that he didn't draw his pis-
tol until he had been shot
Il am going to ask you to remem-
Der one thing, and remember it we'll"
he said. The State has had all the
resources of the State Of Virginia in
gathering their testimony. They have
had absolutely at their command the
Baldwin Felts Detective Agency, arm
ed men able to go out into the coun-
try and say to this man, We want
you, or to that one, You stop talk
ing. These were knowing men
these detectives. Martial law was not
that 1t practically prevailed in the
county. The Aliens had no detective
agency at their command; no trained
Officers TO get them evidence"
Mr.. Willis ended his speech about
11:45.
First Witness Is Judge BoIen.
Counsel now retired for a few min
utes to confer, and upon their return
Judge D. w. Bolen, aged siXty-one, a
resident OF Hillsville. was called to
the witness chair.
He was present at the tragedy The
shooting occurred March 14th. Floyd
Allen had been on trial since the pre-
ceding Tuesday for interfering with
the sheriff. Witness gave many de-
tails with which the public is already
acquainted.
He said Floyd was found guilty and
his punishment fixed at one year in
the penitentiary. A defect in the
Jury's finding caused an amendment
of the verdict Judge Bolen and Law
yer Upton, who represented the ac-
cused, moved to set aside the verdict
The motion was set for argument
the next day. Judge Massie declined
a request for bail. A moment later
the judge said: THE sheriff will take
charge of the prisoner"
The witness continued: Floyd AL
len arose, saying something witness
did not understand. He seemed inco-
herent. Then he seemed to recover
his speech and he said. I just tell
you 1 amt going and when he said
around the bar and he opened his
vest or sweater in a very leisurely
manner. This made the people clear
out. First 1 thought the prisoner in
tended to jump out from behind the
bar. Then 1 saw his son Victor"
Says Claude Fired FIRST.
Witness said Claude Allen fired the !
first shot. Il saw him raise his pis-
tol and fire. The pistol ranged to-
wards Judge Massie and the smoke
settled down between the balustrades
and me. Another shot the second,
came from the same direction. don't
know who fired it. A line of dust
seemed to rise from Judge Massie's
shoulder at the first shot. Masse at
the time was looking at Floyd Allen.
He seemed to shudder and began to
turn around in the direction of the
shot"
Witness said that Sidna Allen, Vic
tor and Floyd then opened a rapid
fire, which was returned by the Off
GERS. Floyd Allen fell over on Judge
Bolen, who entreated him to get up.
A little later, after the confusion had
subsidized, witness went to
Judge Massie.
The judge. who was then lying con-
torted and crumpled up, said, Il am
shot" He spoke as though short of
breath.
Floyd Advanced.
Judge Hairston, cross-examining