Norwich bulletin., 1912-03-15
Virginia Governor Also Orders Militia to be Ready
to Pursue Band Of Assassins
BLOODY WORK in CARROLL COUNTY COURTROOM
Judge Shot Down He Was About Pronounce Sentence
On Member of Band-Prosecutor and Sheriff Also Kill
ed and Clerk of Court and Jurymen Wounded Outlaws
Escape to the Mountains on Pones-Prisoner Still Held

tlllSN1le, g., March l4-A troop OF
mountain outlaws rode down out of
the Blue Ride today TO the Carroll
county courthouse here and assassi-
nate6 the judge upon the bench, the
prosecutor before the bar and the
sheriff at the door in less time than
1t takes otel it. while sentence was
being pronounced upon Floyd Allen,
one of their number. When the crack
Of the rifles died away, only one
member of the human fabric of the
court-Dexter Croad, the clerk-was
alive and he had been wounded. Jury
men and onlOolers were struck by fly
ing bullets. but none was wounded Sc
riously
Outlaws Take to Mountains.
Tonight the outlaws, with a good
days start. are up on the mountains,
with a citizens posse little organized,
ifs and deputies from neighboring
counties cannot reach here before
early morning. A special train to-
night from Roanoke brought twenty
detectives to Galax, the nearest rail
way station, nine miles away. 1t will
be Midnight bef1ie they can get away
over the mountain roads, hub deep in
spring mud. 1t probably will be day
light before forces can be assembled.
Eeward of $4,000 offered.
A reward of $1,000 for the capture
of the band, made today by Gov
ernor Man, was increased tonight to
$4,000. The governors proclamation
states that $500 will be paid for indi-
Tidu0l members of the band, taken
dead or alive. Capt. F. w. Devant Of
the Second Virginia regiment, has
been ordered to come here with men
twenty rifles and ammunition. The
shooting paralyzed Hillsville with ter
ror. There was not a man to give an
order, or organize q pursuit. Citizens
fled to places of safety and mothers
gathered up their children while the
assassins RODE out of town.
Story of the Slaughter.
Judge Thornton /. Massie rose from
his chair as the bullets struck him and
fell heavily across his desk. Common
wealth's Attorney William Foster,
with half dozen bullets in his brain,
crumpled down TO the floor. Sheriff
Lewis Webb was shot and killed as he
reached for his revolver Bullets
grazed Clerk Goad and in the confus-
ion he was reported to have been
killed Jurors who had been slightly
wounded We're reported dead, and by
that indefinable method of communi-
cation which prevails in the wood
land county, reports Of wholesale
slaughter spread through the coun-
tryside.
Arrested for Helping Prisoner to Es.
cape.
Floyd Allen was before the>bar this
morning. convicted of taking a pris-
oner from deputy sheriff Allen had
struck the sheriff over the head with
rH Of v.fF1
had escaped. Sheriff Webb had gone
up into the mountains and arrested
Allen, despite dire warnings of what
such action might mean. Attorney
Foster had prosecuted him fearlessly
and mOuntainear ar jury gathered from
the inland section for no man in Car
roll county cared to sit in the trial of
an Allen, had convicted him.
Courtroom Crowded.
This morning his sentence attract
CD an unusually large gathering to the
Quaiat cid red brick courthouse which
stangs On green square, well in the
center of the village Those who cuold
not get In the small room peered
through the windows opened to the
first days Of spring. Just as Allen
was about to be called up for sentence,
his two br3thers, Sidney and Jack,
al the head of a troop OF twenty
pou1taineers, rode up to the court-
house. Their hardy ponies, spleashe I
with mud. testified to a long ride
through the IIlls.
Outlaws Remain Near Door.
~ Two br, Tiers and their compan-
ions, some carrying rifles and the 9th :
ers revolvers. crowded into the court
room and stood behind the rail and
about the door Floyd Allen, tall and
Saunt much the familiar type OF
mOuntaineer, was in the dock. In his
youth he was fire figure Of strength
and even at fifty he is no weakling.
Judge Massie mounted the bench and
Prosecutor Foster moved sence upon
Allen. who stood up. There was q
shutting Of feet and a general move
ment among the mountdineers in the
back of the room, but no unusual sign
10 foreten the tragedy then in the
minds of every one Of them.
Prisoner Leaps from Dock.
The usual legal fornalities over
Judge Massie began pronouncing SEN
tence. The last words which fell fror,
his lips preciiitated the murders.
'one year at hard labor"
Before the last word was uttered
the toiley began Allen with an oath
thai lie would never so to prison
sprang e.t of the prisoners dock as
Sudge Nassie collapsed upon the
aen.h. Another roar Of shots anc
fToss, Gror Foster was on the flool
2 q heap. Sheriff Webb was spring
ag forward for his prisoner when the
Leaf found him.
Outlaws Escape on Ponies.
Tnen. holding the panic stricken ju.
rors and onlOOkers at bay, the assas.
s.rs backed out of the courthouse ans
scruss the green 10 the troop of po.
nies. In a second they were galiop.
Ing ike made through sn aroused vii.
iege and Oft 10 the hills. With then
the essassins half carried, haif- drag
red one Cf their number wounded. i
Is said that this was Sidney Alien,
one Of the brOthars. Three Jurors
Fowler. Paddle and Kane, and A. z
HeWiett, Bruce HIaJshall and gtsar
Worrell, bystanders We're wounded
Prisoner Has Several Wounds.
Floyd Allen, the prisoner at tn,
bar was shot several times prebabl1
not fatally. Sheriff Webb's deputy
with country folk, is guarding Allen
II IS reported that friends may atfe.r1D
to rescue him tonight.
Tbs quiet of Hillsville has neye
been disturbed by such volleys ant
several hundred men, women ant
children rushed to the courthouse
Webb and Foster were stone dead
Judge MassiA died in less than al
hauEs