The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
Wesley Edwards Given 27 Years for His Part in
 Hillsville Tragedy
MANN RESPITES
 FLOYD AND CLAUDE
Attorneys Claim to Have Discovered New Evidence Which Will War rant Granting New Trial.
 All Other Cases Settled

Wyethvlle. Va, December ll-final settlement of all the cases resulting froF the killing of five persons in the ililf vile. Va. courthouse by the Allen gnri on March H. last was reached this afteE noon, when sidua Allen pleaded suill to second degree murder for knlni Sheriff Webb and Wesley Edward pleaded guilty to three charges pendiH against him.
 Thirty-ilve years in Che peuttentiaAF is the penalty sidna Allen will pay for the part he played in the shooting. Al lens nephew. Wesley Edwards, will spend 27 years in the penitentiary.
 These two sentences were the result of a compromise this afternoon, follow ing verdict of voluntary mansaughter in the ease of sldna Allen for the iaur- der of commonwealths attorney. Wti- liam NJ. Foster, the jury fixed the pen alty in that case at five years imprison- menA Allen already had been found guilty of second degree murder at u for mer trial for the killing of Judge Thorn ton l. Massie for which he bad been sentenced to b years in the penltentiary. and the other indictment pending against him for the murder of Sheriff Webb was compromised by letting him plead guilty to second degree murder. and take a 15 years sentence. the combined sentences making 8 years Three indictments against Wesley Edwards also were ccm- promised. he taking sentence of nine years imprisonment on each.
 Conspiracy Charge Not Sustained
 In the second trial of sldna Allen. which ended today, nine of the jurors on the first ballot stood for acquittal and the other three for murder in the second de- gree Following their discharge the jurors in an interview declared that not one or them thought the evidence presented by the state was sufficiently strong to sus- tain the charge of conspiracy
 This ends, so far as tie courts are eou- cerned the courthouse tragedy On the i4th of last Mtrch, following tbe 9nT'e- ton Of Floyd Allen of an offense Maich would have sent him to the penitentiafy for one year. members of the Allen fam fly, clanish mountaineers, opened fire on the court officials Al the first Voiley Judge Thornton l.. Massie fell mortally wounded and when the death toll was completed Sheriff Webb and Gommou- wealths Attorney Foster were found
 
 three jurors who were shot died of his wounds. as did also Miss Bettie Ayres, who had been witness against Floyd Allen.
 Floyd Allen was arrested on the day following the tragedy, being too badly wounded to escape. The arrest of the others implicated In the shooting followed at various intervals. the two men whose fate was decided today having been the last apprehended, they being captured in Des Moines, Ia.
 Of the four other men who have been convicted of complieity in the shooting, two-F1oyd Allen and his son. Claude are under sentence of death. while Friel Allen and Sidna Edwards, have each been given long terms in the peniten- tiary
 Victor Allen. son of Floyd. was ac- ouitted, and Byrd Marion was discharged because of lack of evidence against him.