The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-30
DENIES SHOOTING
AT JUDGE MASSIE
His Version of Hillsville Court
house Tragedy Practically Same
as That He Related During
Trial of Father-Jurors
May Get Case
Saturday.
Especial From STAFF Correspondent,

W VIC 'iie' H. MAY -c-ClaOCe
Swanson Allen made his last stand
to-day before the Jury tina, will de-
termine whether he shall die in the
electric chair az the slayer OF Judge
Thornton l.. Massie In the Hillsyille
Courthouse tragedy last Marcel.
Attempting by the force OF his own
deniais to destroy all evidence that
might provo him a murderer. the
younger son OF old man Floyd Allen
= himself convicted ASSASSIN OF an
on1cer Of that same court, told nearly
the Identical story that he, related
when ne tried to savo his father
There was the same manner of frank
I ness. of apparent endeavor TO tell the
truth. as he was led through tho d.
rect examination by Attorney r. Hol-
man Willis that made him. perhe ps.
tho best witness OF the Aliens who
have testified.
Resorts to Lnck of Memory.
But under cross-cXamlnation by At
torney Joseph c. wysor. for the Com
monwealth. he showed reluctance in
answering numerous questions. When
dangerous point impendcd he r--
sorted 10 lack of memory as means
Of avoiding damaging admissions.
Tomorrow the defense will put two
more witnesses on the stand-Cairin
Sawyer and Tom Burnett. the TALLER
Mt Hillsville-who were sent for to-
night The Commonwealth may also
put on ono or two more witnesses.
As these will not take much time.
Il is likely that both sides will have
closed by noon tomorrow Instruc-
lions will be argued before Judge w.
Il staples then. and speeches by OPP
posing counsel Will begin late to-mor-
row or Friday morning. BY Saturday
night Claude Allen may know his fate.
Claude was asked. in the beginning
Of his testimony. II he had CONVEX
sation with his father the evening be
fore the shooting. the evening when
and Floyd is said to have asked
Claude: Are the boys all ready"
Claude denied this
Most important OF all his denials,
however. was when he declared en-
phaticaliy that he had not shot at
Judge Massie. This, he said under
cross-examination by Attorney wysor
and added:
IL shot him 1t was accidentally.
but don't think ! did
Says sidnn Fired First.
Sidna Allen. not he. fred the first
rhot in the courtroom the morning OF
the tragedy. Claude said. although he
ately after his uncle. He nred at Dex-
ter Goad. he said. because Gcsd was
shooting at my father.
WAS Judge Massic In n direct lire
between you and Goad?" asked Mr..
Willis.
NO. about two and half feet TO
the left OF straight line. He was al
most in a line between my Uncle Sidna
and Goad."
Claude. did you have any animosi-
~ toward Judge Master
None at all"
Did you fire at him."
mo. sir
did you shoot In his direction?"
well. I don't think so: didn't no.
tlce him as aimed at Goad. ! fired
four shots at Goad. then my pistol
hung. I jumped back of Uncle Sid
ma, who had stepped forward toward
10 the court officers. and then went
out the door near the Commonwealth
attorneys office.
Then some one began shooting from
the courthouse continued Claude. II
fired back once or twice. Then 7 went
down TO Joe Ayres's stable. past the
post-office. I didn't speak to any one
there"
He said he did not have a black
handled pistol In his right coat pock-
ct. as had been testified by a States
witness
courtroom?y he was asked later.
only Goad. Uncle Sdna and one
other man near Goads desk This
man was shooting over somewhat in
nay direction"
When Claude had answered q mum
Der of minor questions, Attorney Wy
cor cross-eXamned him When he
asked him where he was looking when
his father arose. Claude said he was
looking toward Floyd in the prison
er's bar.
Then Goad was not in line of your
eyes at that timer" asked Mr.. Wysor
NO, he was off toward the left of
where ] was looking"
Then you didn't see Goad with a
pistol In his hand when YOU saw your
father jump up. If YOU We're looking
In different direction than toward
Goad. did you?"
Saw Gond Get His Gun.
well. / saw Coad get his gun out
Just as I saw my father rise up"
What made you look ever at Goad?"
81 thought my father was speaking
to some one over at Goad's desk"
After you and your Uncle Sidna
blazed away from the northeast cor
ner, didn't YOU both advance toward
tho court officials, shooting at them 90
Uncle sidna did. but after had
hred four shots my pistol hung and
I jumped back of Uncle Sidna for pro.
lection and then went out the door
near the Comm onwealth attorneys Of
Ace"
why did you go down to Hanken-
ships stable so soon?"
II saw my father going down there
after 1 got outside"
Claude admitted further on cross
examination that he had tried to get
some more cartridges In a store across
the street from the courthouse but
the store was closed. He said that
CONTINUED on Second Page.)