The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-14
A Virginia Judge Is Shot Dead
on the Bench.
The County Attorney and
Sheriff Also Slain.
SEVERAL JURORS WOUNDED
Friends of a Condemned Man
Resent His Conviction.
Mob Takes the Prisoner With
1t and Escapes.

HillsviIle Va. March 14.-In a flame
of unprecedented outlawry the entire
human fabric of the Carroll county
circuit court in session here today was
wiped out by assassination Just as
Judge Thornton Massie had sentenced
FIovd Allen to one year in prison for
aiding in the escape of county prls-
oner. two of Aliens brothers and sew
oral of their friends opened fire with re-
volvers. Judge Massie fell dead in his
Mace on the bench on the first Volley-
Then the weapons were turned on COM
monwealth Attorney VIM. Foster ana
he sank to the floor with several oulIe s|
in his brain, death being instantaneous
Sheriff Lewis Webb, making frantic
effort to reach the ringleaders was shot
dead before he had taken ten steps
Several of the jurors who had tried the
case were seriously wounded j. Il
Blankenship probably fatally
The Aliens including the prisoner and
their friends after the killing OF the
sheriff, backed slowly out of the room
holding all pursuers in check at the
point of the revolvers- once OUTSIDE
they made a dash for the mountains on
horseback
Pursued by Posse.
A posse of citizens soon was in pur-
suit and reports have reached here that
one of the Aliens had been seriously
wounded in a pitched battle with the
posse.
Special officers are being rushed into
the county to help in running down the
murderers Governor Mann is holding
two companies of militia in readiness in
case the Aliens and friends gather re-
cruits in the mountain Businesses.
HillsVille is in q remote quarter 10
miles from Barren Springs. the nearest /
railroad station and outside help will |
be late in arriving.
The scene of the wholesale murder |
was the quaint little old-fashioned red |
brick county court house, HillsVille be- |
ing the county seat of Carroll county. |
tempt might be made to rescue Allen, |
who himself had aided prisoner friend |
recently to escape from the county OF
fcers. The trial bad been in progress
for several days, however, without any
indication becoming public of the care
fully planned plot of the Allen brothers
and their associates.
Arraigned for Sentence.
Floyd Allen had been found guilty
and had beer called for sentence today.
The stuffy little court room, with its
coal stove and crude furniture was
{ crowded. Sidney and Jack Allen were
among the first arrivals and were seen
to take their places near the rail mark
ing the enclosure for prisoner and
counsel engaged in the case. Standing
near by were their associates and
friends from the Blue Ridge mountains
Judge Massie went about the sentenc-
ing of the prisoner in the usual man
ner. but the words, lone year at hard
labor had scarcely passed his lips
when there came the crack of a re-
voIver. In an instant this was follow
ed by a volley of shots and the judge
who had partly risen at the first shor,
fell dead and bleeding on the bench.
Commonwealth Attorney Foster was
sitting directly in front of the bench
and was next to succumb u the leaden
hail of the outlaws.
The Aliens and their friends must
have been well armed for it seemed
10 spectators who escaped from the
bloody court room that fully one hum
1red shots were fired.
The jurors wounded were struck
Turing the first fusillade but Sheriff
Webb whipping out his own weapon
made for Floyd who had Joined in the
shooting with an oath and a declaration
hat he would never go to Jail. The
officer was stopped by a storm of bull
cts and crumpled dead in a heap on
he floor.
Shooting Becomes General.
By this time the shooting in the
court room had become general and
here was wild rush of the unarmed
'or windows and doors. Dexter Goad !