The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-05-24

lens Counsel-Prisoner Picture of
Despair When Verdict is Read.
Wytheville, Va, May 17.-Floyd
Allen, first of the Hillsville mountain
eers tried for the Carroll county
Court House murders, was adjudged
guilty here today and will pay the
penalty fhis crime in the electric
chair at Richmond. The jury was out
all night and it was not until after
10 o'clock this morning that the
twelve men had been brought into
agreement. "~...l. .-.,
When Court opnd today the jury
was celled in snd the foreman ques-
toned by Judge Staples. The jurors
declared there were q number of
points of difference existing and it
was doubtful whether verdict could
be reached. Judge Staples declared
the case was of such magnitude that
he felt he must send the jury back
with caution and advice.
Verdict Announced. /,
The jurors again retired and it was
only a short time before they an
nounced they had agreed. Court re-
assembled and the foreman read the
verdict of guilty as charged in the
indictment" Judge Staples held that
was not the proper form. The fore
man then explained that the verdict
was one of guilty in the first degree,
the penalty being electrocution.
Floyd Allen was charged specifical-
ly at this time with the murder of
Commonwealth's Attorney William
M. Foster, prosecutor in the Carroll
County Court House at Hillsville, last
March, when the trial of Allen cul-
minated in the killing of five persons
Presiding Judge Thornton L. Mas
sic, Prosecutor Foster, Sheriff L. F.
Webb, Miss Elizabeth Ayres and Ju-
ror Augustus Fowler.
Leader Still at Large.
The tragedy created a panic in the
little mountainside town of Hillsville.
The inhabitants had always held the
Allen clansmen in deadly horror. Ar
rests of several of the Aliens followed
the shooting, but five of the principals
escaped to the mountains. Rewards
for their arrest resulted in three of
them being taken, but Sidna Allen,
leader Of the clan, and Wesley Ed
wards, his nephew, still are at large.
The other prisoners, it was expect
ed, will be tried at once. The ver-
dict was distinct surprise. 1t was
thought the jury was hopelessly di-
vlded. One of the twelve men is
known to have said previous to being
summond for jury duty that "you
can't always get justice in Courts and
may be the Aliens were not far
wrong" The Commonwealth's attor-
neys had made arrangements to ar
rest him on perjury charge should
ne bring about a disagreement.
Claude Allen Tried Next.
The Commonwealth will next try
Claude Allen, on an indictment charg-
ing the murder of Judge Massle. This
trial begins Monday. The defendants
attorneys announced after Court ad-
journed that they would ask for a
writ of error.
The prisoners wife sat with Allen
when the verdict was brought in. She
was dressed in black and wore a large
poke bonnet, so her face could not be
seen. Allen seemed brighter this
morning, evidently expecting a mis-
trial. He was the picture of despair
when the verdict was read.
Sentence Deferred.
. Sentence was deferred, as Allen
may be called as a witness in the
trials of hiS kinsmen, who are also
charged with the five murders in Car
roll County Court House.
In his cell tonight, surrounded by
guards, Allen broke out in a tirade of
defiance of the law.
II am not going to the electric
chair" he shouted. "I've still got
some friends in Carroll county"
The guards are fearful that Allen
may repeat his attempt to commit
suicide, and one or more are always
locked in the cell with him,