The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-16
PROSECUTION IS TO
CLOSETS ARGJMENT
FOR DEATH PENALTY
Farmers Abandon Their Fields
and Merchants heir Stores
to be Present at Clos
ing Scenes Of
Trial
BY W. Med. WILLIAMS.

" lfEN tl.l4f-, A, MAY To-
Presenting a picture OF absolute de-
spair and destined to know his fare
before the setting OF another sun.
Floyd Allen left the Whythcville
county rottrttutist t Ffis=4sftp rHaea-
shortly after o'clock. supported by
the staiwarl guards. who never leave
his side lie had heard the last word
spoken that shall be said In his be-
half ana he had also heard the be-
ginning OF AN arraignment of the crime
OF which he stands accused, the cen
ciCsion of which shall be the last
argument TO fall upon the ears of the
twelve men who are TO decide what IL
TO be his fate
A drizzling rain. scarcely more
than IA mist, yet forespeaking a.
heavier doWnfaif To CORE later, w.4rs
descending lie was lifted into the
automobile that is daily sent to trans
port him from the jail and the cheerv
smile that greeted byseanderS and
onookers during the early days Of
the trial was absent, That he Was
considering his case and considering
II as ii had never before appealed to
him, was evident.
Jack Conspicuous.
His brother, Jack. who has Ter
the last three DAYS been conspicuous
in I, seat just a few feet to the rear of
the prisoner and has surroWing wife,
was accompanying the wan and de-
jected slarer Of her husbands for
tune. Together they made their way
10 her temporary home, only city
block away. and in the simplicity or
their country natures stood In the
,AF sfAy ii
most earnest conversation for several
minutes. during which time numer-
Gus automobiles and either convey
ances, taking home those who had
been present at the afternoon session
of the court turned aside TO pre-
eeed on rheir way. The slender, pale
faced woman was presently gently
led into the house and taek tsistf,-
seaee.f in the direction of his abode.
Courthouse Oyerfiows.
Wythe county courthous. had
probably never presented such
scene AS that of this afternoon when
the doors We're thoTn open 10 me
crowd waiting on the outside Law
yers. officers of the court and those
entitled To the places had been adj
in!tted TO the bar by private entrance
When tbs, doors for the general pub
lie were thrown open about one-tnird
of the seats were occupied by ladies.
who had been admitted In advance.
Not one-half of those eiamorinE for
admission could be accommodates
and a large crowd was forced 10 re-
main outside on the lawn.
Judge Hairston was 10 conclude MS
- tfttrs.ssss Ear the sssltsase and SIT. ~ ssasf
was TO f,eain his argument for the
state Knowing that these We're 10
be The principal addresses in this. the
greatest criminal case that Southwest
Virginia has ever known. hundreds had
coma 10 hear Farmers had aband-
oned their fields and merchants had
fo-s,tken their businesses. As many
as could he we're admitted and the
others were. forced to stay out.
Mr.. Wysor Opens.
The feature Of the day was the open
ing resuarks Of Dir. Wysor. Judse
eIairslon IN the course OF his address,
had cautioned the jury not to be over
Influenced by the esoauence Of the Sc
nior counsel for the State, Mr.. Nysor
earlv III his remarks took up this part
OF Judge IIairstons speech and retail
lated strongly.
In referring to 1t. MIR. Visor said:
Judge Hairston, VINO has Just cohciud-5
ed his argument. saw fit during the
first portion Of ii 10 caution you nRAilSIs
ne lntimating that ] might mlsieau
YOU by my speech. He grossly mis-
represents me You know me- do
not bear any such reputation. do not
tr~v under circumstances or arywhere
10 TEisieal anybody. Especially would
fstr-fresfa- undertaking 10 mIsln1A.
.-ot, wtstrs Seti were eens lderin& q casa
of n man on trial for his life.
Flaws judge Hairspr
but Judge Hairston. like many other
sor,ehodv else might do. and then pro-
coed 10 do the very thing himself. His
whole speech was devoted to leading
you away from the facts and away
from the truth. +. hardly know wheth~!
er to characterize his argument ~ ~
epeech or as evidence. He became tn
chief witness for the defense. AMI UNI
derfooE 70 put into this case teqt1~l
mcny that was not put into II by VII
uesses. ri
.In the first of his speech he telIs y0a1
Ut conversation with the prisoner 1E|
the Roanoke TAIL and thar the ctsnN41N
sation there and then WAS enatat4M&
by the evidence In this case
He knew better than make tnn&
statement when he made II ana IT,
he made II. What right had m NJ
talk Of this conversations with
prisoner In the Roanoke jAit3
doesn't he get on the sand aMA
tify about itg He says that ntAto1
was not contradicted by the AxI1S
here. Then the prisoner told
what the prisoner did mt m