Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-14
BLOODY BATTLE
IN COURT ROOM
Judge. COmmOnwealth'S Attorney
Sheriff and Two Jurors
Shot to Death
TROOPS HASTEN TO SCENE.
Outbreak Followed Conviction ot Floyd
Allen ofa FclOnr--Sfemhers of Family
In Fight.

Bristol, Va, March 14.--In 4 des-
perate battle in the courtroom at Hills
vile, Carroll county, Va, early today,
five persons were shot and killed and
two or three others wounded as re-
suit Of feudal strife. Judge Gordon
Massie, Commonwealth's Attorney
w. B. Foster, Sheriff j. F. Blanken-
ship, a juror, and one of the famous
Allen brothers, outlaws, were killed.
Dexter Goad, clerk of the court, ar:!
three spectators in the courtroom were
wounded.
Judge Massie was sitting on the
bench when shot, and a later report
said he was dead. The outbreak fol-
lowed the finding of Floyd Allen
guilty of a felony. 1t had been knoYn
for some time that trouble might rc~
suit if Allen was convicted, as he and
the members of his family had been
carrying things with a high hand in
Carroll county. Consequently She'iii
Blankenship had number Of dIpu-
ties in the courtroom, but failed to
keep spectators out, and the Alien
crowd took advantage of this fat TO
pack the spectators benches.
The jury had just pronounced Is
verdict and Prosecutor Foster Lad ar
isen to move immediate sentence when
the fireing began. The first sho. fired
killed him. Sheriff Blankenship start"
ed to draw his revolver, but before he
could get it out of his holster he was
shot through the hearr and fell tcad.
The next shot hit Judge MasSie, who
crumped up and slid from his chair
to the floor. BY this time members
of the jury who were armed and the
deputies were giving battle to The AL
len gang and the fighting was general,
many persons being wounded on both
sides
Judge Massie was carried into his
chambers and doctors hurridly sent
for but he died within short time.
The latest report from the scene said
rioting continued.
The Allen "clan" had taken advan-
tage of crowded courtroom to snug
gle in their sympathizers. The de-
fendent had previously been furnished
with a gun. He and his elder brother
had long been regarded as outlaws by
the authorities, and have held sway
over the rough mountaineers of the
district by long series Of encounters
and threats of vengeance. When the
young brother was captured, there
were frequent declarations among ad-
herents of the Aliens that he would
never be tried, and when the authori-
ties fnall yconvicted him, trouble wai
expected.
Sheriff Blankenship made elaborate
precautions today to prevent an out
break in the courtroom, swearing in
additional deputies.
One report received here was that
the sheriff's deputies were lulled into
the belief that there would be no trou-
BILE, by the quiet with which the big
audience in the court room received
the verdict in Floyd Aliens case, and
relaxed their vigilance. The shooting
came at what was apparently pre-
arranged signal.
When Floyd Allen exhausted the
five shots in the revolver smuggied
into his hand, mountaineer handed
him a second weapon. He had bare
" began to fire again when shot.
Judge Massie was 45 years Of age
and is survived ny his wife, two sons
and a daughter. He was prominent
as jurist and had been recently men
toned as a possible aDpointee to the
State Supreme Court Bench.
Clark Goad was shot through the
neck. The prisoner was mortaliy
wounded, and died few minutes aft
er his removal from the bloody court .
room
Greatest excitement prevailed
throughout the vicinity. Armed poss-
es are securing the countryside for
Aliens associate with the weapon with
which he killed Judge Massie. The
Allen-confederate made his escape
! and has fed to the mountains with 4