The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-30
LAST APPEAL FOR
CLAUDE IS MADE
Impressive Gathering OF Mon and
Women to Plead With
Governor.
HEARING LASTS THREE HOURS
Governor, at Close, Takes Pleas
Under Consideration Tor
Future Decision.

| -----------
The last word has been said for
! Claude Allen. His fate lies locked
in the breast OF Governor Mann, to be
announced when the chief executive
sees lit. For three hours and a half
yesterday afternoon. the Governor sat
upon the bench of the House of Dele
gates and listened To impassioned
pleas for the Communication of the young
| mountaineers death sentence.
Before calling the public hearing TO
order, Governor Mann read the folto"'
ing statement to the $50 men ana
women assembled in behalf OF Claude
Alien:
To prevent possible n,isunderstand-
| ing, 1 desire to reiterate ~ hat 1 have
pre- iO,isiy said, that after 1 have heard
the facts and arguments to-day. 1 do
! hot desire TO hear any further dis
cussiOn of the matter. either by those
! asking for. or those opposing, cOmmu-
| tntiom Of the sentences of Floyd and
! Claude Allen. Il feel profoundly the
! espcnsibiiity wi ich rests On me. and
! have not attempted and Will not at
! tempt In any way to shift IL 10 others.
! either By asking advice or In amy other
! why. but will meet the responsibility
| and di,charEe my duty M I see II for
| the best interest of the Commonwealth
| Of Virginia.
| Last Appeal.
The advocates Of commutatioD OF
! Ciaude's sentence had their last OPP
| portunity yesterday to enter pleas Tor
! the young man. Henceforward the
! Governor will not listen TO anyone
| wishing TO discuss the matter. Al the
n. I..a b..a Cd thar
! he would take under consideration the
! arguments and facts presented TO him
i at the hearing and announce his de-
ClsIon as soon as his mind is unequiv-
! ocally made up.
The assemblage of 50 many rromi-
| n.nt men and women yesterday in the
| interest Of the young member OF The
Allen clan was truly most remark
abb. demonstration In the ranks OF
! the petitioners were such figures as
| John T. Branch, Miss Mary Johnston
| Judge j. u. Wingiieid. C. V. Meredith.
Judge George L. Christian. Judge ".
| r Rhea. /. l.. Scherer, Victor Allen
; and r. III Willis. The Rev. George W.
| N-Daniel, spiritual adviser OF the
| condemned men, acted as chairman OF
! the hearing and introduced the speak
| srs.
Joint DiscussI0n.
! The conception o. puoilc nearing
! as entertained yy the Governor and
| the Allen sympathizers caused dis
| agreement at the beginning Of the
| meeting. The Governor believed that
! both sides of the case should be pre-
! sente6 while the petitioners expected
! to have the only say in the matter.
/ On that account. the announcement by
, the Governor at the beginning OF the
! session that John 5. Draper. one OF
; the attorneys who prosecuted the
J Aliens, was present TO make simple
statement of the facts in the case.
| threw IL commo;ion into the camp OF
the petitioners.
Judge WinGfeId and DR.. MCDANIEL
! urged tina. Mr. Draper be made TO de-
; liver his statement first and allow tn.
! uft.en speakers for Claude 10 follow
him This the Governor in fairness
: refused. Il compromise was reached
/ by allowing X. II. Willis. counsel Tor
! Claude to make the opening appeal
| Draper to follow him. and the other
! Alien speakers completing che session
MIR. Draper contcntcd himself with
! = simple statement: of the facts and
, evidence of tn. case as brought OCT III
, the course Of the trial. refusing stead
! tasty to enter into argument with
| Mr. Willis and other Allen supporters,
although Cross-Questioned by them
! Mr. Draper himself asked no questions
J of the Aliens speakers. nor made any
! effort to imreach statements made y
! them The Governor frequently took a
/ hand in the questioning of speakers
/ Dir. Willis, confirming himself solely
! to a statement % evidence not ac-
! cepted at the trial Or admitted TO th6
! court record, plead for for;y-nve min
I u:ss with the Governor. breaking into
tears at the close OF his imprisoned
! appeal His audience seemed moved
/ by mis- feeling, and many VI tho women
! carried their handkerchiefs to their
eyes
4 Many Of the cherished statements
! OF the Allen sympathizers were contra
, dicted by the facts as given by John
I :. Draper. According to the attorney.
; judy. Boicn testified that he saw
Claude Alien ere the first shot on that
memorable occasion. the bullet taking
eject in Judge Massie's right shoulder
a:.d afterward resulting in death The
first shot he stated the evidence
showed. was fired by Claude. the second
BY Sidna Allen. Dexter Coad. Tar
3 from precipitating the tragedy. did not
, draw his gun until he had been Shot
i'm the check and q dozen bullets fred.
The appeals for clencncy made oy
, G. v. Meredith and Judge George l.
Christian. both based upon the ques-
4 tien Of Claude having been tried twice
On the same charge. produced consider
4 able enthusiasm. although the supreme
Il roar: Of Virginia has already ruled
II against them
II Applause followed the heated plea
1 mad. by L. l. Scherer. a member OF the
II state pcniteniiary Board. who begged
/ the Governor 20 break aif presidents
/ and see Claude Allen personally.
Il Judge W. r. Ehea and Judge j. "
\ winga.li both delivered stirring APP
Il peais for the young mounfaiueer- while
II pr, Mcdaniel read a lengthy type
L written address Miss Elizabeth
Il Coo 10 sead the pctssion signed at
Il III. r,ass-uee;ing Of women Monday
II afternoon in the Hotel Richmond. and
\ several professors Of schools which
Il Claude had attended testified TO his
Il good character and manly qualities.
Y al agreed In shifting the blame on