The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-22
FINAL DAY FIXED
FOR ALLEN PLEAS
CONTINUED from First page.)

nent in Virginia affairs would accom-
pany them to tn Capitol and Join in
in plea To the executive for ciemency
for Claude Allen. Judge H. w. Bolen
one Of the chief Witnesses against
young Claude in the first trial, who
WAS expected to join the delegation
yesterday, could not get to Richmond
but, it is understood, Will he on hand
next Friday. Judge Bolen, however,
has written Governor Mann "A strong
letter in advocacy of Communication Of
Claude Aliens sentence, which is re-
Rarded as significant in the light Of
the circumstances, II is said that
Judge Boien's personal appeal to the
governor will be even stronger His
letter to the governor follows:
Judge Boien's Ietter.
November IS. 1912
His Excellency. w. Ii, Mann,
Richmond Va:
Dear GOVERNOR beg to jofn in
q petition which ] understand will
he presented at an early day. ask
ing that you will commute the death
sentence against Claude Allen to i'm
priSonment for life in the peniten-
tinry. In making this request | am
not Unmindful Of the part he played
in the tragedy of March IA. 1912. in
the courthouse of Carroll county 1t
is in consideration of his youth. sur
roundtngs and environments that
can find for him n plea for executives
clemency. ! am slow to believe UNI
reservedly that he was prlvy to any
preconccr1ed plan to shoot up the
court officers. Prior to the tragedy
his conduct and his character az a
well behaved young man We're good.
His father. Floyd Allen, was well
known as a man of desperate tenn
per and resolution, but 1t Was UNI
like even him to involve his son IN
such a trouble. At the time OF the
tragedy. Claude had been attending
court for two days, anxiousiy and
hopefully awaiting the result in his
fathers trial When the verdict was
returned ANA the jury discharged and
n motion for new Nial had been
made and set to be heard and con-
sidereti GTA the following day. ard
further bah for Floyd had been re-
fused. Claude Allen was called into
the bar by me. and asked to per-
form an errand for his father in
connecti9 IN with our motion for new
trial IT Was quite apparent AT the
time that he was suppressing his
sohs and emotions over the result
OF the tTlnt. " men ne Hau fefttNPu
nv Instructions and had had 81 short
whispered conversation with his
father. which I did not hear we'll
enough to understand he went back
To the place he had just come from.
in the northeast corner of the court
room, The sheriff was then directed
to take charge Of the prisoner, and
when the sheriff moved no to the en-
trance Of the bar to receive his pris-
nner, Floyd Allen arose and declared
that he would not go, and hogan to
feel for his pistol II was al this
juncture that Claude drew his pistol
and fired what I saw al The first shot
in the tragedy, and which took effect
In Judge Massie'S shoulder ! cam
not escape the impression that Claude,
seainr his father about To engage in
A combat with the court officers, drew
his pistol aud fired this first shot
under excitement and emotion which
overwhelmed his powers
~ "eesaa and discretion for the time
being | cannot escape the impress
stem thai bad Floyd Allen submitted
W fhe indpment Of the court that
Claude would never have thought %
But suppose am mistaken. in |
this view of the ease: and SUPPOSE |
Il Is TRUE that Claude was privy to |
4 conspiracy to rescue his father /
from the clutches pf the law, and |
hat the whispered conversation IN |
~ hAk beewNef kakANF atf6 ron wae