Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-23
TRIAL OF CLAUDE ALLEN
Jury Secured and Examination OIL
Witnesses Begun

men was, yesterday, secured IN the
case OF Claude Allen, charged with
the murder of Judge Thornton L..
Massie, at Hillsville, on March IA,
and the prosecution began the ex-
animation of witnesses in the after
noon. with Judge w. D. Bolen ON
the stand. Judge Bolen defended
Flovd Allen in the case on which
he was being tried on the morn
fng of the Hillsville tradgedy. In
the trial of Floyd Allen the witness
stated that Claude Allen shot Judge
Massie. He gave the same evidence
in behalf OF the commonwealth yes
terday afternoon.
1t was announced that panel OF
lG talasmen had been secured, but
al the afternoon session an objection
was raised to Jurors Crockett and
Martin by sth9 prosecution and the
attorneys VERT sustained in their OBJ
jeclion and the jurors were dismiss
ed. 1t then became necessary to Sc
cure two additional, men to COM
plete the panel. Another venire OF
20 men were summoned yesterday
morning, and out Of that number,
Juror, w. ". Eastwood, laborer
OF Wytheville was accepted. From
additional veniremen picked up,
George Callahan was accepted COM
pleting the panel as required by law.
Counsel for the defense was then
permitted to strike off four names,
and Willard Copenhaved, s. o. Fish
er, George Callahan and William Z,
Jones were asked to stand aside.
The jury, in whose hands rests
the fate of Claude Allen, is as fol
lows: w. H. Dix, 45. miller: G. 3.
Williams. 49,, farmer: NJ. +. Lit2,
So, farmer; R. c. Huddle, 81. mer.
chant; A. Y. Dixon, So, farmer; G..
c. Crockett, SO, farmer: E. G.
Vanght, 40, sawmill man; w. l..
Lindsey. AZ, farmer and undertaken;
w. o. Neff, %, farmer; John T.
Bough, As, farmer: w. w. Eastwood,
So, laborer;. Charles c. Neff, 40,
farmer.
Claude Allen was arraigned at
Hillsville on the charge TO murder
yesterday morning. He entered a
plea OF not guilty at Hillsville. At
ter the jury had been S worn, short
ly after 1920 yesterday morning,
Attorney Joseph G. Wysor for the
prosecution, made the opening state
ment, in which he said the common
wealth would prove that the prison
er at the bar fired the shot that kill
ed Judge Nfassie. His speech was
much along the line OF the opening
statement in the case OF Floyd Al
len. Mr. Wysor occupied about
three-uuarters OF an hour in making
his statement to the jury. He was
followed by Mr.. Willis, for the de-
Tense, who spoke for half an hour.
His address was practically the same
as that delivered at the trial of
Claude Aliens father. The cases
and charges against all the defend
ants are so closely allied and the
|. Testimony in each case so nearly the
same that no new features were
Sr hn
ments today by either side.
The commonwealth has SO wit
|.nesses summoned and the defense
has as many more. The prisoner,
Claude Allen, is kept handcuffed, and
is surrounded by Baldwin detectives
as guards. He seems deeply inter
ested in the court proceedings, which
may result in the electric chair for
him. He is neatly dressed and is
handsome young man OF powerful
physioue. He does not have the ap-
pearance OF hardened criminal or
desperate.
AIRS. Victor Allen, wife Of the &C
cused brother of Claud Allen, arrived
/ in Wytheville yesterday to visit her
husband. 1t is the first time She las
seen him since his arrest at Hills
willie on the morning of March 10.
FLOYD Allen, convicted last week
III first degree murder, is recovering
from a severe attack OF stomach
trouble, and is now able to take
solid food.
Brvd Marion, member OF the
kllen clan, was released on $l'ooo
bond today on his own recognlzance.