The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-06-06
NOTHING CRIMINAL
in CLAUDE'S LOOKS
Is Only % and Heretofore Has
Borne Good Name-Admits He
Participated in Shooting, but
Says He Defended
His Father.
r &c MON ID. V-Snecial-


Judge Thornton l.. MasSie, il is diff
ficuit 10 think without a distinct SEN
sation of pity.
Aside from his magnificent physi-
cal proportions and dignity of bear
ing, there is something peculiarly
Virile and strong about him.
Nobody, however prejudiced, could
say that ne looks the criminal Nor
has his appearance since his arrest
Indicated auSht suggestive of ruffian-
ism or even the rUddiness usually seen
in country folk.
Unlike most mountaineers, Claude
Allen is straight and erect and free
from anything smacking the least bit
of awkwardneSs. Though over six
feet tail and perhaps weighing $50
pounds, his feet are small, nor have
his hands been overdevelOped by
labor on his fathers farm.
The young mamie is only twenty
two years Old-has Jet black hair and
beetlinS black eyebrows which almost
meet over his nose, but his eyes. like
those of all his clan. are blue. one
might almost liken him TO an Irish
typc-a man seemingly slow TO anger.
but unflinchingiy courageous when
aroused.
Since his Imprisonment he has
dressed both with neatness and taste
and without any effort to be flashy
in attire. In court he has nearly al
ways appeared in immaculate linen,
patent leather shoes and q black suit.
a black cravat, added to his other
raiment, has served to give him
somewhat austere. but decidedly cler-
zeal. air. Indeed, there is "a curious
blend of the parson and the soldier
in Claude Allen. His martial appear
ance is due to the greatness Of his
carriage and his Cauonical air posi-
bly, to the sobriety of his attire.
No "Rube'' in Appearance.
Turned loose on the streets OF Rich
mOnd Claude Allen-well, Claude
Swanson Allen, since that name has
been fastened on him-wOuld attract
little or no attention unless ii were
drawn to him through his physique.
No one would think Of picking him
out as a RUDE or a mountain clod-
hopper. No one would be struck
either by his clothes or by his man
ner Of wearing them. And assuredly
no one would say: obviously that
man is an outlaw and a desperate,
who holds human life as naught."
On the contrary, Claude would be
classified as a thrifty villager 10 whom
exercise and more or less open air
had given strength and health.
Claude Allen, to judge by his
demeanOr in court. is not an irascible
man. He seems rather phlegmatic
and strangely Indifferent. On the WI
ness stand and at other times he has
eVinced astonishing calmnesS and per-
feet command of his temper.
To the lawyers on both sides he has
been courteous and considerations
might almost say that he has been
patient under circumstances that
would have excited or irritated other
Nor is he in any sense poseur--a
man enjoying notoriety and inclined
10 extract comfort from occupying n
conspicuous place in the public eye.
1t is hard to read hiTI-hard to say
-. .f,.a 81 h t.
readily touched.
Wien he first appeared as witness
IN behalf OF his father. the redoubtable
old Floyd, who, according to the find
ing of the jury, must die In the cleo
trio chair, Claude did not seem the
least bit excited or embarrassed.
The Girl I'm the Case.
The only semblance of discontinue
came when he was asked whether or
not he was married. He replied in
the negative, but subsequent questions
brought out the fact that he had a
sweetheart and had expected 10 be
married this summer. In admitting
the soft impeachment" ne blushed
deeply and the blush became more
rubicund when some Of the spectators
in the court room saw fit to smoker.
Since that day Claude has ceased
to blush because the word knows that
he has a sweetheart. The girl in the
case" is like most other girls-she is
faithful. For her part she does not
care who knows.
When the accused himself appeared
in court as a defendant, Miss Nellie
WISER. of Pulaski. came fearlessly
into the open as the fiancec OF Claude
Allen. She has previously visited him
al his nOiSsome abode in the jail. now
she followed him into the hail II 5us-
tice and sat near his counsel while
they fought Tor ,he young mans life.
Unrestrainedly did she weep when
Judge y. Ii. Hairston, one Of the pris-
oner's lawyers, alluded in his closing
argument to her answering fdelity
and devotion. And the reference like
man whose whole future was in
jeopardy.
Most of the Allen clan remorseless-
ly shoot up the English language with
their mouths; in other words, they
slaughter their mother tongue with
sOlecisms, colloquialisms, provincial
isms and startling mispronunciations
which CRATE harshly on the educated
ear.
Old Floyd is the arch butcher in
this class of venial sins. Claude, how
ever, is the exception. He IS the edu-
Gated member of the clan, although
he is far from shining with collegiate
polish. Claude got a few months
schooling at the Carroll County High
School and then finished off at a bus
mess NbilCSt dl iNdltlSHs ~ - where
he studied shorthand and typewriting.
He could hardly be a cultivated man
even now, though the little learning
he has materially differentiates him
from his alleged associates in crime.
Has Had Plenty To Read.
And doubtless he and his fellow
prisoners have learned a vast deal
since their arrest, for they have been
literally supplied with the best maya
zines, in addition to Bibles and much
religious literature. 1t appears, too.
that they have read the Scriptures
with great earnestness and with no
little display of genuine interest.
Now, what has been said in the
foregoing paragraphs may create a
suspicion that this writer is seeking,
| in subtle fashion, to leave the inn
| preston that Claude Swanson Allen
/ is a sort of mountain hero, more
| or less martyred at the hands of the
! law.
Such is not the case. The picture
! drawn here is merely the sketch OF
a somewhat inscrutable subject, un.
communicative at best and little giveI
/ to exchanging condolences with stran
gers. At heart he may be a foe o.
humankind with every element o.
treachery in his makeup.