Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-14
FIVE SHOT DEAD
IN COURTROOM
AT H|LLSv||-LE, VA.
After Conviction Prisoner and
Relatives Fire at OFF,
ciaIs and Jurymen.
JUDGE MASSIE AND
SHERIFF WEBB SLAIN
Assassins. Still Brandishing Re-
volvers, Then Flee to Mountains.
POSSE STARTS IN PURSUIT
Two Companies of Militia Held in
Readiness-Village Far From
Railroad Thrown Into
Eerment.
JUDGE MASSIE AND
SHERIFF WEBB SLAIN
Assassins, Still Brandishing Re-
volvers, Then Flee to Mountains.
POSSE STARTS IN PURSUIT
'ecial Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
HILLSVILLE, Va, March lin q
rot in the Carroll county courthouse here
Today Judge Thornton L. Massie, Sheriff
1. F. Webb and Commemorative Attor-
hey w. NJ. Foster were instantly killed
'lerk Dexter Goad was shot through the
beck and is believed to be fatally wound
I'd. Two members Of the jury died short
y before noon from the effects OF
wounds received.
Following the conviction of Floyd Allen
n the court and his sentence one year in
he state penitentiary. Allen drew a pis-
fol and began to shoot at the judge. the
sheriff and the attorney for the prosecu-
on. These three men fell as fast as
pc pulled the trigger. the mans aim be-
ng deadly. Floyd Allen in the general
melee was also shot and he is lying nigh
unto death from a bullet wound in his
Bide.
.ng at . o'clock, with Judge Thornton on
he bench. Sheriff Webb commanded 81
.ence, and the attorney for the common
wealth. William NJ. Foster, had asked
hat the judge impose sentence on Floyd
Allen. in accord with the finding Of the
ury that heard the case. Before Mr.. Fos-
er could take his seat, and after he had
earned that the jury had given him q
rear in the penitentiary, Floyd Allen
Jumped to his feet and opened fire.
Fifty Shots Fired.
AS soon as Allen began shooting his
krothers and several friends also be-
an to shoot. Fifty or more shots were
red before the courthouse was cleared
kf spectators. Floyd Allen has two
brothers. Jasper and Sidney Allen, and
be is a sort of a general leader Of the
people of his section of the county.
Floyd Allen was at one time a constable
pr deputy sheriff. and has long borne
he reputation Of being able to hold
fis own with any man when 1t comes
q handling a gun.
The Aliens, after the killing of the
fherin. backed slowly out Of the court
oOm. holding all would-be pursuers in
fheck at the point of revolvers. Once
outside they made dash for the noun
aims on horseback. A posse Of citizens
oon was in pursuit. and reports have
Feached here that one of the Aliens had
been seriously wounded in q sort of
pitched battle which was fought with the
boSSe.
Militia in Readiness.
Special officers are being rushed into the
county to help in running down the mur-
erers- Gov. Mann is holding two COM
Panies of militia in readiness in case the
Aliens and their friends gather recruits
n the mountain fastness. Hillsville is In
remote quarter fifteen miles from Bar
en- Springs, the nearest railroad station
q ha1 y4-it1 he loxA L.,
The village was thrown into a ferment
he wiping out Of the law officers left
lnafrs In the hands of unframed citi-
PENS. but nearly every man in this section
, the county has Joined in the hunt
Cause Of the Trouble.
The cause of the shooting dates back a
ear or more. and was due to the arrest
'f two nephews of Floyd Allen by a
deputy sheriff. The boys are named
.ewis. When the sheriff started to take
hem to the county jail Floyd Allen in
ercepted them, released the two
oung men, and gave the officer beating.
{ was for this that he had been indicted
by the grand jury, and for which he was
convicted and sentenced to one year in
he penitentiary.
There had been reports that an at.
Tempt might be made to rescue Floyd
Allen. The trial had been In progress
Tor several days. however. without any
Indication becoming public of the care
FULLY planned plot of the Allen brothers
md their associates
Floyd Allen had been found guilty
nd had been called for sentence today
The stuffy little courtroom, with its
koal stove and crude furniture wat
(rowded. Sidney and Jack Allen were
mong the first arrivals and were seer
20 take places near the rail marking
he inclosure for prisoners and coun
el engaged in the case. Standing
hearby were a number of their as
ociates and friends from the Blu,
Ridge mountains.
The brothers and their friends must
have been well armed, for ii seemed t.
spectators who escaped from the blood,
II the first fusillade several jurors hat
peen wounded Sheriff Webb. whipping
put his own weapon. made for the pris
bner. who had joined in the shooting
with an oath and declaration that h,
would never go TO jail. but the officer wa,
stopped by hail of lead and crumplet
nto lifeless heap on the floor
Rush for Windows.
BY this time the shooting in the court
toom had become general, and there wa
wild. rush of the unarmed for window
md doors.
Clerk of the Court Goad received
'ullet wound In the neck and is seri
busly wounded. His death would mea,
he wiping out of the last vestige of tn
eourt'S officers.
Judge MasSie was one of the mos
prominent jurists of the state
He was appointed to the bench by Go,
Swanson in 1903. was forty-eight wear
bld. and Is survived by a wife, tw
Fons and a daugher Judge Massie ha
been considered recently for promotio
TO the state supreme bench.
Commonwealth Attorney Foster ha
held his office for eight years. He wa
forty years Of age. and known as a feal
ess prosecutor. He was republica
leader In the county. Sheriff Webb ha
been a deputy for fifteen or twenty year
before being elected sheriff last N,
vember.