The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-30
MONSTER APPEAL
FOR CLAUDE GOES
TO. THE GOVERNOR
Two Hundred Accompany the
Petition, Which Is Signed
by Thousands
HIS EXCELLENCY
CONSIDERS CASE
Two Of Leading Counsel on
Different Sides Present
Arguments and
Others Speak

! The unusual Fcene was presented IN
the hall Of the house of delegates yes
! terday or over TWO hundred repre-
sentative men and women, pleading
! with the governor Of the state 10
spare the life of man condemned
to death by the courts, and under
sentence to die In the electric chair
December 18th.
Prominent judges, harristers OF
Statewide prominence hnanciers, rail-
road officials and women high in the
social life OF the community presented
their prayers for executive elemency
FOR young Claude Swanson Allen, after
counsel for the State, who had as
sisted In the prosecution Of the par
Elephants IN the famous Hillsville
tragedy, had presented facts setting
forth the en0rmity of the Aliens
crime. Having given ali a patient hear
ing. the governor announced that he
would again review the evidence tn
the case. consider ethe Noluminous Pc
tstions and announce his decision
later.
The Final Hearing.
Governor Mann. a week ago, ap-
pointed yesterday for a final hearing
Of any and III who desired la present
verbal or written petitions for the
Aliens. assdssi& eHs&s presumed that tha
hearing would take place in his
private reception room but when the
hour III nooni arrived ii was plainly
evident that In considerably larger
hall must be chosen. so the governor
| adjourned to tf1e hiatt of the nousc of
delegates, sitting at the desk Of the
speaker, white the crowd which gath
cred practically Allied all the available
seats.
IN opening the hearing Governor
Mann read this statement:
TO prevent possible misunder-
standing l desire to reiterate what
have previously said, that after
have heard the facts and arguments
today | do not desire to hear any
further discussion of the matter,
either by those asking for or those
opposing Communication of the SEN
tenee OF Floyd and Claude Allen.
II feel profoundly the RESPONSE
! btity which rests ON me and have
not attempted and will not attempt
in any way to shift it to others. eith-r
| by asking advice or in any other way.
but will meet the responsibility and
discharge my duty ag see ri FOR
the best interest Of the Common
| wealth of Virginia.
Asks Only For Fs~ts.
He then announced that he did not
care TO hear any argument in the case.
| but wanted the facts from both sides.
and. therefore he had asked Attorney
John s. Draper, of Pulaski, who was
associated with counsel for the state
in the Allen case TO present the facts
| bearing on the case from the evil
dence given at the trial
Rev. DIR. G. w. Mcdaniel. spiritual
adviser for Claude Allen, who started
the movement in his behalf assumed
charge of the meeting on behalf of
the petitioners and introduced the
speakers. Attorney r.. H. Willis. of
counsel for the Aliens. led off with
rehearsal OF the trials of the
Aliens, He read several statements
asking for clemency for the men.
one being from the trial jury He
also quoted letter from Charles
/ y. Meredith. of Richmond, protesting
against a man being tried for his
/ life three times on practically the
! same charge. Mr.. Willis then made
| passionate appeal for the life Of
Claude Allen. breaking down with
| emotion at its close. -
| Rcftearses the Evidence.
| Attorney Draper followed with
clear-eut presentation or the evidence
t In the fiiiisviiie tragedy as recfted
| to the court. reviewing the facts ex-
haustively. He told of the testimony
| of Judge Bolen. who said that he
saw Claude Allen raise his pistol and
shoot at Judge Nfassie and that he
| saw the lint fly from Judge Massie's
! coat. Mr. Draper said that fifty
seven bullets had been fred by the
| Aliens In the Hillsville courthouse,
twenty-one of which took effect
| Judge Massie received three balls.
Communicative ATTORNEY Foster was
/ hit six times. Sheriff Webb Ave times
| Clerk Goad once. and Juror Fowler
and Miss Ayers each once.
1 Governor Mann questioned MIR.
Draper as to the position OF Judge
| Massie at the time OF che shooting
and the attorney declared that the
Judge was not directly in the line
| Of fire. He then asked IL Claude
Allen was an educated man. and the
attorney replied that he was: that he
had received common school edu-
cation and also took business COL
1ege course at Raleigh. n. C.
/ Was Exemplary Youth
II. NJ. Cooley. superintendent of
the Carroll schools; Professor Smith,
! OF the Raleigh Business college. and
/ Professor J. II. Rutnough. of Carroll.
appeared to testify as to Claude
4 Aliens exemplary conduct when they
| We're his teachers Mr.. Cooley also
explained to the governor something
| Of the environments OF the Aliens.
declaring that the clan had been much
INDUCED by the people OF the noun
! tains because the elder men were
regarded as dangerous when crossed
The governor asked the question that
1 ELECTED this information.
/ Some Earncst Appeals.
Judge Hheas and Wingfield, or the
! State corporation commission; Judge
/ George L. Christian. Charles ". Mere
tiith. Luther l. Scherer! Judge n. III.
aairston and Miss Elisabeth Cooke
made earnest appeals to the governor
q prison sentence would fully meet