The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-06-06
CLAUDE begins
fight FOR LIFE

I WYTHEVILLE, VA Special.-
AIler examining only one witness this
I morning the commonwealth at 9:4O
| O'Clock Rested its case. charginf,
/ Claude Swanson Allen with tba me-
/ der or Judge Thornton l.. Nassie. and
the defense was granted time for con-
sultation before opening its case.
| DetectlVe IL. II. Lucas. who arrest
/ ed the defendant, was placed on the
stand by the prosecution and asked
IL any money was found on the pris-
oner at the time of his arrest. Wit
ness stated that Allen carried $500.
witness ldenuned "a picture of the
| Carroll county courthouse, which was
entered in evidence.
Attorney General Williams was I'm
town, having stopped over Sunday
on his way 20 Richmond from
ASheVille, y. c., where he had been
TO carry his daughter for her health.
Mr.. Williams was in the court room
for a while, shaking hands with
friends. He had nothing to say re-
garding the case.
After remaining in conference for
an hour and twenty minutes. attor-
neys for the accused returned 20
the court room and called their first
witness, Harry Milkerson. who was
employed in COchran's restaurant. at
HillSVille, at the time Of the shoot
ing, the defense endeavOring to
contravert the States evidence that
the restaurant in such a hurry that
morning that the former left his over
coat
Witness said Friel Allen had been
in the habit of leaving his overcOat in
the restaurant and that Friel left
about five minutes before Wesley. say
ing that he had to go to the court
house.
Robert Smith was the next witness.
He said before the shooting he saw
{ ~4s,
a bench In the northeast corner, Sidna
being nearer the judges stand. He
also saw Victor and Wesley Edwards
standing on a bench, and. after the
hrst shot, he turned and saw Wesley
EDWARDS with his weapon up. Victor
got down from the bench and went
out, said the witness. He did not see
him have a pistol.
Sidney Towe said he saw Byrd
Marion In a lot back Of the hotel.
He stated on cross-exam ination fbat
the shooting was about over when
ne saw Marion, the only shot being
hred in the courtroom afterwards.
walter Upton, a Hillsville lawyer.
described Floyd Aliens home as show
ing prosperous circumstances on the
part or the owner. He also said Sidna
Allen has handsome home and a
nice farm. The witness was associated
With Judge Bolen in the defense of
Floyd Allen on trial for a felony at
when asked concerning Claude Aliens
reputation, said he had never heard
ii discussed.
brief spat between ATTORNEYS Wv
sor' or the prosecution. and Willis. of
the defense, over an objection made
Dy the former as to the form of Mr.
wins question, caused Judge STABLES
10 call the attorneys to order.
j. Is. Wlkerson said he was on the
northwest side of the room when the
shooting began, and immedfa;,-N-
maze MS way out. At the toot -
the steps he said he saw Victor AL
zen. AT this point the defense took
up the reading Of the evidence of
ssNeral character witnesses, given in
the Floyd Allen trial, this course hav-
ing been agreed on by ATTORNEYS on
ooth SIDES These witnesses had never
heard anything against Claude. Vic
tor or triel Allen before the Hills
The reading Of the testimony of
Shurch Alderman, who lent Sheriff
WeDo an automatic pistol on the day
court opened, led to the recalling of
clerk Dexter Goad to explain the
HorklnS or an automatic pistol. Mr..
Goad used as an illustration the one
ne MADE use of in the courthouse.
Attorneys as we'll as the court were
very urgent in their requests to Sea
that the weapon was unloaded.
Judge Staples himself examined
the gun to see if there was a bullet
in it. NU'ie'
To allow counsel for the defense
time TO privately consult witnesses.
court ADJOURNED at 1890 until 8
o'clock.