The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-11-07

for moment to get a look at the
two men.
On every hand the expression
was heard that the condemned
mountaineers looked anything but
dcSpcradOeS. Floyd Allen hObbled
along on his crutChcS, attired in
dark gray, while Claude, dressed
in Il ncat-fitting black suit, with
soft hat, rundown ColIar and
black tie, excited much comment
on his handsome appearance. He
is = perfect specimen of young
manhood, with clear blue eye
and raven-bIack hair.
IN SEPARATE CELLS.
The penitentiary was quickly
reached. The Aliens aIighted
from the carriage and walked UNI
assisted to the doors. a guard
opened the great gates and the
doors swung easily. The men
were taken directly TO the room
set apart for the reception of
prisoners. There Jhcy were strip
ped of their clothing, given a bath,
furnished with new suits from
head TO foot, and furnished
good breakfast, which they ap-
pcared to enjoy.
The officials were there to take
complete description of the men
their weight, the color of their
hair, eyes, their height, whatever
marks of any sort that they bore
and everything that might be re-
CURED i'm case they should get
away.
Then they were assigned cells
plain steel enclosures, with a cot,
a tin cup for water and a stool.
Ihcy were placed in adjoining
cells, but they were unable To get
u glimpse of each other. They
might as well be miles apart, eX-
ccpt that they can talk to each
other. There the men viii re-
main till they go TO the death
chair.
November 22d is the date. but
IL may be that they will not die
ut that time. Counsel for the
men have noted an appeal TO the
Supreme Court OF Appeals. This
appeal will come up at the be-
ginning of the fall term early
next month.
GAVE NO TROUBLE.
The prisoners gave not the
least trouble on the way from
Roanoke, said Mr.. MulIin, one of
the guards. MIR. NIulIin continued:
We got there late last night.
ana il was midnight before the
men ut the city Jail in Roanoke
knew that we were there. We
got cab and went TO the Jail.
got the men and drove TO the
station. The train was an hour
late. We had plenty of time TO
get supper after we got there.
Few persons in Roanoke knew
that we were there for the pris-
oners.
I've never had better prisoners
to deal with. They talked all the
way from Roanoke to this city.
but never once did they make
any reference to the crime of
which they stand convicted. OF
course, we did not have anything
TO say regarding that matter. The
two men discussed all sorts of
questions, and they are far from
being illitcrate men. They are
well informed. Let me say here
that L think that Claude Allen Is
about the handsOmcst specimen
of man that 1 have ever seen.
He il physically perfect"
JUST LIKE OTHERS.
Major Wood said that the men
would be given identicaIly the
same treatment as all other men
who had been received there for
electrOcution. The men sentenced
to death are not required TO wear
the prison stripes. They are given
citizens clothes, and their meals
are sent from the hospital kit
chen. But they are not allowed
to see any one save members of
their families and their spiritual
advisers. just who the latter will
be IL not known. but IL is expect
ed that they will ask to be al
lowed to meet some minister of
their own choosing in the course
of the next few days.
RESUME OF CASE.
Floyd Allen was convicted of
the murder of Sheriff Webb. The
case was tried before Judge Wal
Ter II. Staples, of Roanoke, who
was designated by Governor Mann
TO hear all the cases. The trial
began at WytheViIle on April
30th, the court having granted n
change of venue when they were
first called at Carroll Courthouse.
Floyd Allen was convicted MAY
18th, the jury bringing in a YER
dict of murder in the first de-
gree.
Claude Allen was tried I'm
Wytheville on Monday, May goth,
three days after the conviction
OF his father. He was first tried
on the charge of killing Judge
MaSSie, and for this ne was given
fifteen years in the penitentiary.