The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-05
DIR. c. w. McDANLEL> MAKES PLEA
FOR JUSTICE FOR CLAUDEALLEN

Under the heading. Justice for
Claude Aiien," DR.. George w. Me-
Daniel. pastor of First Baptist church.
last night issued the following state
ment;
Claude Allen entered the Hillsville
court room late, on the day OF the
tragedy. He did not think that his
father would be convicted and would
not have been a party to conspi-
racy to shoot up the court or YER
dict which he did not expect On
the contrary, the offense with which
his father was charged was provoked
by the deputy sheriff. and persons
who heard the testimony thought
Floyd Allen would be acquitted.
Floyd was sentenced to the peni-
tentisry for one year upon evidence
which would have secured an ac-
quittai. or fine, under ordinary cir
cumstances. Members of that jury
were biased. Personal and political
bitterness entered into the prosecu-
ton. From a jury sworn to render
Justice. the accused received MUS
tice The clerk OF the court was de-
termined to humiliate and disgrace
the man whom he hased From what
have heard the prisoner at the par
had n better reputation for truth
and veracity than the man whose
Office placed him in the position for
putting the names in the jury box.
To the best Of my knowledge and be-
lief Allen is a better man than Goad-
say this not to excuse Floyd Alien
for a rash and reckless act. but to
show that he was provoked, even
goarded. to his crime Up TO that
moment. he was more sinned against
than SHINING. The injustice of IT all
ranked in the bosom of a man whose
temper became his master. Under the
Impulse Of the moment, he arose, and.
perhaps. said. Il won't go to jail,
lHowever his lawyer testified that
Floyd had submitted and consented
~ I'd 20 with the sherfx.3 AT that mo
ment. Dexter Goad drew his gun HE
was armed with an automatic pistol
and supplied with "a box of cartridges
Mr. Thomas, who was In the court
room. from the beginning TO the enc
= ~ The tragedy, testified that fna Hrst
shot came from the direction Of the
officers rather than the direction OF
the Aliens.
This wis corobrated by other VIII
rcsses, Goad began 70 shoot at rlpFu
Allen before Floyd fired Mt him. Wna'
did Claude Allen do? He did what
any boy worthy the name OF son
would have done. He drew his PTS
tol and began to shoot. To use his
own words, spoken through tears ana
causing tears in the N'stheyille trial
when I Eeen EN- shooting at zap
shot AZ them.'' l say any other
aon worthy of his fathers blood
/, would have acted likewise.
Nav Claude was tried for killing
Judge Massie and was given sen
tence OF fifteen years IN tne pehi.sh
diary. The only direct testimony tha
Claude killed anyone was TO the ef
far. thar he shot Judge Massie- TIL
killing Of the judge was an awiu
tragedy He was a noble soul ana tn'
yery embodiment of the law. He heit
IN an unbiased hani the scales o
He was "A friend of the Al
lens. and they were his friends Hu
death is universally to he ospiorea
The killing OF a judge under the NJ
cuynstances was a stain on Virginia
ne NAV have been killed accidental.
nv. the bullets that flew wildly IN TN
fusitlade II his soul could SPEAK 10
Law from the land where only IN
perciful ind mercy. he wonid no
.sk far The life Of Claude Alien. no
Y does Justice demand 1t. All that IN
gury found in this case was htteel
yearS at hard Ghnr
claude was taken directly IRON
that trial into "A second trial upon N
charge of killing Mr.. Foster, "
sneak no evil Of the dead. nut IN
Commonwealth attorney went De
vond the bounds OF the law IN nj
arrairnment of Floyd Allen Tor re
lra%tns. his widowed sisters sons frnn
an officer who had them tied INK
hogs Ills death. unfortunate as
Was NAV be attributed to the per
xorat bitterness of his prosecution
sin no, single witness testine'
that Claude shot Foster. Ciaua
swore that IN did not remember I
have seen Foster ant that he did no
shoot at him After hearing all IN
r evidence and the argument. the 1nr
Yatfed m agree tttst.fs rerd1ct- som
81 the fury, am told, were for ac
quittal.
Now note an unusual procedure
Having tried him twice In succession
and failed to secure a death sentence
the Commonwealth proceeded Unite
,liately into n third trial upon IN
same charge as the second trial. Pub
lie sentiment seemed 10 demand VIC
aims. and Claude was marked for TN
sacrifice. Where there had been
hung Jury before. now there was
verdict for the. limit OF the law.
saw with all the conviction OF m
soui. that his eiectrocution BY tn
state will he an unspeakable crime
ran conceive OF no greater caMm
nv than that an innocent man shoni
ses no uunishe,s unjustly. Claude Al
,er.s execution viii he q disrrace I
virgfr,a re Is no hardened cr'hfi
raI He was never In court befor
~upon any chnrge--not even for tres
nass,pr He is an urrinht. truthft
nov lust entering manhood. with IN
ii tmrua,ive nature Of his ancestors. ~
environment. and his years, but I'm
n,,tses IN which the good predom
me over tho bad i.
n my hoy saw his father nrcer N
deadly fire OF an enemy and did nc
do all within. his power to protect mi
would d sown him. / ask. In
candor. will Virginia demand. sane
lion or permit the execution OF TN
youth? I have looked into his mani
face ana felt that II virginia take
II. ne. she will commit judicial mur
der. I would go to my grave tefor
would be responsible for such An ac
would be afraid To meet G6d Q
Claude Aliens soul In the fudgmer
IL failed to exert my utmost power
IL prevent the tragedy Of his electro
cution
This article Is not intended a. = Re
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