The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-11-28
APPEAL To U. S. SUPREME court
TO SAVE ALIENS FROM death Chair

be presented to the Judges willie
they are sitting I'm bauc. The
court will begin its winter term
December 2d.
Judge HairsIon went to the
penitentiary last night 20 see
Floyd and Claude AlieH. Incl
dentally he also saw Sidney Id
wards and F'riel Allen, nephcws
OF Floyd, who are respectively
serving nfteen and eighteen year
terms.
The lawyers found the two con-
demned men I'm good spirits and
they thanked him most gratefully
when he assured them that he aud
Mr.. Willis intended doing every
thing In his power To- save t-em
Claude Allen, though anxious to
live. assured his counsel that AZ
40 10 HIS doom with the cOnscf-
eStiOus COW fction that he hnd done
the right hing when he used his
re- DIV err In the court room 40 pro-
tect his gray-haired father.
He further declared that he did
neither he nor any member Of hIs
family bore any grudge against the
Inflated jurist. On the contrary,
they all esteemed him highly and
admired his official attituoe.
Claude Allen is the most nagnsfi-
cent man physically that / have ever
seen" said Judge Hairston this morn
MS client. Even his long confne-
ment has not broken him nor wrought
TO any extent a change in his fine
physique. Nor does ne or his father
evince the slightest fear. Their cour-
age is remarkable."
Judge Hairston seems deeply i'm
pressed with the idea that the prose-
cuton pressed Claude Allen most
piulessly. He says that eight indict-
ments were found against the man
five charging him with the murder
OF those who persisted as a result of
the courtroom shooting and three
charging him with wounding those
who were injured in the melee.
Moreover, he was first made to face
a jury in what was regarded as the
strongest case against hIm-that in
NOlNinB the murder of Judge MaSSie.
Yet the jury that heard the evidence
thought fifteen years OF punishment
was sufficient. Not satisfied with this,
the prosecution then had him tried
Tor killing commonwealth Attorney
Foster, although his father had pre-
viousiy been convicted Of the same
offense.
Judge Hairston calls attention to
the further fact that each of the FIVE
men who have thus far faced the bar
has been TIED on practically the same
testimony. with the same witnesses
appearing over and over against them.
And many Of these witnesses, accord
ing TO the prisoners, lied most shame
leSsly against them.
Every mail is bringing me let
tiers and petitions in behalf of the
Aliens" continued Judge Hair
Ston. land they arc coming from
all parts of the State. / suppose
i have got 5000 signatures to
such appeals for mercy. Most or
them not only ask clemen,y for
Claude. but they also express the
wish that the death sentence OF
Floyd Allen may be cOmmuted.
These Aliens, you know, are men
OF force and charactcr-notc conf
mon shiltlcsS criminals. They
have been property owners and
debt ayers-men with the high
est sense of obligation"
Judge Hairston. today called by
the First Baptist Church I'm the
hope of catching the Rev. DIR.
George w. Mcdaniel I'm his study,
but the latter Is out of the city.
DIR. Mcdaniel Is now regarded as
the head and front OF the move
ment looking to securing Glenn
ency for the condemned men. and
is doing all I'm his power to save
them from the dreadful fate
which seemingly awaits them.