Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-03-29
VIRGINIA HILL
CRIME AVENGED
FLOYD ALLEN AND MS son
ElliC rIiOCITED N ONE
4. VI YESTERDAY.
FINAL Scenes DRAMATIC
Governor " = Fastened Home 10
Prevent y OF Execution for
the Jung Murderer,

RICHM - Va, March 2s-Mum-
bling / Ter ana crying half aud
IDLY that : was ready to go, Floyd
Allen, n :; less product of the Vlr-
ginIa m : .ains, whose refusal to ac-
ccpt short prison tom for a minor
oncnsc led to the wholesale court
house murder in lIillsville one year
ago, limpcd to the death chair in the
state penitentiary today, eleven min
utes ahead of Claude Swanson Allen,
his SON
The sentence Of the court, held up
for six hours, while desperate and
dramatic efforts were being made to
save the condemned men by eleventh
hour appeals to the lieutenant gov
crnor, was speedily ordered to pro-
cced when Governor Mann fastened
back to Virginia soil to take charge
of situation which was exciting to
degree. The prison superintendent
acting entirely within the law, agreed
~ " 'l'Nh NlllN ulplHllk W uiltl
the execution, giving Attorney Cen
eral Williams an opportunity mean
While to pass upon the constitutional
right Of Lieutenant Governor Ely
son to interfere.
Notified by son.
But the young son of Governor
Mann reached his father In Philadel.
| al I,,s
after the delay had been ordered, and
| by o'clock today the governor was
again on Virginia soil
Just after sunrise the Aliens prac-
tically collapsed when informed that
a half day respite had been granted
by combination Of legal and tech
ncal circumstances as strange as any
| that had ever been presented to n
court Of justice. Claude Allen, who
had retained his nerve throughout the
trying ordeal in his behalf. gasped
and trembled but he regained his
composure as he noted the hopeless
and detected appearance Of his aged
father across the corridor. AS the
morning hours passed away. they sat
with their spiritual advisers, but they
nerved themselves again for the end
when they heard that Governor Mann
prominent in official circles who walt
ed in the capitol for final plea
! with the governor were turned away
as his secretary handed out this state
ment from the executive:
"Law Must Take Its Course"
Hearing at five minutes after 3
o'clock this morning of the action
taken in the Allen case, after | left
the city, | considered It my duty to
hurry back ] simply desire to repeat
that after the most careful examina-
ton of the evidence in this case.
have not the slightest doubt of the
guilt of Floyd and Claude Allen and
| viii not interfere. The law must
take It's course"
The jury which, under the law is
required to witness the executions,
assembled outside the penltentiary
gates shortly before O'Clock, min
/ Cling there with the crowd. The pro-
gram as originally announced was
carried out without change. While
two minister's, who have been unfal-
tering in their loyalty to the con-
domned men. were telling them good
/ bye. the prison superintendent.
stepped into the corridor which sep
arated the cells of father and son and
read the death warrant. Floyd Allen.
still limping from the wounds he re-
| ceiyed in the Hillsville court house
battle. said the last fearful farewell to
his boy and went with the prison
guards to the death chamber A groan
escaped him as he sat in the chair
while the straps and electrodes were
being fastened upon him. The cur
rent was turned on at 1:22 o'clock,
and in four minutes the surgeon mo-
! toned to the superintendent that he
was dead The body was speedily re-
moved.
Merry To the Last.
Again the chair was tested, while
Claude Swanson Allen. namesake of
United States senator. was being
led through the corridor to the cham
her door. Though Il trifie pale, he
marched with measured stride, his
head held high. his remarkable nerve
with him to the end. AS he took his
seat. he moved his arms to assist the
guards who were adjusting the
straps and went to his death silently
and unafraid
When the autopsy had been per-
formed the bodies were given over to
Victor Allen. Floyd's son. by whom
they were taken to the mountains OF
southwest Virginia for burial