The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-02
Communication Urged to
M a k e Sentences,
Uniform.
MASSIE'S CHAIR
ON EXHIBITION
Bullet Hole Shows Shot From
Officers-Judge Bolen Tells
of Change in Sentiment-John
p. Branch Adds His APP
peal-Public Excluded
From Hearing.

for nearly tnFec hours yeStsIudy
Governor Mann heard appeals for com
mutation of sentence FOR Floyd Allen
and Claude Swanson Allen, who are
under sentence of execution on March
for the murder OF Commonwealth
Attorney william NJ Foster IN the
Carroll courthouse tragedy on March
"a last. The executive made no state
nent whatever in conclusion. When
John p Branch. of this city, resumed
his seat. the Governor asked.
Anybody else There was no re-
Spouse, and the Governor rose. indi-
eating that the hearing was at an end.
IL IS believed to be probable that
several days will eiapse before de-
cfsfon is rendered. although no one
knows at what time action viii be
taken.
Six speeches were made in behalf OF
the Aliens. and no one appeared 10
repres sent the interests of the Common
wealth. The speakers were. in order,
as follows: Hiram VI Smith. r. H.
Willis, Richard Evelyn Byrd. II. "
Smith, Jr-. Judge ID. W. Bolen and John
y. Branch.
Behind Closed Doors.
At preliminary conference held in
the Offices of the State Corporation
Commission, the advocates Of the cause
OF the prisoners decided 10 concen-
trate on one line OF pleading, mercy
based on justice" being adopted as the
eountersign. TX was further deter
mined 10 ask that the audience at the
hearing be- limited to certain specIhed
people and this was adhered 10. Most
of those present bearing petitions were
left outside the ante-chamber to the
Governors Office. as were newspaper
men, with others brought thither BY
curiosity About score in all failcd
10 secure the desired admission
Aside from the six speakers already
naned. those admitted included Vic-
tor AIien. Mss Nellie Wissier
Thomas F. Byrd. Judge William r
Ehea. Judge g. Richard Wlngneld
Rev. J. J. Scherer. Jr.. Rev George "
Mcdaniel. l.. D.. and C. Francis Cooke
who represented the defense in sons
o. the trials at wytheville-
Among those remaining on the out
side was Rev. r. H. Beasley. OF SOUTH
Boston, bearing petitions estimated 70
contain The names of 500 nsopie oil
Halifax County, asking for commute
tion.
Hiram NJ Smith made the opening
remarks. beginning few minutes af-
ter IL O'Clock lie visited Carroll
Countv IN connection with the recent
proceedings before the Supreme Couri
OF Appeals and told II the feeling he
had found there. He dwelt on the
mountain feud between the Aliens and
the court officers and discussed the evil
denee for the prosecution. as IL diff
fered In the several trials He made
a strong presentation OF the argu-
ments for the prisoners
offered to BE Hostage
An interesting proposition was
brought out by Mr. Smith. He said
that Miss Wissier. Claude's sweet
heart in conversation with him Fri
day. said she wished Claude could see
the Governor in person The y0une
prisoner replied that If permitted. n.
would walk to TIE Executive Mansion
talk 10 the Governor and return tc
the prison without any effort to es-
cape.
Yes. said the girl. "and ] would
be willing TO be locked up here In
your cell until you got back, and II
you did not return they could electro
cute me instead Of you-" This nara
tive brought tears TO the eyes OF many
OF those present
Mr.. Willis. attorney for the defense
during the trials. reviewed the evil
dence submitted He showed how
MANY fncOrlfE ADVANCED All tue De III
ming By the Commonwealth were
abandoned as the hearings proceeded.
presumably because the prosecuting
officers found they could not be sub
stantiated. One of these was the
claim that on the evening preceding
the tragedy. when the jury was con-
skering FLOYD Aliens case. the &C
cused man was greeted in the court
room by Cabell Strickland. his friend
=
your puise% In reply. Floyd was al
legged to have whispered. Are all the
boys ready The fact that this line
OF evidence tending to show conspi-
racy was not advanced in the later
trials. was taken by Mr.. Willis 20
show the weakening OF the Common
weaith's chain or condemnatcry facts
Result ef Feud-
AIR. Byrd-S remarks were much
along the same line He went over
certain leading facts in the case,
emitting minor details. The killing
was the result. he claimed. OF noun
tain fcud. which reached boiling point
when Floyd Alien felt that his per-
soual and political enemies 1ad Sc
cured his conviction and humiliation.
The speech Of n. ~. smith. j.. was
brief. hut ne emphasized the points
made by his son and AIR. Byrd.
Judge Eolcn the eyewitness ~ the
TRAGEDY. occupied tho floor Tor some
time. He told % the old feelings and
.pre5udiccs in Carroll County. with
which he Is thoroughly familiar. since
for generation he has been the friend
and attorney OF the Aliens. lie ~as
counsel FOR Floyd Allen at the trial
that resulted 80 fisastro1siy. and was
seated in the bar by hts side when
the shooting began.
>rrp~ tn Courtroom
The scene IN the courtroom. told -
many times By Judge Bolen on ~, Wit
NESS etaad. was gone over again IN
dataiI-how the jury decided that the
accused must gcrvc fail sentence
how the lawyers asked for Rev trial
and how the court decided that Alier
must go to Jail pcnding decision ~
fhfs motion. Then Ffoyd Alien arose
and said aerccly. n just tel you
CONTINUED on Fiffh Pagc)