The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-29


tho weapon.
| Then. for the first time, Judge Bolen
feared trouble. He ut once thought to
secure the assistance of Floyd Aliens
sons to quiet him, and no looked at
Victor failing to catch his eye Then
Judge Bolen looked at Claude, and at
mat very moment saw the young man
fire his pistol In tho direction of Judge
Nlassie, saw the smoke and spray fly
Looking then at the judge the lawyer
saw MIN shudder and begin to sink
down, and saw the lint and spray fly
from his shoulder. Judge Massie
glanced to his right. and at that mo-
inent another shot was fired from tho
same direction. The Judge then top
pied over in his chair
Consistently throughout the trials
and since. Judge Bolen had asserted
that so far rs q mans senses can be
trusted, both Of sight and hearing,
Claude Allen fired the first shot. The
overwhelming weight of evidence on
the part of many witnesses was that
the first two shots came from the
northeast corner of the room, where
Claude and Sidna Allen stood Those
who testified otherwise have nearly
all been since discredited
Flcyd Allen lay on. or fell to- the
moor. He claimed he had received his
wound III the Sroii. before he had
drawn a pistol. and that it came from
the pistol of Clcrk Dexter Goad, after
Sheriff Webb had fired the first shot
and missed him. The prosecution new
er believed this. thinking tho man
could not have climbed over the five
foot bar with such n wound. How
ever, Floyd Allen later arose and fired
several shots
Claude and Sidna Allen advanced and
began pistol duel with the officers of
the court. Wesley Edwards fired from
near the stove on the north side of
the room-Friel Allen from the stems
to the juryroom on the west side. The
latter alone will admit having fired q
shot at anybody who is dead, and he
says he fired at Foster. The others say
they shot at Goad alone, save that
Floyd Allen and Wesley Edwards own
to one shot each at Woodson Ouisen-
berry. the deputy clerk of tho court.
who did some shooting. Several deputy
sherins took part in the ARRAY
Fire mt Fleeing Jurors.
MI the court officers being dead save
Clerk Goad. the Aliens left the build
ing. They began firing at the remain
ing jurors. who wero fleeing down the
street but were soon obliged 20 stop
inns because of the courage of Clerk
Goad, who alone, with all his com
panions dead, followed the Aliens out
side ana began n pistol duel with them.
standing n mark for half a dozen
pistols He was shot about tho legs
having been wounded in the courtroom
In the face, He shot Sidna and lrloyd
Allen outside the building Then the
Aliens left the town, save Floyd who
was too badly wounded to travel, and
ms son. Victor, who remained with him
they were taken in custody early the
following morning.
rosters first fatal wound evidently
came from Sidna or Claude Allen, con
sidering his position when the shoot
ing began. Sheriff Webb was shot in
the back by one bullet. but his posi-
ton at the moment seems to be un-
known lie died instantly Judge
Alassio lived half an hour. leaving the
dying declaration that Sldna Allen
killed him Juror Fowler expired two
days later without recovering con-
seriousness. There were others wound
ed. Included Juror G. c. Cain, who has
been unable to work, and Is now APP
pealinE for help from the public.
Captured and Sentenced
Sidna Edwards went to the noun
'alns and surrendered week later.
claude Allen was caught by detectives
In hlding two weeks afterwards; F'rial
Allen was delivered through the inter
vention of his father Six months
from the day OF the shooting, Sidna
Allen and Wesley Edwards were cap
iured at Des Moines. Iowa.
Floyd Allen was tried first. and
given verdict of death in the electric
chair Claude Allen was first tried
Tor killing Judge Massie, receiving a
Judgment of fifteen years imprison-
mcnt. a second trial. on the charge
Of killing Sheriff Webb. resulted in
hung jury. while on the third, for
tho killing Of Mr.. Foster. he was found
guilty of murder In the first degree.
f'riel Allen and Sidna Edwards plead
ed guilty to murder In the second de-
gree, md accepted sentences of eigh-
teen and fifteen years. Sidna Allen
was tried and given fifteen years for
killing Judge Massie, then five years
! for killing Mr.. Foster. and then plead
ed guilty TO the other indictments
against him. taking a total sentence
of thirty-five years. The cases were
ended when Wesley Edwards pleaded
guilty, and received twentv-seyen
years. Victor Allen was tried md ac
quilted.
Sentiment Helped sidnn.
It has been felt by the prosecution
that the failure 10 secure tho death
penalty Tor Sdna Allen, admittedly NV
far the worst member OF tho family
In every way was due to the sentY.
mont which had been secured for a
lessenins OF the Allen sentences. 1t
was certainly regarded as n powerful
argument for Communication for Claude
! Allen. because of his youth ana his
peaceful life prior to tho tragedy
! Thousands OF people signed petitions.
and much money was subscribed to nav
/ the expenses OF presenting the appeals
/ to the Governor.
! Twice the cases OF the two con.
! demned men reached tho Supreme
! Court, which refused to interfere. Tho
/ last proceeding was stated to be novel
! in that II asked for an order permit,
/ ting the trial court. to entertain n mo-
| iion for n Dew trial on the ground of
er-d,scovered evidence. But tho
! tribunal of last resort held that the
procedure asked for could no, he
| granted. and that In any event the evil
/ dence adduced was immateriaL
Three respites were granted, and the
Governor had hcen appealed TO in very
many ways--at public hearings and
private audiences. His personal com
| fort. his political future, hls fate sf-
/ ter death had all becp Threatened T.,