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

son. Claude Swanson Allen. were con
the murder OF William NJ Foster at
torDey FOR the Commonwealth in the
County OF Carroll Since much direct
evidence connecting the death of Mr.
Foster with the bullets fired by these
sSisoners was lacking. the trial juries
evidently took into account the theory
of conspiracy az advanced by the
prosecution. together with the entire
crime and the bearing each mans
death had upon the motives of the
murderers
No. only the State and the country,
but the civilized world. was shocked
when the news came from the little
town of 1Illsville. IN the Virginia
mountains. on the morning of March
IA, 1912, that tho officers OF the law
in Carroll County had been killed in
tho discharge of their duties. But lit
lie OF the Ill feeling there. and of the
fairs Of the county. including the adj
ministrauon of justice, was known
outside OF the immediate section Of
the State surrounding Carroll.
One thing. however, was significant.
When Judge Robert c. Jackson now
Il practicng attorney in Roanoke. and
former Judge OF the circuit of which
l.,
porter that the court at Hillsville had
been shot up and the officers killed
he exclaimed The Allepsr Judge
Jackson is known 20 have felt that
the action OF Governor Montag que In
1909 in renting a jail sentence i'm
posed on Floyd Allen alone saved him
from the fate afterwards suffered by
Judge Massie
Inception OF the Crime.
MI firth I'm,
the Circuit Court OF Carroll County
on March IL. 1919, or an Indictment
charging him with Interfering with an
officer in the discharge OF his duty.
Tho specific orense was tina, he inter
fered with two deputy sheriffs who
were engaged In taking Sidna and
Wesley Edwards, Floyd Aliens neph-
ews, to jail at Uillsville to answer
charges of lighting and disturbing
public worship.
For many years Floyd Aliens doni-
neerinS nature was n factor in all tho
affairs of his county No doubt the
courts were somewhat to blame for
not maintaining stricter discipline in
the county and thus curb!ng the dispo-
sition of the Allen family to take the
law In their own hands In the final
argument before Governor Mann on
February /, Judge d. w. Bolen said
that Floyd Allen was man who tried
TO enforce his own DEGREES. He
brooked no opposition to his desires,
was always ready to take up quar-
rel, and had fights and shooting az
trays innumerable. One OF the latter
was shooting affray with his own
brother. Jasper Allen, IN which both
We're severely wounded This caused
an estrangement which had been
hridsed over only within the past few
years
Floyd Whips Deputy.
II seems that the deputy sherifs
had one of the Edwards boys hand
culfed and the other tied with a rope
as the officers had but one pair OF
handouts. I'm alteration between
them and Floyd Allen took placc nj
Sdna Aliens store resulting in one
of the deputies receiving a sound
whipping. and the or1Cr making n
clean escape. The officer who had
taken his medicine declined TO take
charge again OF the prisoners. and
Floyd Allen himself later took them to
Hillsville ana bailed them. They were
convicted and served jail sentences
Tor The offense.
From term to term. Floyd Aliens
case was continued until ne was placed
on trial in March. lIo was prosecuted
by commemorative Attorney Foster
and defended by Judge Bolon and Wal
ter 6. Upton. The evidence was soon
IN. and the case WAS argued and given
10 the jury The arraignment of the
prisoner by the prosecuting attorney
was regarded as rather vigorous
Late in the afternoon OF March lG
the jury reported that II had not
agreed upon a.s%:rdict. whereupon 1t
vas adjourned Ia the next morning
FLOYD Allen spent the night with his
brother, Sidna Allen. seven miles south
OF Hiilaville. instead of going to his
own nome, which is twice as far away
on the southern slope OF the Blue
Ridge HIS sons, Victor and Claude.