The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-29
Despite Victor's Protest,
Thousands Visit
Undertaker's.
POLICE CALLED
TO CLEAR STREET
Children Taken to Scene by Par
ents-Caskets Leave on South
ern Train-People Struggle
for Places to View Bodies
Of Unfortunate
Men.

over the vigorous protest OF Victor
NJ Allen and Rev. J. j. Scherer Jr..
$4,000 to $1,000 Richmond people yes
terday- afternoon and last night made
a public spectacle of the bodies OF
Floyd Allen and Claude Swanson
Allen For six hours men, women and
children, white and black, poured
through the gates OF Blileys under
taking establishment at Third and
Marshall Streets, were ushered
through the mortuary chamber by en-
ployes and by city police. and made TO
pass quickly out 10 the street
Friends OF the Aliens soueh, last
night TO place the responsibility for
what was characterized by them as one
of the most dsgrsceful scenes in the
history of this city. 1t was shown that
between and / O'Clock, Major Louis
Werner. Chief of Police. was given
orders by Mr.. Scherer. acting at the
wish OF Victor Allen. TO prevent the
entrance OF the crowds The Chief
apparently did his duty. He helped his
men TO clear the street and keep the
crowd back. Not content with this,
he addressed the gathering, saving that
the family objected TO the public view
ing the bodies, and that IL would not
be permitted.
Powers Had Limit
II was explained late last night by
Major Werner and others that the
powers OF the police were limited The
place was the property OF the Blilcy
concern. and the police could not pre-
vent the orderly entrance OF any per
sons permitted by the proprietors to
visit the scene. The officers Kept tho
note anything that might tend 10 dis
order
The scene was one OF the most as
founding that can be conceived re-
vealing an extent Of morbidity difficult
to comprehend.
women with young girls took them
through the chamber. crowds OF ragged
barefoot boys. children barely large
enough to walk. and who had TO be
held up TO view the ghastly spectacle
hundred Of negro laborers. were ad-
mitted In spite of the protests from
the surviving member OF the family.
the astounding spectacle was kept up
until about 1880 o'clock, when the
caskets were closed and were removed
TO the railroad station.
Before 10 o'clock in the mornipc
people began TO gather about the
place, and there was a good-szed
crowd at o'clock. when the bodies
arrived from the penitentiary. IT,
rapidly Increased in volume. and the
police were asked to come TO the scene
AT the request OF the proprietor. the
street was cleared so that ira ffic wouId
not be impeded
Victor Visits Scene
About o'clock Victor Alien. accom-
panied by Mr. Scherer. arrived al tho
place 10 see about the arrangements
Ihe minister was surprised to see the
great thronS gathered. many of them
being perni reus.' ~ see the bodies IIe
Indignantly elbowed his way through
being roundly cursed by those whom,
he jostled.
Victor Allen was deeply pained. "Mr.
Scherer, I thought this was to be pri
Fate,' he said The minister an id he
expostuiated with the proprietor. who
SAID he would have people kept ont
NJ the same time. Chief Werner MAS
seen and said all lie wanted was
iuerS, Which were promptly given
Victor Allen.
The people were put out of the NOR
tuary chamber. and short service
was hcid Victor Allen bore I'm woll
after the first shoclt of seeing tbe
dead features OF his father and
brother. He then left with the min
.ster, me latter was much surprised
~ near las' night, after Victors de-
parture' what had taken place.
Night Crowds Increase,
The crowd was continuone a.. a.,
evening hours went on. Eyidentlv tha
news spread throughout the citv and
constant stream of people came and
went. AS late as 10 o'clock a reportor
10. me rimes- es-Dispatch counted 271
people In ten minutes. AS 1t was
agreed that the crowd was n,,,.'i'
thicker earlier in the evening i, y"nmi,,
appear that 1000 would be re.son-
able estimate. 'e"soh-
little girl. eight years old. brouoht
a small box OF flowers marI1ed "Eor
claude Allen" Several other packages
of flowers were received. SO
FRANK a. Bliley. of the concern. said
early this morning that he did not
know by whose authority the crow1 U1
was permitted in his place. He re-
called that Mr.. Scherer obiected =,
behalf Of Victor Allen at about
CLOCK. but added that he did not know
what had happened after that time
as ne was not at his establishment
Finni Scene at station.
victor Allen remained at the JIot.,
Richmond until II O'clock. whan n,,,h
a Few friends, he was driven to the
southern Railway Station. The bodies
had already been placed in the ba pyao,
car. He shook hands with all Of his
COMPANIONS. and boarded the train NJ.
most Immediately. Those with hin,
barred their heads as the good-bys wers
said. WIZ
Several police officers accompanied
him to the station. A dozen more were
on duty there, but the crowd was small
and there was no disorder.
Mt. Scherer remained on tho train
until IT left at 1895 O'clock lie loft
with Cictor Allen tho medal which wae
to have been presented to Claude. but
which lie never saw. IT will be given
to Mra Floyd Allen, Victor's mother.
who, In her mountain home. awaits