The Washington times., 1913-03-29

Il am not guilty of the charge of con-
spiracy. l had too much love for my
dear mother and my sweetheart, II
there had been nothing else to keep me
from planning a deed which would have
separated me from them forever on
this earth.
IF any one willingly falsely testified
against me, / forgive them. i did not
know Judge Massie Those who have
wyonged me l forgive, and hope that We
will meet in a better world, where sor-
row is never known. Praying God s
blessings upon our dear old State and
her people, l say farewell"
Forgives His Enemies.
Floyd Aliens letter went into details
as to his political foes and the enc
mics he made because of doing his
duty while deputy sheriff of Carroll
county years ago. Thanking friends
for their efforts in his behalf, he
wrote:
'T forgive all my enemies-those who
have testified falsely against me and
those who have not dealt fairly with
me. I hope God will also forgive
them. Shortly we will have to stand
before our God, and each will give an
The true facts will all tnen be known.
1 have told the truth. l am innocent
of the charge Of which am convicted,
and have no fear OF meeting my God
in connection with the crime for which
/ am dying.
= 81 hope the lives of my family which
l leave behind will show, as far as
possible. to the world that we have
been wronged. ! hope by their lives
that they will contradict the state
ments and untruths that have been
stated against US"
Leaders of the Clansmen.
Floyd and Claude Allen were the
leaders of the six clansmen who made
the attack in the little courthouse at
Hillsville, Va, on March IA. 1912, and
killed five persons in the courtroom.
Commonwealth's Attorney Foster.
Sheriff Webb, and two others.
This wholesale murder was the ex-
preston of the outlaws resentment
against the imposing of sentence
upon old Floyd Allen for interfering
with an officer of the law.
After the shooting Floyd Allen was
wounded while trying to get away
with his fellow clansmen, and was
easily captured His son Claude made
good his escape, but was captured on
March 2s, in a lonely cabin in the
mountains, near the North Carolina
line.
At the trial of Floyd and Claude AL
len much sympathy was expressed for
the younger man. and after they were
titioE asking for a reprieve of the
sentence in the case of the son was
submitted to the governor.
Granted Four Reprieves
Four times the execution of the
two Aliens was postponed by execu-
tive clemency. They were first GEN.
fenced TO die on November %. They
were granted a reprieve OF one month.
and before the time had expired they
were granted a second respite until
January II. Twice the case was be-
fore the State supreme court.
Floyd Allen was the leader of THIS
mountain clan, which had been a law
unto itself, in the mountains of south
ern Virginia for many years. His
Hillsville raid. were: Sidn$ Allen and
his nephew, Wesley Edwards. the
last OF the raiders to be captured,
sentenced to thirty-five and twenty
Friel Allen. the youngest of the clan,
TO fifteen years, and Sidna Edwards
TO eighteen years.
Victor Allen, another son of Floyd
Allen. the only member off the clan
to be released. was acquitted by a
jury at Wytheville, Va The jury
was convinced that young Victor look
no part in the shooting. Byrd Mar
ion, a relative of the Aliens, was in
dicted with them. but was a State
dropped.
History of Allen Case.
The following is the chronology OF
the Allen case:
March IL. 1s12-Floyd Allen SEN
to three years Imprisonment for in
terfering with an officer of the law.
Following the sentence the Allen
clan shoots Up the Hillsville. Va,
courthouse. killing Judge Massfe,
Commonwealth Attorney William NJ
Foster. Sheriff Lee F. Webb, Juror
Fowler. and Miss Elizabeth Ayers.
March 15-Flcyd Allen arrested, to-
gether with his son Victor and his
cousin, Byrd Marion.
March 16-Sheriff's posse and 100
detectives start in search OF The rest
March 22-sidna Edwards captured
while asleep in cabin near Lambsburg.
Va.
March 2s-Claude Allen. son of Floyd,
captured.
March 2s-Friel Allen captured.
May 17-Fioyd Allen sentenced to
death on November %, Victor Allen ac-
quilted. Byrd Marion turns States evil
dence and is freed.
June 1-Claude Allen given fifteen-year
sentence for second degree murder.
July 13-Jury disagrees in trial of
Claude Allen on second indictment
third trial. to death November %.
September l4-Sidna Allen and Wes-
ley Edwards captured at Des Moines,
Iowa
September Is-Friel Allen sentenced TO
fifteen years and Sidna Edwards to
eighteen years.
November I-Supreme court refuses
appeal of Floyd and Claude Allen.
November I9-Floyd and Claude Allen
get respites 10 December IS.
November 22-Sidna Allen gets fifteen
years
December ll-Sidna Allen given five
years on second Indictment: also fifteen
years on compromise. Wesley Edwards
also agrees to compromise verdict and
10 given twenty-seyen years in peni-
tentiary.
December II-Floyd and Claude Allen
respited to January IL.
January Ii. 19l3-Supreme Court re-
fuses second appeal of Floyd and
Claude Allen.
January lS-Floyd and Claude Allen
respited to March T.
March Ex-Governor refuses to commute
sentence of Floyd and Claude Allen.
and makes March Is date of execution.
March 22-United States Supreme
Court justices refuse to interfere In
Allen case.
March 8-Floyd and Claude Allen
L. -, haf