The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-17
Governor Grants Sympathiz-
ers One-Hour Hearing
On February lst
REPRIEVES COME ON
EVE OF EXECUTION
Action AnnouncedAfterHear.
ing Appeal From Fifteen
Citizens, and Further
Arguments Will
be Prepared

On the eve Of their electrocution
and closely following upon the heels
OF the supreme courts rejection OF
their second appeal. Governor Mann
yesterday for the third time respited
Floyd and Claude Allen. moving back
the date Of execution 10 March 7th.
The reprteve for the condemned
men. who were 10 have gone TO their
deaths IN the electric chair today but
>or executive Interference, followed
an audience granted Allen sympathiz-
ers at II O'Clock yesterday morn
ing A delegation Of fifteen called
by previous appointment. and Rich
ard Evelyn Byrd acted as spokesman
fer the party MI Byrd asked the
governor for sixty-day respite for
the A}tena Ia-arder that Interested
friends and sym pathirers might pre-
sent further argument for commuta
tion Of sentence
Yields to Request.
The governor vas busly enssg ed
in other matters at the zine the dele
CATION called. bot assured Mr.. Byrd
hat ne would stay the stern man
late Of the law loHg enough for then
TO be heard. He further agreed to
give The Allen sympathizers hear
ing Saturday February lst. whieh is
10 oe limited 80 enc hour,
Early in the afternoon the eYecu-
tive announcsS that he had decided
to respite the Aliens until March eth
The governor issued no statement be-
yond the simple announcement nor
would he discuss the subiect
Though he had given no hint OF
his intentions and had absolutely re-
fused to discuss the case Wednesday
after the Supreme court acted. IL was
generally supposed that he would
grant the condemned men respite.
accompanying the action with a
statement either intimating or stat
ing in positive terms that he would
not further interfere,
Action Changes Opinions.
Quite a number who have hitherto
held TO the opinion that in the last
analysis the Aliens would meet tho
tate deereed by the Wytheviiie Jury
despite continued delays yesterday
expressed the belief that the con-
erday---w!thin eighteen hours prac-
tically--as they viii ever get until
claimed by natural evolution.
Under the big dome all was in
readiness for the execution. except
the sun1moning of the jury to wit
ness the execution. The Aliens had
been informed of the second reIec-
lion Of their appeal by the Supreme
court, and. according TO the prison
officials, received the news stoicslly.
and were evidently prepared for the
end so far as human beings can be
prepared All the preparations were
held up when the telephone messe &c
from the governors once reached the
prison shortly before noon.
Plan Final Appeal.
The Allen ssmpathizers now have
two weeks TO formulate plan of ae-
ton. which had not been definitely
decided upon yesterday. II liz pro-
rosed to make this last appeal to the
executive as strong as s,rch an APP
peal can be made. but in the limited
time allotted by the Governor for the
hearing 1t will be necessary to con-
dense the argument with an idea TO
hrevity and strength. II is said that.
this appeal failing. counsel for the
Aliens will take the case to the su-
preme court of the United States on
the ground that mans lite cannot
be- placed In jeopardy twice. r.. II.
willis. OF Hairston & Willis, with
whom this plan originated, and who
discussed ii in a conference held here
some weeks ago, arrived in Richmond
from Roanoke yesterday morning,
and was In conference with Attorneys
Byrd and Smith. who were special
counsel for the Aliens in the recent
appeal to the Supreme court
Those composing the delegation
which waited upon the governor yes
terday were: Richard f. Byrd, l.. l..
Scherer, Rev. j. j. Scherer. John +.
Branch, Judge william F. Rhea,
Judge Richard WingSeld, Harry Nj
Smith. Jr., Hiram Smith. X. II. VIII
lis. Major James p, Patton. Rev,
George W, Mcdaniel. w. $. Forbes
w Mcdonald Lee. ". b. Bradley
James stone. Of Bristol. W u. Smith
and A. j. Williams the last named
beins member OF the jury which