The Sentinel=record., 1913-03-29
VIRGINIA cLANsMEN DIE IN THE ELECTRIC CHAIR AFTER DRA-
 MATlc CIRCUMSTANCES.
ATTEMPTED RESPITE FAILED
Plan to Take Action Through Lieut.. Governor is Thwarted by Hurried Return to Virginia of Gov
 ernor Mann.

Richmond, Va, March 2S.--Mumb- ling a prayer and crying half audibly that he was ready to go, Floyd Allen a lawless product of the Virginia mountains whose refusal to accept short prison term for minor of fense led to the wholesale court house murder in Hillsville one year ago limped to the death chair in the state prison today, eleven minutes ahead of Claude Swanson Allen, his son.
 The sentence of the court, held up for six hours while desperate and dra- matic efforts were being made to save the condemned men by eleventh hour appeals to the lieutenant gov ernor, was speedily ordered to pro- ceed when Gov. Mann hastened back to Virginia soil to take charge of a situation which was exciting to q degree.
 The prison superintendent acting entirely within the law agreed at o'clock this morning to defer the execution giving Attorney General Williamson an opportunity to pass upon the constitutional right of Lieut.. Gov. Ellison to interfere.
 But the young son of Gov. Mann, reached his father in Philadelphia by telephone less than an hour after the delay had been ordered and eight o'clock today the governor was again on Virginia soil Aroused, as it af- rewards developed by the unexpect ed efforts to take advantage of his temporary absence, when he had re- peatedly refused clemency, the gover- nor boarded an early morning train. arriving in Richmond at 11s3O o'clock
 Earlier he had telegraphed the secretary of the commonwealth that he would be in Virginia by s o'clock, this information suddenly checking the plan of Allen sympathizers ill further urging the lieutenant gover- nor to intercede.
 While every proceeding had halted pending the governors arrival. word reached police headquarters that a crowd had assembled at the station patrolmen, detectives and plaNl clothes men were being hurried there to prevent any demonstration. When the governor stepped on the plat firm he was quickly surrounded by officers who escorted him to a taxi cab which took him quickly to the capital
 In his office at the state prison, Supt Wood was pacing the floor ner- viously as he awaited developments. The situation there had become more intense. Precisely at noon the sup erintendent was called to the tele phone.
 "The governor of Virginia is at his desk, was the message he receiv- ed from the capital and instantly the preparations were made to obey the mandate of the court. The witnesses who had assembled at o'clock, the hour announced for the execution. had left the prison with instructions to return at 1 o'clock.
 Just after sunrise the Aliens prac- ticalIy collapsed when informed that half day respite had been granted by a combination of legal and tech nical circumstances as strange as any that had ever been presented to court of justice.
 Claude Allen, who had retained his nerve throughout the trying or deal in his behalf gasped and tren- bled buE he regained his composure as he noted the hopeless and deject- ed appearance of his aged father in the cell across the corridor As the morning hours passed by, they sat with their spiritual advisers, but they nerved themselves again for the end when they heard that Governor Mann had returned to Virginia.
 Men prominent in official circles of the state who waited in the cap itol for a final plea to the governor, were turned away as his secretary handed out this statement from the executives.
 Hearing at five minutes to tkree o'clock this morning of the action taken in the Allen case after 1 left the city, l considered 1t my duty to hurry back. l simply desire to repeat that after the most careful examina- tion of the evidence in this case, have not the slightest doubt of the guilt of Floyd and Claude Allen. and will not interfere The law must take it's course"
 What brought forth the greatest from the governor was the reported fact that the plan to appeal to the lieutenant governor was agreed week ago.
 While there was no intimation from Lieut.. Gov Ellyson that he would interfere. his willingness last night to await written opinion from