Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-03-29
Return of Governor Swanson
Prevents Possible Commuta-
ton Of Death Sentence by
Lieutenant Governor
AGED FATHER FIRST
TO BE ELECTR0CUTEO
Delay in Desperate
Effort to Save Prisoners
Causes Him to Break Down
Son Evidences No Fear

(IBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wire.)
Richmond. Va, March 2S.-Floyd
Allen. leader OF the outlaw band in
Carroll county was executed in the
state pcnitentiary this afternoon.
The aged prisoner, terribly un-
neryed by the excitement incident to
the delay Of six hours in carrying out
the sentence. went to the chair at l.20
O'Clock. lie was pronounced dead at
1926.
The PRISON puards neNl arought
Claude Swanson Allen, son Of Floyd,
into the destn chamber at 1880
O'clock. He displayed rare stoicism.
He was executed at 1885 p. ~.
Mumhling prayer and crying half
audibly that he was ready To go,
Floyd Allen. lawless product OF the
virginia mountains whose refusal TO
accept short prison term for minor
offensa led To the wholesale court
murder in Hillsville one year ago,
limpcd to the death chair in the state
penitentiary today eleven minutes
ahead Of Claude Swanson Allen, his
son.
The sentence Of the court, held up
for six hours while desperate and dra-
matte efforts were being made To save
the condemned man by the eleventh
hour appeals to Lieutenant Governor
Eilyson. speedily was ordered To pro-
cecd when Governor Mann hastened
back to Virginia to take charge of the
situation The prison superinten-
dent. acting within the law had
agreed at o'clock this morning To
defer the execution giving Attorney
General Williams an opportunity 90
,uss upon the constitutional rieht of
Lieutenant Governor Ellyson to inter
fere.
But the son Of Governor Mann
reached his father In Philadelphia by
telephone less than an hour after the
delay had been ordered and the 90
ernor was back in Richmond at II 90
o'clock
In his office sat state Prison sa-
perintendent Wood. nereously await
ing developments. Precisely at noon
he was called to the telephone.
THE governor of Virginia is back
al his desk was the message he re-
ceived and instantly preparations
were made TO obey the mandate Of
the court.
Father and son, occupying separate
cells. heard the death warrants read
II few minutes after. Tears were in
Floyd Aliens eyes as he looked upon
his boy and there was pathetic fare
well as the old mountalneer was led
away. Two minutes after he entered
the death chamber, the current was
turned on.
When the prison surgeon announce
ed that Floyd Allen was dead. the
body was hastily removed and the
guards went back Tor Claude who
walked in briskly and with measured
stride. glancing eooly at the witnesses.
There was less delay in arranging
the straps for the second execution.
one minute clapsing before the power
was applied.
Floyd Allen was muttering a prayer
rs he was placed in the chair, but
Claude was stoical Rev George Nc
Daniel spiritual adviser to the pfiq-
oners, had to be lifted into his car
as he left the prison.
FLOYD Allen and his SON Claude are |
the only Hillsboro gunner who have
paid the death penalty for the ear |
roll court house murders year ago !
They were clectrocuted after dra-
matte eleventh hour attempt to save |
Ihem had been thwarted by Governor
Mann unexpectedly returning from |
New Jersey to Virginia
Friends of the condemned men be-
'ieged Lieutenant Governor Ellyson |
Tor reprieve The lieutenant COVER |
nor requested the superintendent Of !
he penitentiary to postpone the exc
'utions until a decision could be rem
Tered on the constitutonality OF re-
lreve II issued by the lieutenant gov
'rnOr.
Governor Mann's return to the state
inllificd any proposed action by the /
lieutenant governor