The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-07
Floyd and Claude Swan
son Allen Must Die in
Chair March %.
SAYS DECISION
is LAST WORD
Mann Denounces Failure to Sc
cure Death Sentence for Sidna
as Miscarriage of Justice.
OHense in Courtroom
Cannot Be in Self
Defense.

In a written decision. which ne de-
clares is absolutely flnaL Governor
Mann yesterday refused tho petitions
for Communication OF sentence for Floyd
Allen and Claude Swanson Allen.
There is now no hope for them. and
the sentence ot the courts will be car
yied out on the morning OF Friday.
March rs.
The repr,eve for three weeks from
o-day. announced Wednesday. is
given. the Governor explains. that the
condemned men may have time in
which to make their peace with God.
He asks that the people OF Virginia
refrain from further efforts ito secure
clemcncy for these unfortunate but
guilty men"
Prisoners Not Notified.
Floyd and Claude Allen. who are
In the death cells at the State prison,
DO not yet know that all earthly hope
for thom is gone. it was late in the
day when the decision OF tho Governor
was announced. and visitor was
admitted to the pcnitentiary afteR that
time. Superintendent James Is. Wood
had not been Officially notified of the
action before closing time. nor did
he fccl inclined to disturb the rest
Of the prisoners with news or thie
-
no person should be admitted to the
death cells until this morning.
The men have both cherished the
hope OF executive Interference with
the judgment OF the court, that
The announcement Will be a great blow
to them. They have thought that at
least Ciaude's sentence would be com
mutcd ia OF imprisonment. They
will bc told this morning that father
and son wiil die within few min
day.
ShDck to Friends.
When the action OF the Governor
bccamc known, Victor Allen. son OF
Floyd and brother TO Claude, was
made acquainted with the decision.
Hc was much shocked by the news,
as was Miss Nellie Wisslcr, Claude's
sweetheart, who was 10 have married
him within Il short time.
II anything further is to be done.
IL had not been determined upon last
night. Victor Alien said he knew of
nothing else. yet IL anything present
I'd itself. which offered hope. he would
avail himself of IL. He had been hope
full that Claude's sentence would be
commuted. II have never been able
20 think" he said, that the Governor
would let him die
Thznks Those Who Helped.
Il ain moro grateful than I can say
said Victor last night Ito the many
people In Richmond and in the State
who have done what they could to
brother. Many kind things have been
done for us. and many kind words
have been said"
Miss Wisslcr was completely over
ro,ne by the news, and spent most
OF the evening in her room at the
rad not been able TO think that the
Governor would refuse clemency in
fIaude's case.
Victor Allen will probably leave for
his home In Carroll County tonight.
lIc must break the news TO his mother.
who now, bowed down by grief and
illncss is in "a serious condition. He
said last night he feared she could
not survive tho shock.
Reviews Scene IN Courtroom.
The statement made by the Governor
IS in part a brief resume of the evil
deuce in the cases. He confines him
self to the scene in the courtroom on
that fatcful day-March IA. Evident
~ it is his opinion that sufficient proof
is to be found in the results of the
ARRAY, without going outside for ma :
tcrial He takes the position that the
very consequences show the deadly
purposc OF the Aliens, and demonstrate
the conspiracy. which was part of the
contention of the Commonwealth. The
men who wero killed were the officers
unhurt Shots, said by the defense to
have been random, found their marks
only in the bodies OF men who were
charged with carrying out the judg-
ment that Floyd Allen should do what
he said should never happen-go tc
jail.
Further dealing with the defense
theory tho Governor takes the posi-
iion that a plea of self-defense con-
corning an offense committed in a
courtroom is one that cannot be main
taincd. The court Is there, organized
for the purpose OF maintaining jus
tice. and there Is no excuse for ai
illegal act or a violent one. Thus is
the course of his reasoning. the mean
ing being that the court could and
would have protected Floyd Allen II
he WAS attacked.
Graycst Crime lie knows OF.
He is impressed with the horribl,
nature or the crime--"the gfavest o
which I have any knowledge; cour
has been wantonly destroyed in IT.
temple. The very foundation upo,
which society rests for It's protection
and safety have been threatened. ant
would be weakened and endangered
if yielded to that sentiment of mercy
which would extend clcmency To Floyt
and Claude Allen at the expense o
Justice TO the State and protection
to Its citizens
The Governor disposes OF the CLAIM
that Goad began the difficulty by tn
position OF the clerk when he received
his wound. carrying out tho evidence
OF that official.
Tn fact, he says plainly. that tn
people who have asked for mercy 10
The Aliens have In almost, IL not ii
every case. shown ignorance of tn
real facts, having depended for tffei
information upon incorrect publica