The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-16
THURSDAY. JANUARY is, 1919.
THE LAW INDICATED.

THE LAW INDICATED.
After fair trial before jury Of their peers
Claude and Floyd Allen were convicted of mur-
der in the first degree, An appeal to the su-
prene court Of the State for a trial was
fruitess and q second appeal on the ground
of after discovered evidence has also been found
TO be wanting in merit, The two Aliens have
been defended by attorneys who have taken ad-
vantage OF every means the law allows for
freeing their clients Every safeguard provided
fer those accused of crime has been thrown
about these tao men. Although ably defended
trial court foxnd them guilty and the ap-
pellate court has twice passed upon their case
and has twice found that the trial fair
and impartial and conducted according TO law
Accordingly. unless Governor Mann should In
terfere. Claude and Floyd Allen must die.
In common with all who believe tina, the
Carroll county murders constituted the gravest
crime ever committed In Virginia and that the
men responsible dehed the law the people who
made II and civilization itself The Vrgtntdn has
Believed that If the guilty men were not pun
fwned and punished severely the evidence
warranted a stain would be placed upon the
State o. virginia that would not be erased for
many years to come and justice in Virginia
would become e by~word and a mockery u
law-ahding people everywhere. In common
with ali who believe that the law AMI the evil
dencs should determine mans guilt end not
sentiment and sympathy and that in this case
strict justice is the submest mercy The W.
cins1n feels satisfaction at the decision of the
court Thers is no disposition anywhere to
take pleasure in the plight Of these two men
We do not believe that there Is a spark or malice
In the hearts Of that majority Of the people Of
the State who are content 10 have the Law take
IL. course sympathy for the loved Of the
condemned all Of share, but the sym
pa*Ay is for the shame and disgrace
Claude and Floyd Allen have brought upon
those others uho bear their name than sym
patty for their bereavement as deeply as We
may feel for them in that additional grief. But
while may have sympathy for the family Of
the rnurderers and while we may sorrow that
there should have been murder in their hearts
we think that the vindication Of the law. the
uphoidinE of the majesty of the courts the
safety Of society and the preservation Of civil
ization of more Importance than the life OF
the individual who has attacked the and
dehed the other and who has shed blood that
he might forever do is right in his own eyes.
- The :,ts4+eF-ts~Ffs@s- up -te-tAe goFeFnoF--ln
his hands rests the case We have every con-
hdence that he will decide as the Interests
OF the State and the ends of justice demand.
We have no doubt that his action will be die
tated by the desire to preserve order aud up
hold the laws OF Virginia; that the Of
the whole community and of all The people
Will be the one object that he will have in
view He has before him the evidence sd-
duced at the trial, the after-dscoyered evil
dence presented 70 the Supreme court. the de-
c.son OF that court and the appeals OF the
friends OF the condemned men. He has stu
died the case carefully and we know that
whatever he does will be done according TO the
commands of his conscience and his conception
% the truth
e., ~. - :