New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-29
Protest Innocence in Letters.

Claude and FLOYD Allen left long let
tcrs declaring their innocence OF con-
spring to wipe out the court officials
They said they had acted III sell
fence and that they were brought w
their doom through the evidence OF
their political enemies and alleged per
iurod tostimonv Claude Allen wrote:
From my earliest reductions was
taught To- speak the truth IN eVelY,n.n ,s
ana deal honestly with my ieilo" ' ~,
which I have ever tricd To 40. oul
parents have tried To raise as ttat We
might feel honora BILE and under no con-
sideration speak falsehoods. ,..
went To fiillsville during my Ia RI
triaI and heard some of the evidence. Inc
frs, / knew 6f trouble was Whcn II p'-
gau. and what / did was without any pre-
meditation whatever. And therc NaS Nv
plot Lcfor ehaDd or any conspiracy ~
far a | know.
am not guilty of the charge ofuon-
sp,racv. had TOO much love for mlU car
mother and my sweetheart, II th"i' i'"'
boou nothing else 10 keep me from pan
ming "A deed which would have SEPARATED
mo from them forever from TINS caIth-
If any one Willingly. falsely tCstlll'"
against mo I forgive them. ana pence
some told sucn ~ they knew were idlS'.
did not kill Judge Massc. Those WI"
nave Wl0nEPO Dl' lbi NlN'f hii' ~
we will meet i'm better world wher"
sorrow IS never known. 'raylng zoo
blessings upon our dear old state ana an
her people. say farewell.
FLOYD Aliens letter went into details
as 10 his political foes and the enemies
ne made because of doing his duty
while deputy sheriff of carroll County
H. f,io Ia fb.ir
efforts IN his behalf. he wrote:
forgive all my enemies. those vino
have testified falsely against mo ana
those who have not dealt fairly with mo.
! hope God will also forgive them. Shortly
We will have to stand before our Cod
and each will give an account of our
treatment of each other. The true facts
viii all then be- known. nav" told inc
truth am innocent of the charge OF
which am convicted and | have no fear
Of meeting my God i'm connection Win
the crime for which ! am dying.
hope the lives Of my family which I
leave behind will show, as far as nossi-
BILE. 10 the world that We have h"'n
wrongcd. hope by their lives that th'y
will contradict the statements ana I'M
truths that have been stated against MS.
The common belief is that tho AlI'n
clan resorted 10 murder merely 10 main
tain tho family tradition and satisfy
family pride Of supremacy in the Fancy
Gap country.
Tn, original cause of tine killing OF
Judge Thornton L. Nlassie and four Others
iu the Virginia courthouse was trivial
The two Edwards boys. Sidna and N''-
ley. uopheWs Of Floyd Alien. had been
arrested for disturbing church meeting
Another Inclc. Garland Allen. Baptist
clergyman. presided AT this meeting lh"
bows worc accused Of pulling tn" old man
out Of III. pulpit He WAS too mean 10
preach" they said.
\ deputy sheriff went 20 Fanc} Gap
and took the boys old FLOYD Allen
started 10 IIllsvilc 10 go on their bond
When no saw his ncphews i'm irons he
dragged the deputy from wagon. beat
him into .ns,nsibiity and then freed IN"
young men.
Judge Massio convicted the Edwards
bows and Insisted that Floyd, tile arch
outlaw OF Southwest Virginia. be- prose-
,utcd.
Thi. was the situation when on the
morning Of March H. 1912 the Count
court 81 carroll County was convened.
OF tho Allen clan. besides tn" prisoner
there were i'm the courtroom Sidna
Floyd's brother. Victor claude Fr.el and
Jack" Allen. s.dna and Wesley I'd
wards. CabIl Strickland. Byrd Marion
and o,her friends.