The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-03-29
MANN RETURNS
In TIME
GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA PRE-
VENTS PLAN.
OF Allen Sympathizers TO Take
Advantage of His
Absence.

RICHMOND. Va. March 2s.-Mum-
bling a prayer and crying nalf audibIy
that he was ready 10 go. Floyd Allen,
a ldWless rrouuc; OF the Virginia
II curtains. hose refusal to accent a
short prison term Tor a minor offense
led 10 the wholesale court murder I'm
hillsville one year ago. limpcd - 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 ana dra-
matte efforts were being mad. 10 save
the condemned men by eleventh hour
appeals 10 Lieutenant Governor E.ly-
soL was speedily ordered TO proceed
when Governor Mann hastened back 10
Virginia soil 20 take charge Of the
situation. The prison superintendent:
acting within the law. had agreed a;
. O'Clock this morning to defer the
execution, giving Attorney General
Williams an opportunity meanwhile 10
pess upon ;he constitutional right OF
Lieutenant Governor Ellyson 20 inter
fere
But the young son of Governor
Mann reached his father in Philadel
phia by telephone less than an hour
after the delay had been ordered. and
by O'Clock the Governor was back
on Virginia soil. Incensed by the un
expected effort TO take advantage OF
his temporary absence when he had
repeatedly refused clemency. the Gov
ernor boarded an early morning train
arriving in Richmond at 1880 o'clock
On the way he teleGIaptsd The Secre
FtaTy or The CommopWeahh that he
would be in Virginia by O'Clock. this
! Information suddenly checking the
plan OF the Allen sympathizers in fur
ther urging the Lieutenant Governor
to intercede.
Governor Arrives.
Word reached police headquarters
that a crowd had assembled at the sta
tion 10 meet the Governor. and patrol
men. detectives and plain clothes
men were hurried there to prevent any
demonstration. When the Governor
stepped on the platform he was
quickly surrounded by the officers
who escorted him to a taXicab. which
took him quickly TO the capitol.
In his office at the state prison Sup
eTintendent Wood was pacing th'
! floor nervously. as he awaited devel
opments. The situation there had be
come more tense. Precisely at nooI
the superintendent Was called TO "a,
I telephone.
! The governor of Virginia Is at hii
desk. was the message he received
! from the capital. and instantly pre-
I parations were made to obey the man
/ date Of the court The witnesses, WHIT
: had assembled at o'clock. the /ou
announced for the execution. had lef
| the prison with instructions TO return
az o'clock
Just after sunrise the Aliens prsc
tically collapsed when informed tina
a ualf day respite had been grantee
d by a combination Of circumstance
, Claude Allen. who had retained hi
d nerves throughout the trying ordea
I boz his behalf gasped and tremhied
+ but he regained his composure as ~
! noted the hopeless and detected ar
I pcarance Of his agCd father in the Gel
/ across the corridor.
J What brouEnt forth tho greatest ir
I @ .-natou from thr governor was OBJ
! reported fac' that the plan to ou1el
& 10 The lieutenant governor was ac-ce
I upon % week ago