The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-20
PEOPLES FORUM
Politics In Allen Case.

Editor of The Nlrgi1ian:
Sr,-Wili you give me little space IN your
valuable paper in which to record my position
in regard to the guilt of the Aliens! now,
want IL known that I am not actuated TO make
this statement by any ties of kinship or nope
of gain to from the people, but SIMPLY thae
the public may know the views held oy an
hum BILE taxpayer and citizen fthe adjoining
county to that in which the tragedy occurred
Be 1t known am a Republican, and vote that
and above board, allowing every man the Same
right without Ill VIII toward or conspiracy 10
hinder, and not as my party IN the aoJolilii!s
county OF Carroll. l regret to say. mas oone 70
overcome the influence of the Aliens, who are OF
the opposition party. Who but preJuoiced
political faction of party would nave prose aso
cuted man as a felon for simply untying the
bonds of shackled prisoner arrested TOT
misdemeanor by a despotic petty officer, VINO
had his prisoner dashed to the wheels OF MS
chariot as IL were? Does not the intent as
in trespass constitute the crime? Did not Floyd
Allen prove his motive when ne Delivered tnis
prisoner up to the authorities? There could
have happened this circumstance with a thou
sand the actors, and 1t never would
have been called a felony. This felony styled
crime OF FLOYD Aliens was simply act of
humanity that I and every other GOOD Amerl-
can citizen should applaud. without impugn-
or the Judgment of the jurors for their md
ings In regard to the trial of the Aliens. | want
the public to know that behind the evidence
produced at these trial were consptrators or
the opposition party to these men to break the
power at any cost of these political enemies
AS a sample from which / draw these con-
illusions, I have had this query made me in
discussing the innocence or guilt or the ade-
quate punishment of their offense; Are you
not a Republican," Il thought you were
Republican,; and when / answered / was,
Then why oppose the determination of these
Democrats. the Aliens" This is the rotten mud
sill on which there has been builded hate, ami
mostly, subornation OF witnesses of which
the court jurors did not know, I have
right to know that sinister motive famed
the spark u a conspiracy to wipe out this OPP
position, to complete possession of the power and
places OF position in the county Of Carroll, and
the summing up of the whole affair, to my
mind, is that not single Allen should be made
TO suffer for conspiracy engendered wholly
from incentives to political ascendency; and
could the courts, the authorities executors of
the law have had the position / have occupied
in arriving at this conclusion, they would
have and speak the same things
Again, / want 1t known that / not actu-
ated through hope of gain ties of knship or
maudlin sympathy, but from facts gathered
from impartial sources tn-cleae- proximity te
the people, the places and motives that led to
the unfortunate incident. l say these things
from information I have gathered In order to
arrive at the truth in the matter, and the con
clusion / have arrived at is that the Aliens
not the conspirators. and therefore should
not suffer extreme penalties for the part
acted in the affair
J. W SPENCE.
Mayberry, Va, February 18th