The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-02-20
HILLSVILLE eDEATHS GREW
OUT CORN SHUCKING KISS -

| W. ooA\lN jill AAAoo
A corn ,shucking kiss was the be-
ginning of series of events in Car.
roll county, Virginia, which came to
climax in the shooting up of the
Hilisville court on March IA, last,
according to Miss Nellie Wissler a
typical mountain girl, who went
from her home just across the North
4 Carolina line to Richmond. Va, to
! make an appeal to Governo! Mann
to stay the sentence of death upon
| Claude Allen, whom she was to
marry. The story told by this
mountain girl, says the Greensboro
News, has been told in part but in
I the main her story will never be
written. 1t is the story Of a little
mountain girl in love with man
who stands in the shadow of death;
for setting il has wild and rugged
country and for character prim-
tive people. Throughout the little
romance is tinted with the red of a
tragedy that in the main is an old
tale, and hinges for its fateful climax
upon the stroke of a pen in the
hands of the governor of Virginia.
In a news account announcing the
arrival of Miss Wissler to Richmond,
for the purpose OF appealing to the
governor in Aliens behalf, the Rich
mond Times Dispatch relates as an
interview from the girl one hitherto
untold chapter of the incidents which
led up to the courthouse shooting.
Miss Wissler, says the Times-Dis-
patch, thought everybody knew the
story long ago and was surprised
when was told the papers had not
Fprinted t. The story as related by
the girl vas:
About three weeks before the
courthouse tragedy the Carroll
county neighborhood gathered at
com shocking, which attracted all
the young people of the countryside.
Among others, there were present
Wesley Edwards and a youth named
Will Thomas. Cornshuckings, as
every one who has lived in the Coun-
Try knows, affords young love op-
portunity to try its wings, and this
was no exception.
1t appears from Miss Wissler's &C
count that Wesley Edwards con-
trived during the evening to wiz to
his favor the girl who had accom-
ranied Will Thomas to the shocking,
He did so, it was charged, by sur
reptitiousIy bringing to the party
number of red ears of corn, each one
of which entitled him to kiss from
the girl he thought the prettiest.
- Fought at Church
Finding himself deserted by his
fair companion, Thomas, it is said.
who possesses considerable powers
of mimicry, began to mock Wesley
Edwards gait and manner of speech.
with the result that Edwards prom
ised that night to get even with
him. The feud was renewed week
later at box supper in the neigh
boring school house, but trouble |
was STAYED off by the interference
of Claude Allen and others, who
the rivals.
On the Sunday morning following
the box party, Thomas aud Edwards
mixed in combat at the entrance
to the school house where divine
services were in progress. A war
rant for their arrest, as we'll as for
the arrest of Sidne Edwards, who
had taken a hand, followed the next
day, and the Edwards boy crossed
the border into North Carolina.
Their capture a few days later
began the train of events which
eliminated in the Hillsville tragedy
Floyd Allen, kjnsman of the two
boys, while on visit to Sidna AL
len, saw two deputy sheriffs taking
Sidna and. Wesley to Jail in hand
cuffs and his wrath rose. He freed
them from their captors, and was
later arrested and tried for interfer-
ring with officers in the DISCHARGE of
their duty. The rest is history.
Durlng the recital OF this episode,
Miss Wissler forgot for the moment
the shadow which lowered over her
life, and permitted herself
even to smile at the ludicrous hap
penings of the constructing. It
was only for moment. She grew
silent and rested her head in her
hand.
Il don't know how long I shall be
here-probably few days." she re-
piled in answer to the query. 1t
was clear that she was thinking of
the governor who held the fate of
her lover in his hand. She held out
her hand hopefully as the reporter
went away.
1 hope you will say something
good about Claude" she said. I