The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-28

of the Governor that it could hoped to gain
anything by it, since could only further incense him. and
that must have been done to hold him up public scorn
The other petition signed by those who had refused
to concur in the unmeasured structures the Governor
and, while making the request to a commissions
it coplmented the Governor his desire to do Justice
This latter petition was signed by John Branch and
Judge j. Richard Wingheld the latter member of the
State Corporation Commission
Besides individual letters were sent to the Governor
urging him to reconsider his decision at the last moment
All of these attempts of no avail The Governor
simply did not consider the proposition feeling that he
had warrant in law for such action and that the
request not made in good faith He left the city at
$3.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon for Trenton N j. where
he is to deliver address before the Board of Trade
to night
Floyd Allen and Claude Swanson Allen babe
farewell yesterday to their relatives and friends
In all cases the scenes were most affecting. The
callers were, generally speaking, affected to much
greater degree than the prisoners who made every
effort to bear themselves bravey Both were quite
composed considering the circumstances Up to the last
Claude bore resigned and composed demeanor than
did his father.
Victor Allen the remaining son of F1oyd spent most
of the day in the death chamber Late the afternoon
he babe his father and brother farewell until eternity
Some last requests were made Of him concerning matters
at nome and messages sent to Mrs Floyd Allen the
bereaved wife and mother who is seriously i'll her home
on the southern slope of the Blue Ridge in Carroll County
that home built by the industry of Floyd Allen and
destroyed in moment by his own hand backed by his
ungovernable temper
Sdna Allen younger brother of Floyd and the man
accused by Judge Thornton L. Masse in his dying
moments Of firing the shot that killed that urst visited
the death chamber and told his brother and nephew
goodby R. H. Willis who the attorney for the con-
demned men from the beginning until their conviction
went to them He has been devoted to their cause and
broke down completely when the final moment of parting
came Overcome by emotion Mr. Willis left at o'clock
last night for his home in Roanoke
A gold medal which Allen sympathzers intended to
present to Claude delivered to him. The sum
of s22 was raised by popular subscription to pay for
token from those who commended the boys in shoot
ing to his father they believed it. The board of
directors of the penentay considered this presentation
at last Saturdays meeting. 1t was decided would be
best not to permit demonstration but that it might be
allowed if of the ministers and two members of the
family were present.
Richard Evelyn Byrd, who acted of the attor-
neys of the proceedings before the Supreme Court
of Appeals, visited the doomed Aliens yesterday The
other callers their spiritual advisers Rev. George
wv. Mcdaniel D. D.. and Rev. j. j. Scherer, il.
Hearing of this intention, Governor Mann yesterday
morning called Major j. D. Patton, chairman of the
board and said he thought such presentation should
Ibe permitted Major Patton consulted with other mem
bers of the board, and it was agreed that under the
circumstances, it would be best to allow anything
the sort The medal taken to the prison late in the
afternoon and locked up in the desk of Major James B.
Wood, the superintendent 1t not and will not be
given to Claude Allen The Governor felt that present
Ito prisoner for act for which the courts had con-
Idemned him to felon's deaf hwould be improper.