The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-17
Hillsville MurdererS Will
Not Be Executed Until
March Z.
GOVERNOR TO
HEARLAWYERS
Tells Delegation That He Will
Give One Hour on February
! to Argument for Commu-
tation-Prisoners Shocked
by Courts Refusal to
Reopen Case.

Floyd Allen. rugged product OF the
Virginia mountains. and Claude Swan
son Allen. his stalvart son. heard yester-
day afternoon that they would not be
put 10 death in the State Penitentiary
this morning for their part IN the
iillsville court murder on March IA
last The news was conveyed to them
in the death chamber that Governor
Mann had finally decided to give them
a third respite-this time to March :.
Earlier in the day they had been
stunned by the announcement that
new trial had been refused by the
Supreme Court of Appeals. Both had
been fun OF hope. built upon the
promises OF their loyal sympathizers
who had visited them in the grim
prison And while their hearts were
heavy and while they were beginning
to realize and fear that the hand Of
death would fall upon them IN the
gray dawn of to-day. the cheering
word came that death bed reprieve
had given them a new lease on life.
Their Last Reprfeye.
But this II their last reprieve- For
one hour only on February Governor
Mann will hear the lawyers who are
pleading for commutation-or more
If ne is not convinced on that day that
mercy should be extended, the outlaws
will die on March :
Following an hours hearing yester
day morning IN MS office. at which a
committee of fifteen citizens presented
pleas for executive clcmency. Governor
Mann announced that he would grant
another public hearing OF ono hour on
FEBRUARY I at noon. at the same time
saving he would certainly grant the
condemned men respite Later in the
day ne announced that he had officially
stayed the execution until March 7.
Some time between February and
March the Governor Will make public
his final decision in the matter
4 short while before noon yesterday,
the delegation FLED into the Governors
outer Office and took their places around
the large table. Richard F. Byrd. who
presented tho cause for the Alien sup
porters made a strong plea for COM
mutation and explained TO Governor
Mann the contents Of q mass OF docu-
mcnrs piled about HIM
Many Plead for Mercy.
The delegation composed of
J. L. Scherer. W. 3 Bradley and Major
James y. Patton. mem bers of the state
Pcnitentiary Board the Rev. J. J.
Scherer. John Z. Branch. Judge VIII
liam T. Rhca and Judge Richard
Wingfeld. OF the State Corporation
Commission: Richard T.. Byrd. H. NJ
Smith. Jr.. Hiram NJ. Smith and r.. II.
Willis. of Roanoke. special counsel for
the Allen supporters. the Rev George
W. Mcdaniel. D d. W. s Forbes. w
Mcdonald Lee James Stone. of Bristol:
and 4. j. Williams. d member OF the
Jury which convicted Claude Alien
Before presenting themselves to the
Governor. tho Allen sympathizers met
and discussed the course OF action.
dcnr.Ssod h. no
Of tho Supreme Court in again refusing
"a new trial and d great determination
was made to exert every possible pres
cure on Governor Mann 10 lntcrcede
But little courage could he obtained
from the Governor previous position
IN regard 10 pleas for tho Aliens
The mass OF documents presented TO
Governor Mann for consideration in
ciude verbatim copies OF the evidence
of the trials OF Claude Allen. petitions
from various sections OF the State ask
ing for clemency. the opinion handed
down by the Supreme Court Wednes-
day and tho appeal which was pre-
sented to the Supreme Court The
Governor said he would be glad 70
consult every document bearing on the
matter before him.
VIII Not Discuss Case
Before leaving the city r. n Willis.
who defended both Floyd and Claude
Allen. revived the former rumor OF an
appeal to the United States Supreme
Court for interference on the grounds
Of infringement of constitutional pre-
negatives. Mr.. Willis declared that the
Supreme Court Is given Jurisdiction
because the lives of the two men have
been twice placed in jeopardy for the
same offcnse. although the State Su-
prcme Court ruled TO tho contrary If
for no other reason. lack Of funds viii
probably prevent On appeal TO the
United States Supreme Court
Until February !. the day SGT for the
second public hearing for the Allen
supporters. Governor Mann will not
discuss tho case with any one lie viii
listen TO neither arguments for or
against thc com mutstion sentence not
intending that the heavy routine work
of his Office shall be set back. Written
communications viii Of course receive
attention at the hands OF his secretary,
Ben. T. owen.
Floyd Allen was convicted in Sep
TENDER and sentenced 20 die on No
vernb =. while Claude was sentenced
~ the same session 90 the Wythc
County Circuit Court 90 die on tho
same day. 4 FIRST respite was granted
the two men November 70 until De
scrnbcr q The Governor allowed
second respite on D-ccn bcf y until
January l.. 1918. and yesterday granted
she third stay. delaying the date OF