Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1913-04-04
II am willing to CO."

ed as though IN prayer, FLOYD
Allen went to his death at the
penitentiary at 1.26 o'clock FRI
day afternoon, prece ling by nine
minutes his sou, Claude, who
was pronounced dead at 1.35
o'clock. The double execution,
which snuffed out the lives of
two men, was deemed necessary
by the courts and by the gov
ernor of Virginia that the ma
jesty Of the law might prevail in
the state.
In striking contrast to the
feverish agitation of those who
fought long and earnestly in
their behalf, these doomed noun
taineers faced the grave with
absolute calmness and resigna-
ton. Each man walked to death
! withou. tremor. A prayer was
breathed from the tightly-drawn
lps of Floyd, the grizzled noun
taineer chieftain. The younger
man died without a word and
without any indication of emo
ton, other than a most complete
resignation.
THE DEATH CHAMBER.
The first jury having been
formed in line on the main hall
way to the ground floor, COM
menced its march to the cham
Der of death at LII o clock. The
procession moved in solemn or
der through the grated doorway
opening irto the under court
yard and then. turning sharply
to the left, began the descent of
the narrow stairway leading to
the subterranean death chamber.
In another moment a faint
tapping was heard at the bolt
studded door which leads from
the death cells into the death
chamber. This door was opened
by some unseen hand, and Floyd
Allen, with bowed head and NUT
tering lips, stood in the portals.
He was clad in dark trousers and
white shirt, with collar and tie
attached. His hair was neatly
brushed and his face appeared a
tiifle flushed, alth Tough his eyes
were downcast and misty.
SANK INTO THE CHAIR.
With a guard Oh either side. he
quickly took eight or nine steps
to the chair, glancing at the
oaken chair of doom for one brief
instant, and then muttering
audibly: Il am ready to 60"
With these parting words he
sank into the chair. Four at
tendants quickly buckled his
arms and legs. A cap was
placed over his head and the
switch turned on. Instantly
1000 volts Of electricity surged
through his body, across whose
chest was fastened a heavy strap.
The bosom of the old mountaineer
heaved heavily several times, his
right hand became clinched into
a fist, and an instant later his
lifeless form relaxed into the
chair as the current was turned
off.
| Quickly the rigid body of
Floyed Allen was lifted Gut of
the chair by attendants and car
ried into the mortnary chapel
which joins the death chamber.
Scarcely had this been done be-
fore the second jury, which had
been summoned to witness the
death of Claude Allen, was form
FED into line in the upper corrri-
doris of the prison.
| cLAUD ALLEN COMES IN.
| Standing between two minis
tiers of the gospel, who had so
long and so faithfully admins
tered to his and his fathers
spiritual needs, Claude Allen,
Hike Greek god, waited just
outside of his death cell the
deterioration oil his father, whom
he maintained he died to defend.
The ministers could scarcely
bear up during this Hateful mo-
ment. Tears stood in the eyes
of both, and the Rev. DR.. Nc
Daniel but poorly controlled his
emotion. The second jury having
marched to the death chamber,
! the tragedy of Floyd Allen was
repeated in the eleetrocution OF
b son.
II Again the test Of lights was
applied to the chair, and once
more the death chamber was
flooded with light. Again came
tie tatcfu1 tapping At the bolt.
s'studded door. ard ! Silence fol.