Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-19
BULLET ENDS LIFE
OF JASPER ALLEN
Leader of Famous Gang in Car
roll County Is Killed Dur
ing Fight.
Will M'GRAW HIS SLAYER
Fcudist Resented Statement That
Member of His Clan
Lacked" Nerve.

ROANOKE. VA. March lS.--In
pistol duel tho house Of Mrs.
Roberta Martin. five miles from Mount
Airy. y. C.. near the Virginia North
Carolina limo, this morning at . O'Clock.
Jasper Allen. leader of the famous
Allen elan which figured in tho Hills
Vile. Carol! County, Va. tragedy in
March. 1872. when Judge Massic aud
several others were slain. was in
stantly killed by bulic. fred by VIII
McGraw, alleged biockader and re-
puted bad man Tho tragedy was
the result OF quarrel between the
men. prccipitatcd by the statement
from McGraw that Wesley Edwards.
ono OF the clan, did not have the
nerve hc WAS credited with having"
This anSercd Allen, and n fist fight
cnsucd. in which Allen shattered "a
chair over McGraw's head. The men
clnchcd and shot followed and
Alien fell TO the floor with n bullet
through the brain
This information was received here
to-day over the long distance telephone
q
serving long pcnitcntiary term for
his participation in the Carroll County
tragedy. According 10 the statements
OF two women who were in the house
and Witnessed the fight. Jasper Alien
resented the remark that any OF hi.
relatives lacked nerve" and told
McGraw that. inasmuch Wesley was
not present 10 defend himself against
such disparagement. he himself would
do so
BROTHER OF FLOYD ALLEN.
WHO DIED IN ELECTRIC CHAIR
Jasper Allen was brother O.
Floyd Allen. who. with his son. Claude,
died in the electric chair in cxpi1tion
Of the part they played when the
Hillsv!lle courthouse was shot up In
1912, resulting in the death OF Judge
Massie. several jurymen and court
officials. Another brother. Sidna Allen.
is In the -pcnitentiary as a result or
the Hillsville shooting
The victim of this mornings tragedy
leaves widow and several children
He was about ATTY years OF age For
years nc was famous In the Virginia
mountains for his fcarlcssncss and
daring spirit. and was said TO be "the
brains" OF the Alien clan. 1t Is said
he never became rcconcilcd to the he
lief that the courts metcd out justice
10 his relatives. and often appeared
dcfan, TO the authorities when occa-
sion brought him IN contact with them
In October. 1912, when Floyd and
Claude Allen were held in prison hero,
Jasper Allen came TO visit them Be-
fore he was admitted to their cells he
was searched. and Il large pistol was
found on his person. For this he was
fined $50 and refused access TO his
brother.
After this mornings shooting. Nc
Graw fed to the mountains. where 1t
is believed he Is in hiding. 1t is said
he is wanted for many violations OF
the State revenue laws.
REARED IN RECKLESS
DISREGARD FOR LIFE
Jasper Allen was horn and reared in
the mountains OF Carroll County with
his brothers. Floyd and Sidna The at
mospherc of his environment was one
OF reckless disregard for life. and II
is said that, although he was q quiet
man. he had more fights than any other
Allen in the county. His boldness and
daring spirit made him famous wher-
ever he went. Several years ago he
and Floyd Allen engaged in fight,
men. Each was seriously wounded
Floyd was shot through the breast and
Jasper in the head.
He was the father Of Friel Allen
who Is serving fftecn-year term in
the Virginia Penitentiary for partici-
patton in the Hillsville tragedy
whom the Allen clan "shot up' the
htllsville court. Jasper Allen was in
another part OF tho county, but when
he heard OF the trouble he lost no time
in going to the aid of his relatives.
He remained unconvinced TO the last
in his opinion that the Aliens were mot
given square deal" by the Virginia
courts.
at coroner's inquest in Mt Airy
late to-day verdict was given fixing
the cause Of Aliens death as a outlet
wound inflicted by McGraw" The
latter. 1t is reported. has announced
that lie will give himself up and plead
self-defense. Allen will be buried
hic