Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-12-25
PARDON OF ALIENS
WILL Be ASKED OF BYRD
Figures In Sensational Tragedy of
IL Years Ago Have Petition
OF $4,000 White People

sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards,
the only members of the famous Al
len clan who remain in prison viii
have their fourteenth prison Christ
mas heartened by the assurance of
heir friends that liberty is only
few months distant A plea for ex-
eeutive elemency will be among the
first problems which Governor Elect
Byrd viii have to consider, It Le-
came known Tuesday in Richmond,
and friends Of the two yirginians
who figured in the most sensational
shooting affray which has occurred in
this State in sixty years are conf
dent that the incoming executive
will listen to their prayer.
/ The names of the thousands of
virginians who prayed Governor
Trinkle to be merciful three years
ago will be REINFORCED in the pc
tition by a letter from J. W, Mel
kirk, foreman Of the jury which
fixed sidna Aliens punishment at
thirty-fiye years in prison.
Writes to Attorney
Mr. Neikirk, who now lives in
Delta. Ia. wrote to- Edgar B. Eng
l;sh, Richmond attorney. on Deeem-
Der Z, as follows
4 see from the papers that you
represent movement for the re-
lease of Sidna Allen and Wesley Ed
Wal DIS. / wish TO say to you that if
can be CT service in this movement
will gladly do anything within my
power. You are no doubt aware OF
the fact that l was foreman of the
oidna Allen jury. Hoping that I can
be of service, am, very truly yours,
J. M. Neikirk"
The famous Allen clan estab-
lished records which should stand
for all time In 1912 Floyd Allen
head of a typical mountaineer fam
lily, was sentenced in the Hillsville
Courthouse to one year in the peni-
tertiary Pronouncement of the
sentence was the spark which set off
a political fued. long smculdering be-
tween the clansmen and the clerk of
the court. When. the smoke Of bat.
tie drifted through the windows of
the little courthouse, four corpses
were on the floor. a fifth death &C.
Cured the next day, when enc of the
wounded spectators succumbed.
Sent to Electric Chair
Floyd Allen and his son, Claude,
a splendid specimen Of his type.
were tried soon afterward and sent
10 the electric chair. They were ad-
judged the principals in the affair.
-Four others, Sidna Allen, brother Of
Floyd; Friel, 19-year-old son of the
leader, and Sidna and Wesley Ed
wards. his nephews, were tried later,
found guilty of entering into the con-
sriracy and sentenced to varying
.erSs IN the Virginia penitentiary.
The second record was established
ten years later, when movement
for the pardon of the four men in
prison was signed by $4,000 Vir-
ginians. The movement had no rich
or influential friend of the Aliens at
lis head. 1t was started by few
humble citizens who had visited the
men in prison, learned to know them
and became convinced that they were
chastened. had been punished suffi-
GENTLY and would make good citi-
zens if they were released.
$4,000 Sign Petition
Letters of support came from all
over the State and petitions, printed
gratis by another sympathizer, were
distributed. When the petition was
presented to Governor Trinkle, it
was signed by $4,000 white residents
of the State.
en- December the Governor par
doned Sidna Edwards and Friel Al
len. sentenced to serve fifteen and
eighteen years. respectively. The
Governor refused to pardon Sidna
Allen, uncle of the three boys, and
Wesley Edwards, who were serving
terms Of thirty-five and twenty
seven wears respectively.