The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Thursday Morning, November 14, 1912

DYING JUDGE SAID ALLEN SHOT HIM

Physician Testifies To Case at Wythe- ville to Damaging Statement Made by Massie.

Wytheville, Va., Nov. 13. —That Sidna Allen fired the first shot in the Hillsville court house tragedy, last March, was testified to today by E. C. Gillespie, of Carroll county, today, in the trial of Sidna Allen. Gillespie was certain that Allen had fired in the direction of Judge Massie, for whose murder Allen is now on trial.

Dr. Nuckols, who attended Judge Massie and other victims of the courthouse tragedy, testified that Judge Massie stated, with his last breath, that Sidna Allen had shot him.

“Sidna Allen killed me.” These were the dying words of Judge Massie, as testified to by Dr. Nuchols, of Hillsville, in the trial of Sidna Allen, at Wytheville, today.

Court convened this morning at 9:30 with all attorneys and court attendants in place. The prisoner was brought in and took his accustomed seat behind his counsel. Throughout the day his wife and daughters have sat with him.

The first witness called was Dr. Nuchols. He offered the damaging testimony quoted above, which was admitted as being relevant to the cause at issue.

C. L. Howlett, the foreman of the jury which tried Floyd Allen, was the next witness. Juror Howlett said he did not see who fired the first shots as they came from behind and over the heads of the jury. There was no material change in the testimony offered by this witness from that given in the former trials.

Deputy Sheriff E. C. Gillespie testified as on the former trials that the first shot was fired by Sidna Allen.

Frank Fowler, another deputy sheriff, was also examined this morning and he gave practically the same version of the shooting as at the former trials.