The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Sunday Morning, July 28, 1912

DEATH CHAIR FOR CLAUDE ALLEN

Youthful Outlaw Convicted of Murder in the First Degree For Killing of Common- wealth’s Attorney Foster.

Wytheville, Va., July 27. --Claude Allen, one of the Hillsville outlaws, was today convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Commonwealth’s Attorney Foster. At a former trial he was found guilty in the second degree for killing Judge Massie.

The case was given to the jury by Judge Waller R. Staples shortly before three o’clock this afternoon, and, little time was lost in reaching an agreement.

The argument of the attorneys were concluded before the adjournment for lunch at 1:30 today. The court then decided to adjourn for dinner without formerly placing the case for the last time solely in the hands of the jury for a final decision which meant life or death to the young man on trial.

A night session of the court was held last night in order to facilitate matters and if possible get a verdict this afternoon.

This morning R. H. Willis, of Roanoke, spoke in behalf of the prisoner and asked for his acquittal. He presented the case in a very able manner, and was followed by Hon. J. C. Wysor, of Pulaski, for the state who contended that the case of conspiracy had been fully made out and nothing short of electrocution would meet the requirement of justice in so far as the Hillsville tragedy is concerned.

The court house was crowded with spectators anxious to hear the arguments of the able counsel employed on either side.

The Raleigh Herald, Beckley, W. Va.
Friday, August 2, 1912

Claude Allen Must Die

Wytheville, Va.--Claude Allen, one of the Hillsville outlaws, was convicted Sat., of murder in the first degree for the killing of Commonwealth's Attorney William M. Foster. At a former trial he was found guilty of murder in the second degree for the killing of Judge Thornton L. Massie.

Claude Allen is the second one of the Allen clan to be convicted of first-degree murder, his father, Floyd Allen, being the other.

The case was given to the jury when court reconvened at 2:30 last Saturday. The jury deliberated an hour and a half.

When he learned that he must pay the penalty for his crime in the electric chair, the prisoner broke down and wept bitterly, as did also his fiancee, who was with him in the court room.