The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Saturday Morning, June 1, 1912

ARGUMENT ON IN ALLEN CASE

Believed That Jury Will Be Trying To Reach Verdict Before Today’s End.

Wytheville, Va., May 31. — The trial of Claude Swanson Allen is nearing the end, and will probably be given the jury at noon or a little after that time tomorrow.

Five witnesses were introduced to substantiate the character of Daniel Thomas, the Allen witness, whom the commonwealth sought to impeach. These witnesses were all men of character and standing in Carroll county and, they contradicted the statements and impressions sought to be made by eight or nine witnesses examined yesterday by the prosecution.

They testified that the character of Thomas was good, and that they would believe him on oath. The first witness was Judge D. W. Bolen, Another witness wife E. W. Early, a merchant, and a third Thomas Hall. Two other witnesses were Stephen Williamson and W. H. Sutherland.

It is generally conceded that the commonwealth made a failure in its effort to impeach Thomas.

John S. Draper began the argument for the prosecution at 10:45 this morning, speaking for an hour and fifteen minutes. He reviewed the evidence in general and asked the jury to send the accused to the electric chair. He was followed by Mr. Francis Cocke, of Roanoke, who spoke for the defense. He occupied only forty minutes of time when Stuart Campbell, of Wytheville took up the argument for the state and spoke for three quarters of an hour.