The Beckley Messenger, Beckley, W. Va.
Tuesday, June 4, 1912

CONVICTED OF MURDER

In The Second Degree Is Verdict of Wytheville Jury

In The Case Of Claude Allen For The Murder of Judge Massey At Hillsville, Va., Last March

The second trial of the parties arrested for the murder of the Carroll county, Va., court officials ended on last Saturday with a conviction of second degree murder.

After deliberating for two hours and a half, the jury found Claude Swanson Allen guilty of murder in the second degree, for the killing of Judge Thornton L. Massey, at Hillsville, Va., last March. The jury recommended that his punishment be fixed at fifteen years in the penitentiary. Sentence was suspended, in order that he may be able to testify in the other cases growing out of the shooting up of the Carroll county court.

The commonwealth sprung a surprise after the verdict rendered by the jury when it announced that it would try Claude Allen next for the murder of Sheriff Louis Webb. An objection was made by Allen's counsel, and argument will be heard on this when court reconvenes on July 1. Remarking that he did not believe another jury could be secured in that county, Judge Staples instructed the issue of a summons for a venire of one hundred from the adjoining county of Washington, to report July 2.

The five Allen clansmen, held for their connection with the Hillsville shooting, were taken to Roanoke, pending the reconvening of the court in July. Byrd Marion, who was jointly indicted with the Allens, was released under $1,000 bail.