The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Thursday Morning, July 4, 1912 SAW CLAUDE ALLEN FIRE AT JUDGE MASSIE

Judge Bolen Even More Positive in His Testimony Than at Former Trial.

Wytheville, Va., July 3. --Evidence began this morning in the case of Claude Allen, charged with the murder of William M. Foster, at Hillsville, on March 14.

At a former term Floyd Allen, the father of Claude, was convicted of murder in the first degree for killing W. M. Foster, and was condemned to pay the penalty for his crime in the electric chair. Claude at the same term was convicted of murder in the second degree and his punishment fixed at fifteen years in the penitentiary. In both cases sentence was suspended that the prisoners may be used as witnesses in other trials.

When court convened this morning Hon. J. Wysor, representing the commonwealth, made the opening statement in which he said the state would endeavor to prove that Claude Allen is responsible for the death of William M. Foster, as well as for that of Judge Massie.

R. H. Willis, of Roanoke, made the opening statement for the defense in which he claimed he would be able to show that his client did not murder Foster, but that his father, Floyd Allen, already stood convicted of the killing of the commonwealth's attorney.

The first witness was Judge Bolen who was the leading witness for the state in the two former trials.

If anything, he was a little more positive in his testimony today than on former occasions. He saw Claude Allen fire first at Judge Massie from the northern corner of the court room and then advance to the corner in the direction of the court officers and where Foster stood.

The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Friday Morning, July 19, 1912

SAW CLAUDE ALLEN SHOOT JUDGE MASSIE

Judge Bolen, Principal Witness for Prosecution, Gives Same Evidence as at Former Trial.

Wytheville, Va., July 18. --The taking of evidence in the second trial of Claude Swanson Allen, charged with the murder of Commonwealth's Attorney William M. Foster, at Hillsville, began this morning. The evidence of Judge Bolen, the principal witness for the prosecution was concluded before the adjournment at court for the dinner recess at 1 o'clock.

Judge Bolen was attorney for Floyd Allen in the case on trial when the tragedy occurred in which the court officers and others were killed by the Allen clan. The testimony of the Carroll attorney was the same as at the three trials formerly held. He again stated the first shots came from the northeast corner of the courtroom and that he saw the prisoner at the bar, Claude Allen, shoot Judge Massie and then turn and fire in the direction of the court officers.

It is evident that the prosecution will endeavor to convince the Washington county jury that a conspiracy existed among the Allens to kill the court officers, and in the event they do so they hope to send the prisoner to the electric chair.