The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Sunday Morning, February 2, 1913

GOVERNOR MANN HEARS FINAL PLEA FOR ALLENS

Fails to Intimate What Action He Will Take or When He Will Issue Statement.

Richmond, Va., Feb. 1. —Governor Mann today herd the final plea of lawyers and citizens for the commutation of the death sentence imposed upon Floyd Allen and his son, Claude Swanson Allen, for their part in the Carroll county court house murders on March 14 last. Both the prisoners will be electrocuted March 7, unless the governor interferes, though at the conclusion of the hearing he did not intimate what action he would take, if any, or at what time he would issue his final statement. While mercy was asked in behalf of the father and son, the general plea was for Claude, largely based upon his youth and the fact that he was accustomed to do the bidding of his father regardless of results. Miss Weisler, Claude’s fiancee, attended the hearing.

The chair which Judge Thornton L. Masse occupied when he was killed in the court room at Hillsville was exhibited to Governor Mann.

The meeting was in the governor’s private office and several members of the Allens who had journeyed from nearby towns were barred.

Richard E. Byrd and Harry A. Smith pleaded that the murder was not deliberate, denied that there was a conspiracy and contended that the chair with bullet holes in it showed that the judge’s mortal wounds could have been received from others than the Allens. The hearing consumed more than one hour.