The Courthouse Massacre

The Raleigh Herald, Beckley, W. Va. Thursday, March 21, 1912

GANG OF OUTLAWS SHOOT UP OFFICERS OF VIRGINIA COURT

Lawless Allen Band Terrorize Town of Hillsville, Carroll County, Killing Judge, Sheriff, State Attorney, Member of Jury and Lady Bystander

FORCE OF DETECTIVES SEARCHING FOR OUTLAWS

On last Thursday morning in Hillsville, the county seat of Carroll county, Va., one of the most horrible tragedies ever enacted in the history of this country was perpetrated by a body of outlaws from the Blue Ridge mountains.

Floyd Allen had been tried and convicted for assaulting an officer and liberating a prisoner, and was arraigned before the bar for sentence Thursday morning. The Judge sentenced him to one year in prison at hard labor. There was a moment of hush and stillness in the courtroom when you might have heard a pin drop, then the fusillade began. It was all over in a minute, but in that short space of time Judge Thornton I. Massie, Prosecuting Attorney, Wm. M. Foster, and Sheriff Lewis G. Webb, were killed outright, and Clerk Dexter Goad, three jurors, and Miss Bettie Ayers were seriously wounded. (Miss Ayers died later of her wounds.)

The outlaws then backed from the courtroom, reached their horses outside, and galloped off to the mountains.

A man who was present during Thursday's outrage, thus gives his impressions:

"It seems that the whole awful tragedy was planned and that each member of the Allen clan had picked his man. Six bullets entered the body of Sheriff Webb, Commonwealth's Attorney Porter was shot six times. Judge Massie was wounded in but three places, but the marks of three other bullets were discovered in the chair in which he sat.

"Six bullet holes back of where Clerk Dexter Goad was sitting, indicate that one of the Allens had emptied a revolver at him. Others who were shot probably were the victims of chance bullets. Juror Fowler was the most dangerously wounded. He was shot through the head. The wounds and the marks of the stray bullet clearly show that an Allen had picked a man and had fired the contents of a "six-shooter" at each.

ALL STORES CLOSED

"I have never witnessed greater excitement than prevailed in Hillsville after the assassination of the three court officers. Every store was closed and even the post office shut its window for several hours. The entire population of Hillsville seemed to be in the street, but not a single attempt was made to capture the outlaws who had defied the law and the court.

"The people of that section well know the reckless acts that have been committed by the Allens and they are feared because of their disregard for human life. With the removal of the three most important officers of the court, nobody seem inclined to take upon himself the responsibility of leading a posse against the Allens or even of making a prisoner of Floyd Allen, who was lying helpless in the street.

"I have known the Allens for a number of years. Sidna Allen in business dealings is absolutely honest, so far as I have had a chance to know. The entire family is of a hospitable disposition. Sidna Allen is said to be worth $70,000, and I suppose the report is correct. He owns a home which I judge is worth $25,000. While the older members of the Allen clan have long borne a reputation for lawlessness, the younger generation is law abiding and have not taken part in the crimes committed by their elders.

"About six months ago two boys named Edwards, nephews of Floyd Allen, were arrested in North Carolina for some slight offense and were being taken to jail at Hillsville by a deputy sheriff. Floyd Allen and others, who were not caught, attacked the deputy, knocking him in the head with a revolver and rescuing the prisoners. Allen was later arrested and indicted.

"His trial began Wednesday and was given to the jury in the afternoon. They failed to reach a verdict and were sent back to report this morning. About nine o'clock they filed into court and rendered their verdict, one year in the penitentiary.

"Sheriff, take your prisoner," said Judge Massie.

The prisoner arose.

"'I will not go to prison,' he said, and reaching into his bosom drew two revolvers. He and his relatives began firing at once.

There is little thought that the outlaws will be taken alive. It may be days before a well-directed force gets on their trail.

Outside help reached Hillsville Friday morning. State Attorney General Williams and Corporation Judge Staples were ordered there by Geo. Mann, and reached Hillsville the next day.

On March 16th Judge Staples opened court. He appointed special officers to serve in the place of those assassinated. At 9:30 o'clock a special grand jury summoned began to investigate the killings.

Armed with rifles, revolvers and shotguns, two hundred and fifty men crowded into the courtroom when Judge Staples called court.

Attorney General Williams sat within the chancel.

"I am here" said Judge Staples, "to do my duty, to prosecute crimes of yesterday. The Attorney General is here to aid me." As the judge talked in low voice, grim-visaged men nodded approval. A low muttering was silenced by the bailiff.

Officers named by the court are Floyd Lambeth, Commonwealth's Attorney, and Sheriff Charles Edwards.

Every one of the forty detectives in town is a special constable. They were sworn in immediately. A score more, who arrived on a special train today, are aiding in the manhunt. The men are gathered from all parts of Virginia, the coal fields of West Virginia and Kentucky. They were armed with a case of Springfield rifles and 1,200 rounds of ammunition brought from Roanoke by Captain H. W. Davant, of the Second Regiment. Davant was accompanied by two of his company, both crack rifle shots.

Two thousand feet above sea level, among the crags and caves of the Blue Ridge mountains, the Allen gang defies capture.

Those who know the paths and passes of the highlands and the points of vantage from which the outlaws could ward off an attacking force with least hurt to themselves say that the Allens unquestionably are concealed behind the overhanging precipice of Devil's Den, half way between here and Mt. Airy N.C.