The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Thursday Morning, January 16, 1913


ONLY GOVERNOR MANN
CAN SAVE ALLENS NOW

Virginia Supreme Court in Extended
Opinion Upholds Verdict of the Trial Court.

Richmond, Va., Jan. 15. —Following the refusal of the supreme court of appears to reopen the case of Floyd Allen and son, Claude Swanson Allen, under sentence to die on Friday next for their part in the Hillsville court murder on arch 14, 1912. Governor Mann announced that he would take no action in the matter of granting a respite before tomorrow. The governor has given no indication whatever of his attitude toward the condemned men, although it is probable that he will be strongly urged to grant them a respite for thirty days.

The supreme court in an extended opinion announced that the verdict in the lower court must stand. So-called after-discovered evidence was not found to be material.

Great effort had been made to secure a new trial for the Allens, and some of the state’s best legal talent was enlisted in their behalf. The appellate court’s decision leave the Allens without further recourse to the courts.

The crime for which they will give up their lives was the murder of Judge Thorton L. Massie, in the Hillsville court room tragedy, in which all except one of the court officers were killed.

The condemned men are in the death cell and between the bars this afternoon wept over the outcome of their case before the higher court.