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A Guide to the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth. Papers relevant to the Floyd Allen case, 1912-1922 Secretary of the Commonwealth, Virginia, Papers relevant to the Floyd Allen case 39265

A Guide to the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth. Papers relevant to the Floyd Allen case, 1912-1922

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 39265


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Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

© 2022 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Renee M. Savits

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Accession Number
21690, 39265
Title
Virginia. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Papers relevant to the Floyd Allen case, 1912-1922
Extent
4.95 cu. ft. (11 boxes)
Creator
Virginia. Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Virginia. Secretary of the Commonwealth, Papers relevant to the Floyd Allen case, 1912-1922. Accessions 21690, 39265. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

Transferred on 12 March 1940 by the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Richmond, Virginia, 23219 [Accession 21690].

Transferred on 4 March 2002 by Unknown [Accession 39265].

Biographical Information

On March 13, 1912, Floyd Allen went on trial in the Carroll County Circuit Court charged with interfering with two deputies in the performance of their duties as they arrested two of his nephews for fighting and disturbing a religious meeting. The next morning the jury delivered a verdict of guilty and Allen was sentenced to one year at the State Penitentiary. Shortly thereafter shooting began in the courtroom and four people were killed, including Judge Thornton L. Massie, Sherif Lewis F. Webb, the Commonwealth's Attorney William M. Foster, and one spectator, Bettie Ayers. The Allen family claimed that court officials were the first to open fire, while other witnesses contended that Claude Allen, the defendant's son, began the shooting. Several others were wounded, including Allen himself. It was never determined who fired the first shot. Members of the Allen clan fled into the hills, while the wounded Allen hid out in the Hillsville Hotel. All involved in the shooting were apprehended, including two who were captured in Des Moines, Iowa, six months later. Floyd Allen was recaptured and in May 1912, found guilty of murder. Claude S. Allen, son of Floyd Allen, had the first of three trials on May 20, 1912. He was also judged guilty of murder in the first degree. Other involved individuals were also brought to trial and received varying sentences. Floyd and Claude S. Allen, despite extensive efforts to have Governor Mann extend clemency, were electrocuted on March 28, 1913.

Scope and Content

Papers, 1912-1922, including affidavits, clippings, correspondence, drawings, mass mailings, petitions, statements, trial transcripts, and wanted posters from the Secretary of the Commonwealth relating to the Floyd Allen case. The collection spans the offices of four governors including Governor William Hodges Mann (1910-1914), Governor Henry Carter Stuart (1914-1918), Governor Westmoreland Davis (1918-1922), and Governor E. Lee Trinkle (1922-1926).

The papers can be distinguished into two time periods. The papers, 1912-1913, include affidavits, correspondence, drawings, petitions, statements, trial transcripts, and wanted posters mainly relating to the case and execution of Floyd and Claude S. Allen. The papers, 1918-1922, include correspondence, mass mailings, and petitions relating to efforts to have the sentences of Sidna Allen, Friel Allen, Sidna Edwards, and Wesley Edwards reduced or pardoned. In October 1922 Governor E. Lee Trinkle pardoned Friel Allen and Sidna Edwards and in April 1926 Governor Harry F. Byrd pardoned Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards.

Included is correspondence between Governor Mann and the detective agency, Baldwin-Felts Detectives, Inc., hired to find the Allens after their escape. The letters detail the detectives efforts to find the Allen family members and leads they followed. Other topics of the correspondence include suggestions of judges to fill the seat of Judge Thornton L. Massie; correspondence from members of the Virginia General Assembly; detective agencies in Maryland and North Carolina offering their services; correspondence with Western Union Telegraph Co. about installing more telegram lines to improve communication; copies of statements from Governor Mann; correspondence from Remington Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Co. advertising their long range rifles; letters asking the governor to commute the sentences to life in prison rather than electrocution; and letters offering their support to Governor Mann and for the execution. Most of the incoming correspondence also include copies of replies from the Governor's Office. Also included are letters from Sidna Allen, Sidna Edwards, and other members of the Allen family asking for leniency and early release from jail after their convictions.

Also of note are the wanted posters for the Allen-Edwards family; drawings of the Carroll County courtroom noting the location of members of the trial and bullets found; affidavits for payment of guards; and transcripts of evidence and testimony from the trial

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Contents List

Box 1 Folder 1
Affidavits for payment of guards, 1912
Box 1 Folder 2
Clippings, 1912-1913
Box 1 Folder 3
Correspondence, 1912 March 14-19
Box 1 Folder 4
Correspondence, 1912 March 20-30
Box 1 Folder 5
Correspondence, Baldwin-Felts Detectives, Inc., 1912 March-June
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Baldwin-Felts Detectives, Inc., 1912 July-1913 January
Box 1 Folder 7
Correspondence, Baldwin-Felts Detectives, Inc., Wanted posters, 1912-1913
Box 1 Folder 8
Correspondence, 1912 April
Box 1 Folder 9
Correspondence, 1912 May-June
Box 1 Folder 10
Correspondence, 1912 July-October
Box 2 Folder
Correspondence, 1912 November 1-15
Box 2 Folder 2
Correspondence, 1912 November 16-18
Box 2 Folder 3
Correspondence, 1912 November 19
Box 2 Folder 4
Correspondence, 1912 November 20-24
Box 2 Folder 5
Correspondence, 1912 November 25-26
Box 2 Folder 6
Correspondence, 1912 November 26-27
Box 2 Folder 7
Correspondence, 1912 November 27-30
Box 3 Folder 1
Correspondence, 1912 December 1-4
Box 3 Folder 2
Correspondence, 1912 December 5-9
Box 3 Folder 3
Correspondence, 1912 December 10-19
Box 3 Folder 4
Correspondence, 1912 December 20-30
Box 3 Folder 5
Correspondence, 1912 December 31
Box 3 Folder 6
Correspondence, Members of the Virginia General Assembly, 1912-1913
Box 3 Folder 7
Correspondence, Telegrams, 1912-1913
Box 3 Folder 8
Correspondence, 1913 January 1-15
Box 3 Folder 9
Correspondence, 1913 January 16-25
Box 4 Folder 1
Correspondence, 1913 January 26-31
Box 4 Folder 2
Correspondence, 1913 February 1-9
Box 4 Folder 3
Correspondence, 1913 February 10-26
Box 4 Folder 4
Correspondence, 1913 March
Box 4 Folder 5
Correspondence (undated), ca. 1913-1914
Box 4 Folder 6
Correspondence, 1914-1917
Box 4 Folder 7
Correspondence, 1918-1919
Box 4 Folder 8
Correspondence, 1921
Box 5 Folder 1
Correspondence, 1922 January-March
Box 5 Folder 2
Correspondence, 1922 April 1-15
Box 5 Folder 3
Correspondence, 1922 April 17-30
Box 5 Folder 4
Correspondence, 1922 May 1-12
Box 5 Folder 5
Correspondence, 1922 May 13-June 1
Box 5 Folder 6
Correspondence, 1922 June 2-29
Box 5 Folder 7
Correspondence, 1922 July-August
Box 6 Folder 1
Correspondence, 1922 September
Box 6 Folder 2
Correspondence, 1922 October
Box 6 Folder 3
Drawings of Carroll County Courtroom, ca. 1912-1913
Box 6 Folder 3a
Governor Mann, Memorandum regarding applications for clemency, 1912 November
Box 6 Folder 4
Governor Mann, Statement, ca. 1912-1913
Box 6 Folder 5
Governor Mann, Typed conservation, 1913 March 27
Box 6 Folder 6
Judge Staples, Remarks in sentencing, ca. 1912-1913
Box 6 Folder 7
List of names, A-F, undated
Box 6 Folder 8
List of names, G-Z, undated
Box 6 Folder 9-10
Mass mailings, 1922
Box 7 Folder 1-6
Mass mailings, 1922
Box 8 Folder 1
Notes, 1913
Box 8 Folder 2-5
Petitions, 1912-1913
Box 8 Folder 6-7
Petitions, Transcriptions, 1912
Box 9 Folder 1-6
Petitions, 1922
Box 10 Folder 1-6
Petitions, 1922
Box 11 Folder 1-3
Petitions, 1922
Box 11 Folder 4
Robert Etter, Statement, 1912 December 11
Box 11 Folder 5
Trial transcript, First trial, Dexter Goad evidence, ca. 1912-1913
Box 11 Folder 6
Trial transcript, Excerpt from testimony of Cyrus Phibbs, ca. 1912-1913
Box 11 Folder 7
Trial transcript, Second trial, Evidence of Sidna Allen and Mrs. Sidna Allen, ca. 1912-1913
Box 11 Folder 8
Trial transcript, Second trial, Evidence of Judge D.W. Bolen, ca. 1912-1913
Box 11 Folder 9
Trial transcript, Second trial, Testimony of Dexter Goad, ca. 1912-1913
Box 11 Folder 10
Trial transcript, Second trial, Testimony of C.C. Westmoreland, ca. 1912-1913
Box 11 Folder 11
Trial transcript, Opinion of James Keith, President, Circuit Court of Wythe County, 1913 January 15
Box 11 Folder 11
Trial transcript, Statement of evidence in the Allen cases 1912