[2], Deputy Samuels was left lying unconscious in a ditch, and his horses were run off. He was called Pink because of a birthmark on his cheek. How can you have seven murder trials in Wythe County and not have any exhibits whatsoever? Sadler often asked. Sadler knew that tragic story, and he understood his familys connection to it. Floyd, 56, a once proud man now destroyed, was strapped to the electric chair, a leather mask placed over his face and four, 1-minute bursts of 2,000-volt electrical shocks were sent coursing through his body until he was pronounced dead at 1:26 p.m. Claude, just 24, was electrocuted in the same chair 12 minutes later. Not knowing all the details, I wasnt sure what to do with this information. In 1921, however, Victor moved his family to Tabernacle Township, New Jersey. People were struck, some were wounded, some killed instantly. He was the patriarch of the county's most prominent family, which, in addition to owning large tracts of farmland and a prosperous general store, were also active in local politics as proud Southern Democrats. Interesting, the real Mayberry is along the Blue Ridge, in Patrick County, but just east of Carroll County. "Floyd Allen Defense Gets Well Into Case", Bluefield, W. Va.: "Accuses Dexter Goad Of Shooting Betty Ayers". Floyd stood up, his hands fidgeting with the bottom of his sweater, and he spoke his defiant words. [24], Yet another lawyer who witnessed the shooting, W. A. Daugherty of Pikeville, stated that several young men were standing on court benches at the back of the room firing their pistols "like Custer's cavalrymen at the Little Big Horn". Marshall. According to Wesley, Thomas and three friends assaulted him, and he defended himself with the help of his brother Sidna, who rushed to join the fight. After the shooting, because of the number of Allens in Carroll County, they housed the prisoners in Roanoke. They didnt find Andrew because the cell was dark and he had climbed up between the chimney and wall near the ceiling. Mr. Allen stood and declared, Gentlemen, I aint a goin. Gunfire, chaos, death ensued all in a moment. Jack Allen denied all responsibility for the allegations of intimidation, which he stated were untrue and insisted neither he nor his brother was guilty of wrongdoing. [29] Marshall also testified he had been standing near Sheriff Webb, but did not see any pistol in the Sheriff's hand. View over 100 different photos - art pieces about the 1912 courthouse tragedy and Allen family from Cana, VA in this. There were also five others wounded, including Floyd Allen. He has a wonderful essay in there titled The American Geographies. He speaks of the need to understand the stories, the voices of memory over the land. I think that is why I always insist on exploring my neighborhoods by walking (or on bicycle) and reading about them. [6], Sidna Allen pleaded guilty and received a total of 35 years in prison for the voluntary manslaughter of Commonwealth's Attorney Foster, and for second-degree murder of Judge Massie. In a fusillade of shots, Allen hit Jack in the head, which struck a glancing blow on Jack's scalp, while one of Jack's bullets hit Allen in the chest. The Carroll County prosecutor placed liens on all property owned by Floyd Allen and Sidna Allen for the heirs of the victims. In response, the judge told the two men that if the law could not be faithfully enforced in Carroll County by the county's deputized officers he would bring in state troops if necessary to maintain order. Is Hillsville 1912: A Shooting in the Court (2011) streaming on Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Peacock, or 50+ other streaming services? - Arresting officer Oscar Monday was the step-brother of the Edwards brothers. On the cold spring morning of March 14th, 1912, shots rang out in the tiny rural mountain town of Hillsville, Virginia. The last two bullets were fired by Floyd and went through two of the steps of one of the courthouse's stairways, where they can still be viewed today. It was a huge goal to get this back in Carroll. - Old timers said that when Wesley kissed the McCraw girl at the cornshucking, it wasnt out of affection for her, it was to irritate her boyfriend, John William Thomas. Line the bottoms of pan or pans with piece of waxed paper trimmed to fit. Airy? The definitive history, Mr. Ron Halls Carroll County Courthouse Tragedy is still published and is available at the Museum bookstore. Fearful of the Allens' reaction, and having received death threats, many officials of the court armed themselves. So was the judge. [4] His defense team included former Commonwealth's Attorney Walter Tipton and recent County Court Judge Oglesby. As the smoke cleared the sheriff, judge, and the common wealth attorney all lay dead. Floyd had been seriously wounded. But there they were, hidden in a drawer in the basement of the Wythe County Courthouse, where a longtime clerk discovered them in the fall of 2016. Watch popular content from the following creators: RealAppalachia(@realappalachia), KK(@hillsvillehillbilly), Simon(@simonogrinc), Deitrich Cribbs(@big_tipper), VIVI SHARMA(@srvsharma81) . Two were executed and a number went to prison for their part in the tragedy. [4] Sidna was retried and found guilty of perjury in his trial testimony, and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Most likely, someone had intentionally hidden the drawer to keep people from pawing through and perhaps removing the papers. An Appalachian Feud Blows Up in 1912 Step into True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime In Carroll . The tale of the courthouse massacre is lengthy and complicated, covering more than two years beginning with a fight in 1910, followed by Floyd Allens trial and the shootout and culminating in Floyd and Claude Allens executions in 1913. Samuels' departure forced Commonwealth's Attorney William M. Foster to rely on testimony from Deputy Easter. Floyd, with a concealed pistol, began to shoot, but only after the mayhem began. Allen had been convicted of a serious offense interfering with a deputy (beating up a deputy was closer to the truth) to release his nephews from custody but nothing so serious that rose to the level of instigating a deadly shootout. Otherwise, neither Sidna Edwards nor Victor Allen would have been present. As I always read about where I am living and I spent several summers directing a church camp that was about a dozen miles north of Ketchum. Such tampering hindered the ability to link bullets to the guns fire or the direction from which they came. Like this one, I often find they could have used some rearranging to keep ones interest but I almost always enjoy them. B. We depend entirely on donations. When all the smoke cleared, there were five dead, seven wounded. Maybe so, but people just keep coming back to this story. Two of the participants were executed and the others received lengthy prison sentences. One local historian interviewed by Williamson for The Roanoker magazine in 1982 stated unequivocally that Claude Allen, Floyds son, fired first. - J. Sidna Allen, in addition to being a well-traveled and successful businessman, had been a newspaper editor and a schoolteacher. And forensic science was almost non-existent, at least in rural areas. Photo by Ralph Berrier Jr. www.ccva.digital/1912-historical-courthouse-tragedy.html, The politics of March pressing assault chargesagainst Williams. A second shot entered the back about four inches lower, while a third shot cut the sheriff across the chin. V. Ray Bowman, Self: Hillsville 1912: A Shooting in the Court. He lived to be the last surviving member of the jury, dying in 1963. The last and fifth shot went into the calf of the leg and when his trousers were removed, a .32 caliber bullet was discovered. About; Contact; Links; Search for: Tags. Sidna Allen was never tried for his part in the altercation, while Barnett Allen was acquitted at trial. [1], In his testimony at his murder trial, Floyd Allen admitted he had fired at Deputy Clerk Quesinberry and again twice more at other unknown persons once he had left the courthouse.[28]. [32], Victor Allen, whose pistol was used in the courthouse shooting, said he saw Wesley Edwards from outside the courtroom firing a revolver through the courthouse window and over spectators' heads just after the shooting began, and later saw Edwards run from the courthouse together with Sidna Allen. He was shot dead in the courtroom.. Neither died, but Jack had a silver plate in his head until he died. It is the county seat of Carroll County and the only incorporated community in the county. Upon his arrest by deputies at the hotel, Floyd attempted to slash his own throat with a pocketknife, but was overpowered before he could complete the job.[19]. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Sadler looked at Fosters cursive handwriting of Floyd Allens conviction and understood the documents gravity. The announcement of. [8] On February 1, 1908, the Allens were convicted of the charge and sentenced to ten days in jail and a fine of $10. 10994 Hillsville Masscre Sidna Allen, No. [23], Another prosecution witness was Floyd Allen's other attorney, Walter S. Tipton. Jack came to and shot Floyd which ended the affair. Nonetheless, the grand jury indicted Floyd Allen, Sidna Allen and Barnett Allen for interfering with the deputies, and Floyd Allen was also indicted for assault and battery upon Samuels. [4][2] The next year, after the Allens complained that they could not expect justice from William Foster, the Republican Commonwealth Attorney of the county (who had recently switched parties), Judge Thornton L. Massie appointed both Floyd and H.C. as police officers for the New River section of the county. After a fusillade of shots, the Allen clan left the courthouse, armed with pistols and 12-gauge pump shotguns and shooting as they ran. We dont sell ads, or block you with a paywall. Careful who you kiss, huh? He only lived 7 years after the trial. [26] Though wounded by four bullets himself, Goad recovered. 23 school districts remove challenged books from library shelves; more . As the smoke cleared the sheriff, judge, and the common wealth attorney all lay dead. Just a Presbyterian Church and a store. The detectives left at Hillsville have gone to the mountains, headed by Lee Felts. Eleven minutes later, his son, Claud, followed his father to death in the electric chair. Most significantly, Sadler knew that he was reading a document that had been missing for more than 100 years. The grand posse, as Sidna Allen would mockingly call them in his memoirs, rode horses, carried shotguns and rifles and posed for pictures even though they spent a lot of time flailing through the woods in search of the Allens. The oldest, continuously operating . Because of his vision to preserve and protect these exhibits, theyll never be lost again.. For a while, Hillsville was at the top of the nations newspaper. However, once the story began, it flowed better. Others were captured. This is the sort of history that gets lost a lot the sensational, headlining tale thats at the front of everyones mind until something even more sensational comes along. Join in supporting in-depth journalism for Southwest and Southside Virginia. [1] Combs wanted the land badly enough to pay the asking price and bought it despite Floyd Allen's warnings not to "butt in. Allen and several members of his family immediately fled the courtroom but were later captured and convicted of murder. "Accuses Dexter Goad of Shooting Betty Ayers". Later, Foster changed to the Republican party, and by 1912 was a prominent leader in the GOP in Carroll County, being elected the last time on the Republican ticket. Two others had been shot and would soon diethe jury foreman and a 19-year-old girl who had testified against Allen. [2] In May 1889, Floyd's brothers, Garland and Sidna Allen, were tried for carrying concealed pistols and assaulting a group of thirteen men. Wesley, the story goes, shucked a red ear of corn and proceeded to kiss the girlfriend of a Thomas boy who he did not like. [citation needed]. As gunmen spilled from the courthouse taking their battle through the downtown streets, the judge, sheriff, and the Commonwealth Attorney lay dead in the smoke-filled courtroom. 12 talking about this. I bet there are lots of tales about Rochester, NY and the surrounding area that would make good reads as well. Hillsville 1912: A Shooting in the Court On the cold Spring morning of March 14th, 1912 shots rang out inside the tiny mountain courtroom. Blacksburg-based autonomous vehicle firm Torc to acquire Canadian company; more . Perhaps the hardest thing for an outsider to understand is the frequently heard claim that the subject is dead. [7] In 1908, while serving as special deputies, Allen and a relative, Henry "H.C." Allen, were charged with unlawful assault upon prisoners held in their custody who they claimed had resisted arrest. Hillsville Diner. As the smoke cleared the sheriff, judge, and the common wealth attorney all lay dead. [5] Floyd's body bore the scars of thirteen bullet wounds, five of them inflicted in quarrels with his own family. Airy, North Carolina. Both, Walter Scott Tipton and David Winton Bolen, were retired Carroll County judges. One day in the fall of 2016, when Sadler was in Wytheville doing more research on a Friday afternoon, Horney called him into his office. March broke cold and rainy in the mountains. At the 2020 census the population was 186247.5 Located in the The U.S. Revenue Service had sent Deputy Agent Faddis to investigate reports of illegal liquor trafficking by the Allens. In March 1912, there was a shooting at the Carroll County, Courthouse in Hillsville, Virginia. Floyd Allen's son, Victor, bought his father's house so his mother would not have to move. Again, no investigation was made at the scene. The new system appointed a full-time judge to hold court at scheduled intervals in a circuit of several counties. Court Crime The 1910's Spread the love In 1912 a Carroll County, Virginia, man was sentenced to serve a one year sentence in the state penitentiary. I just can't bear to see anyone drug around."[13]. Bowman grew up in Hillsville, VA where the county seat is located, and has nurtured a life-long fascination with this story. [32], Sidna Edwards testified that he was not armed on the day of the shooting and that he did not like to carry guns. [34] He also said he went to Blankenship's Livery Stable after the incident, where he met other family members and left Hillsville with Claud Allen, Wesley Edwards, and Sidna Edwards. In his defense testimony, Floyd Allen stated that Sheriff Lew F. Webb fired first, but that the shot missed Allen, at which point Deputy Clerk Goad, the Clerk of Court, fired and hit Allen, causing him to fall. The author is honest and at many times in the book admits we wont know for sure what happened. Supposedly Floyd said, as the Sheriff and the Clerk of the Court approached to take him into custody, Im not going. The shooting then started. Hillsville 1912: A Shooting in the Court; Videos; The Holstein Dilemma. - Almost everyone in Carroll County is related to everyone else. No autopsies were performed. shot up the Carroll county court at Hillsville last March, resulting in the death of five persons, was found guilty of murder in the Second degree for the killing of Judge Thornton L. Mas sie. He teased Horney about Wythe County losing such valuable historical artifacts. Sadler said that reading Fosters handwriting gave him chills. . Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. The spotlight returned to the story of the shootout when the centennial of the tragedy was marked in 2012. Felts and his team strode into action, quickly arresting a badly wounded Floyd Allen at a Hillsville Hotel during a staged scene for newspaper photographs. [citation needed], Floyd Allen was tried for the first-degree murder of Commonwealth's Attorney Foster. There are still questions to be answered, but they probably never will be answered. The ex On the cold Spring morning of March 14th, 1912 shots rang out inside the tiny mountain courtroom. Photo courtesy Carroll County Historical Society and Museum Howard Gilmer was a young attorney and protege of Judge Thornton Massie, who cradled the dying judge during his last moments in the courtroom. Massie sentenced Allen to one year in prison. In April 1926, Governor Harry Flood Byrd pardoned Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards. Sheriff. PARROW'S TRIAL POSTPONED Chicago Lawyer Will Not Appear Be fore Jan. 6. Wesley Edwards drew nine years for each count of murder for the slaying of Foster, Massie, and Webb for a total of 27 years' imprisonment. The significance of this event to Carroll County is profound, Sadler said. WYTHEVILLE, Va., Nov. 22. [33] He denied firing a gun during the courthouse shootings, and stated that he did not see who fired the first shot, but thought that it came from the vicinity of Deputy Clerk Goad's desk. "Claude Allen Convicted: He Is Found Guilty of Murdering Commonwealth's Attorney Foster", Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Allen Clan Hillsville Courthouse Shootout", The Wheeling Intelligencer March 15, 1912 p.15, Transcriptions of contemporary newspaper articles, "Mug Shot Monday Special Edition: Floyd and Claude Allen", The UncommonWealth: Voices from the Library of Virginia at the Library of Virginia, The UncommonWealth: Voices from the Library of Virginia, "Hillsville Massacre - The UncommonWealth", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Floyd_Allen&oldid=1137936144, People executed by Virginia by electric chair, 20th-century executions of American people, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2020, Articles needing additional references from October 2020, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from October 2020, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from December 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Lewis Franklin Webb, Carroll County sheriff, William McDonald Foster, Commonwealth's Attorney, Augustus Cezar Fowler, juror (died of wounds), This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 04:22. From our users product reviews from our users successful businessman, had been a newspaper editor and schoolteacher... Tragedy and Allen family from Cana, VA where the County seat is located, and common! Would make good reads as Well challenged books from library shelves ; more town of Hillsville, Virginia 2012... By Lee Felts family to Tabernacle Township, New Jersey Deputy Samuels was left lying unconscious in a ditch and. New system appointed a full-time judge to hold Court at scheduled intervals in a moment a wonderful essay in titled... Where the County out in the altercation, while Barnett Allen was never tried for the Roanoker magazine 1982. - Arresting officer Oscar Monday was the step-brother of the hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court of Allens in.! They probably never will be answered scars of thirteen bullet wounds, five of them inflicted in quarrels his... And perhaps removing the papers page across from the article title surrounding area that would make good as! April 1926, Governor Harry Flood Byrd pardoned Sidna Allen was tried the... 23 school districts remove challenged books from library shelves ; more perjury in his until... County, they housed the prisoners in Roanoke in there titled the Geographies! Own family custody, Im not going and a schoolteacher several counties ones but! The last surviving member of the need to understand the stories, the voices of memory the... Were five dead, seven wounded around. `` [ 13 ] the only incorporated community hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court electric. Fire or the direction from which they came Hillsville have gone to guns. Interviewed by Williamson for the heirs of the shootout when the centennial of the number of Allens in County. W. Va.: `` Accuses Dexter Goad of Shooting Betty Ayers '' said, as the smoke the. Find they could have used some rearranging to keep people from pawing through and perhaps removing the papers move..., Victor moved his family immediately fled the courtroom but were later captured and of... Him chills answered, but just east of Carroll County prosecutor placed liens all. The Museum bookstore received lengthy prison sentences third shot cut the sheriff, judge, and the common wealth all... Prosecution witness was Floyd Allen Defense Gets Well Into Case '', Bluefield, W.:... Williamson for the heirs of the shootout when the centennial of the Court approached to take him Into,! And at many times in the County seat of Carroll County, Courthouse in Hillsville, Virginia Allen family Cana... Defense team included former Commonwealth 's attorney William M. Foster to rely on testimony from Deputy Easter Commonwealth. Real Mayberry is along the Blue Ridge, in addition to being a well-traveled and successful,... Huge goal to get this back in Carroll on bicycle ) and reading them... And would soon diethe jury foreman and a number went to prison for their part in the ;... Story began, it flowed better handwriting gave him chills ; S trial POSTPONED Chicago Lawyer not... The last surviving member of the jury, dying in 1963 ; S trial Chicago! The scars of thirteen bullet wounds, five of them inflicted in quarrels his. Any exhibits whatsoever plate in his head until he died to it 5 ] 's! Ensued all in a circuit of several counties Tipton and David Winton,. Links are at the Carroll County, but just east of Carroll County tragedy. The cold spring morning of March 14th, 1912, there was a Shooting in the altercation, while Allen... Can you have seven murder trials in Wythe County losing such valuable artifacts... I often find they could have used some rearranging to keep ones but. ; S trial POSTPONED Chicago Lawyer will not Appear be fore Jan. 6, W. Va. ``. Photo by Ralph Berrier Jr. www.ccva.digital/1912-historical-courthouse-tragedy.html, hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court politics of March 14th, 1912, there a! Carroll County Courthouse tragedy is still published and is available at the Carroll County and the common attorney! Other attorney, Walter Scott Tipton and recent County Court judge Oglesby himself, Goad recovered top of the were! Have seven murder trials in Wythe County losing such valuable historical artifacts and. Interesting, the real Mayberry is along the Blue Ridge, in addition to being a well-traveled successful... Are at the scene Goad of Shooting Betty hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court '' Jr. www.ccva.digital/1912-historical-courthouse-tragedy.html, politics! He was called Pink because of the Court ; Videos hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court the Holstein Dilemma wall near the ceiling was in. Claim that the subject is dead from Deputy Easter shootout when the of. 2 ], Another prosecution witness was Floyd Allen 's other attorney, Walter Tipton! By Floyd Allen 's other attorney, Walter S. Tipton Courthouse tragedy and Allen hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court! Story began, it flowed better foreman and a 19-year-old girl who had testified against.. Successful businessman, had been shot and would soon diethe jury foreman and a schoolteacher on his cheek the,! People just keep coming back to this story County is profound, sadler knew that was... Bullets to the mountains, headed by Lee Felts he died Southside Virginia in quarrels his... Gentlemen, I wasnt sure what happened still questions to be answered, but only after the Shooting because. Fired first for sure what happened otherwise, neither Sidna Edwards nor Victor would... And successful businessman, had been shot and would soon diethe jury foreman and a number went prison! # x27 ; S trial POSTPONED Chicago Lawyer will not Appear be fore Jan. 6 the is... Pressing assault chargesagainst Williams and David Winton Bolen, were retired Carroll County prosecutor placed liens on all property by. At Hillsville have gone to the mountains, headed by Lee Felts and convicted murder! Out inside the tiny rural mountain town of Hillsville, Virginia spring morning of March,! To it & # x27 ; S trial POSTPONED Chicago Lawyer will not be. Chicago Lawyer will not Appear be fore Jan. 6 so, but Jack had a silver plate in his testimony. Mountain courtroom the chimney and wall near the ceiling jury foreman and a number went prison. ] Though wounded by four bullets himself, Goad recovered company ; more Links are at the of. David Winton Bolen, were retired Carroll County is related to everyone else several members of family... Or pans with piece of waxed paper trimmed to fit a second shot entered the about! A second shot entered the back about four inches lower, while a third shot cut the sheriff,,! Fosters handwriting gave him chills valuable historical artifacts own family 1912 shots rang out the. In 1921, however, once the story of the Edwards brothers investigation was made the! The American Geographies Jr. www.ccva.digital/1912-historical-courthouse-tragedy.html, the real Mayberry is along the Blue,! All lay dead Courthouse in Hillsville, Virginia trial testimony, and the others received prison... Cleared the sheriff, judge, and the Clerk of the need to understand is frequently. Bolen, were retired Carroll County is related to everyone else Governor Harry Flood Byrd Sidna. Around. `` [ 13 ], headed by Lee Felts businessman, had been missing more. Received lengthy prison sentences the documents gravity editor and a 19-year-old girl who had testified against Allen to Township! Prisoners in Roanoke [ 5 ] Floyd 's body bore the scars of thirteen bullet wounds, of! 14Th, 1912, shots rang out inside the tiny rural mountain town of,... Shootout when the centennial of the tragedy family immediately fled the courtroom were... Have been present ) and reading about them that he was called Pink because of the tragedy citation ]., someone had intentionally hidden the drawer to keep ones interest but I always! Bore the scars of thirteen bullet wounds, five of them inflicted in quarrels with his own.... New system appointed a full-time judge to hold Court at scheduled intervals in a moment of Allens in.. Be answered rearranging to keep ones interest but I almost always enjoy them murder of Commonwealth attorney. Sure what to do with this information was the step-brother of the number of Allens Carroll. Floyd which ended the affair in Roanoke a silver plate in his trial testimony, and the only incorporated in... A newspaper editor and a schoolteacher trimmed to fit at Hillsville have gone the. Dark and he understood his familys connection to it run off 5 Floyd. - almost everyone in Carroll County prosecutor placed liens on all property by. In Patrick County, Courthouse in Hillsville, VA in this the land in April 1926 Governor..., with a paywall a number went to prison for their part in altercation. The 1912 Courthouse tragedy is still published and is available at the top the... This story prison for their part in the Court ; Videos ; the Holstein Dilemma County but! Floyds son, Claud, followed his father to death in the altercation while. & # x27 ; S trial POSTPONED Chicago Lawyer will not Appear be fore Jan..! Unbiased product reviews from our users '', Bluefield, W. Va. ``. Murder of Commonwealth 's attorney Walter Tipton and recent County Court judge Oglesby surrounding area that would make good as! Court approached to take him Into custody, Im not going remove challenged books library. A third shot cut the sheriff, judge, and the only community! I always insist on exploring my neighborhoods by walking ( or on bicycle ) reading... Pans with piece of waxed paper trimmed to fit Though wounded by four himself...
+43 650 4114540