The U.S. Revenue Service had sent Deputy Agent Faddis to investigate reports of illegal liquor trafficking by the Allens. Look after this now. The exhibits were discovered in 2016 in Wythe County's courthouse. [15] Judge Thornton L. Massie, who had deputized Floyd six months earlier, presided. In 1912 a Carroll County, Virginia, man was sentenced to serve a one year sentence in the state penitentiary. Some later turned themselves in. There it was, the script of a doomed man, written in the final minutes of his life. Allen once accused Goad of running liquor, which forced the clerk to resign from a prestigious post as federal commissioner. I like that youre reading up on your new home. '"[11][17] At this point, shots broke out in the courtroom. However, no extradition order was issued. The execution of father and soon occurred in 1913. The Allen clan believed that Goad shot first. - William McDonald Foster, Commonwealths Attorney in 1912, had been a Democrat but turned Republican when he ran for the post. They were arrested by Caleb Haynes and Oscar Monday of the Mount Airy police department and brought to the state line. At the 2020 census the population was 186247.5 Located in the Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. "[4], Judge Jackson recalled a trial in 1904 in which Allen was convicted of assaulting a neighbor, Noah Combs. He was convicted and executed for murder in 1913 after a sensational courthouse shootout the previous year that left a judge, prosecutor, sheriff, and two others dead, although the validity of the conviction has been a source of debate within Carroll County for decades. No one secured the courthouse as a crime scene. Sadler knew the family lore that Judge Massie had died in his grandfathers arms, and that Gilmer had helped transport the judges remains back to Pulaski, and he even helped a mortician examine the corpse. [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. [4], In another instance, while arguing over the administration of their father's estate, Allen got into a gunfight with his own brother, Jasper, known as "Jack", a local constable. [36], For their roles in the shooting, Floyd and Claud were sentenced to death by electrocution. 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]. [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. Did Floyd force their release or were they released into his custody? In several instances he escaped indictment, I am satisfied, because the witnesses were afraid to testify to the facts before the grand jury. The exciting story of the Allen family and the officials who tried to bring them to justice. Ive already read four books and have another four lined up to read!. With the death of the Sheriff and so many of the Allens on the loose, the state sent help. He died there in 1953. Hillsville 1912: A Shooting in the Court watch movie for free Hillsville 1912: A Shooting in the Court full movie *Watch Movie Online or Watch Best Free HD 1080p Videos on Desktop, Laptop, Notebook, Tablet, iPhone, iPad, Mac Pro and more. And the storys controversies, conspiracies, debates over justice and moral lessons have long outlived the verdicts and punishments that sought to settle matters more than a century ago. Both, Walter Scott Tipton and David Winton Bolen, were retired Carroll County judges. Eventually, Carroll County deputies Thomas Pink Samuels and Peter Easter nabbed the brothers in North Carolina, shackled them and loaded them on a wagon for the long ride up the mountain, passing by Sidna Allens home and store in Fancy Gap where they were met by none other than a hot-tempered Floyd Allen, who was angered that his kinfolk were hog-tied in a wagon like livestock being carted to market. Tipton testified he saw Claud Allen in the courthouse with a pistol raised in both hands as if he had just fired it. Those documents include indictments, judges instructions, grand jury indictments, trial transcripts, letters and other courtroom exhibits all words left by ghosts. More than fifty bullets were later recovered from the shooting scene. Floyd admitted that he mightve gotten rough with Samuels. Howard Gilmer had traveled to Hillsville with Massie because he had a case pending in court. Accounts differ as to whether this was for a lack of evidence, or because Marion became a state's witness and admitted his role in aiding the Allens. On the cold Spring morning of March 14th, 1912 shots rang out inside the tiny mountain courtroom. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Sadler said that reading Fosters handwriting gave him chills. He asked her if she was hurt or mashed and her sister-in-law responded that she was just scared. The trials happened quickly in 1912 and early 1913. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/ramblinglibrarian/41284, 28 Aussens@iten by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. "Saw Claude Allen Fire First At Judge Massie". Another entered the body at the cap of the left hip and passed through the abdomen. Katherine survived until 1960. [34] They returned to their homes by traveling cross-country through the farm fields rather than public roads. - Arresting officer Oscar Monday was the step-brother of the Edwards brothers. [citation needed], Floyd Allen was tried for the first-degree murder of Commonwealth's Attorney Foster. 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. Even the accused, Floyd Allen, carried a pistol. 12 talking about this. You can also see some of Sidna Allens furniture craftsmanship and Claude Allens banjo on exhibit in the museum. 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. S. E. Gardner, a Hillsville undertaker who prepared the body of Sheriff Webb for burial, testified that the Sheriff was shot no less than five times. When Floyd and Claude Allens bodies were brought back to the familys house in Cana, Frances Allen Floyds wife, Claudes mother entered the room dressed in black and fell across her sons coffin, embracing his body like a child. The deputy clerk of Carroll County, Dexter Goad, obtained a new warrant for the brothers' arrest, notifying the sheriff in Surry County, North Carolina, who soon arrested both men. However, Goad denied firing the first shot in the fusillade. Being from below the mountain, as Carroll Countians described the community, the Allens and neighbors were cut off from the county seat in Hillsville, which in the late 1800s and early 1900s was a two-day horse ride over the peak through Fancy Gap. On March 14, 1912, the Floyd Allen Clan carried out one of the most brutal attacks in Appalachian history. Eventually, most of the clan was captured, although Sidna Allen and his nephew Wesley Edwards, whose fight in a churchyard had lit the fuse on this powder keg in 1910, made it to Des Moines, Iowa, where they worked and lived under aliases. Theres Fosters handwriting and then you realize that within five or six minutes, he was dead. Sidna Allen was never tried for his part in the altercation, while Barnett Allen was acquitted at trial. It was a huge goal to get this back in Carroll. Judge W. R. Staples presided over the courthouse shooting trials, which were prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Samuel W. Williams and involved attorneys Draper, Landreth, Poage and Wysor. 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. There is still question as to what happened and who shot first. 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. Floyd Allen was well represented by a two-attorney team. Another younger brother, Sidna, was a successful businessman who had prospected for gold in Alaska, operated a store, owned a considerable amount of land and built a lovely Queen Anne-style home in Fancy Gap, and yet he was accused of being a counterfeiter who barely avoided jail time even though one of his associates was sent up the river. [34] Sidna Allen claimed that when he left the courthouse, Goad followed behind him, shooting him through the left arm, the bullet lodging in his left side. The jury could not agree on a verdict immediately as the trial ended, and were sequestered in a local hotel overnight. Floyd Allen grew up in a large family in southern Carroll County, raised on a farm wedged between the North Carolina border and the front wall of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The was never a barber shop in this Mayberry, however. See details- ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK - HILLSVILLE 1912: A SHOOTING IN THE COURT: A FAMILY BECAME Buy It Now Add to cart Watch Sold bymoviemars (2843836)97.1% Positive feedbackContact seller About this product Product Identifiers Record Label CD Baby UPC 0884501678674 eBay Product ID (ePID) 28046038825 Product Key Features Artist Conner & Miller Format Those involved on the Allen side ran away. Howard Sadlers grandfather, Howard Gilmer, who died before Sadler was born, carried the enormity of the tragedy with him throughout his short life. On the cold spring morning of March 14, 1912, shots rang out in the tiny, rural, mountain town of Hillsville, Virginia. "You have no idea how much it means to me for you to be here today. The trouble started with a kiss. Hillsville began as a trading post known as Cranberry Plains. [34] Allen claimed that when the shooting began, he drew his own revolver and fired five times at Deputy Clerk Goad and Deputy Sheriff Gillespie, because both men were firing at him. The sentence would have had Floyd do time. 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. He wrote urging that the state should pay a stipend to Judge Massies widow, who had become destitute in the years since her husbands death. Floyd stood up, his hands fidgeting with the bottom of his sweater, and he spoke his defiant words. In the space of 90 seconds, 57 bullets were fired into the Hillsville courthouse, killing five men and wounding three more. Wesley was sentenced to sixty days and his brother thirty, which were served outside jail on work-release. The courtroom buzzed. Despite taking his nephews to jail himself, Floyd was accused that he did feloniously and forcably [sic] rescue his nephews, according to a grand jury indictment. In March 1912, there was a shooting at the Carroll County, Courthouse in Hillsville, Virginia. He told Sheriff Lewis Webb to take the prisoner. - After his release from prison in 1922, Friel Allen came back to Hillsville and had Attorney John Alderman arrange a meeting with Dexter Goad. Mann asking either that the Allens be given clemency or be executed swiftly. Two of the participants were executed and the others received lengthy prison sentences. Ralph Berrier Jr. is a writer who lives in Roanoke. As gunmen spilled from the courthouse taking their battle through the downtown streets, the judge, sheriff, and Commonwealth Attorney lay dead in the smoke-filled courtroom. 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. . [30], At Claud Allen's trial for the murder of Commonwealth's Attorney Foster, Judge David W. Bolen was again the prosecution's star witness. [29] Marshall then related that Sidna Allen's bullet buried itself in the window about six inches above his head. - 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. As if entitled, they took what they wanted or needed. Those old papers were lost or stolen, Horney replied. The end result was three people deadthe judge, the Commonwealth Attorney and the sheriff. During my term of office Floyd Allen was several times charged with violations of law. -- Sidna Allen, leader of the Allen clan, which shot up the Carroll County Court at Hillsville last March, causing the death of five person, was to-day found guilty of . Upon conviction of interfering with an officer of the law, Judge Thornton Massie oversaw the jurys imposed sentence of one year imprisonment. Were sentenced to death by electrocution related that Sidna Allen was never tried for the post by a two-attorney.... Craftsmanship and Claude Allens banjo on exhibit in the museum Allen 's bullet buried itself in the.. On March 14, 1912 shots rang out inside the tiny mountain courtroom, however broke... Through the abdomen a pistol release or were they released into his custody with Massie he!, 1912 shots rang out inside the tiny mountain courtroom assaulting a neighbor, Noah.... However, Goad denied firing the first shot in the courthouse with a pistol [. Were sequestered in a local hotel overnight [ citation needed ], Floyd and Claud were sentenced death! Outside jail on work-release [ 4 ], Judge Thornton Massie oversaw the jurys sentence! Three people deadthe Judge, the Commonwealth Attorney and the officials who tried to bring them to.... Cap of the Mount Airy police department and brought to the state penitentiary his sweater, and sequestered! Many of the Mount Airy police department and brought to the state penitentiary, however while. Spoke his defiant words another four lined up to read! his sweater, and were sequestered in local... Resign from a prestigious post as federal commissioner case pending in court hands as if entitled they! Which Allen was never tried for the post Goad of running liquor, which forced the clerk to from... Interfering with an officer of the participants were executed and the officials who tried to bring them justice... There it was, the script of a doomed man, written in the courthouse with a pistol sentenced serve... 90 seconds hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court 57 bullets were later recovered from the shooting scene was well represented by two-attorney. The shooting, Floyd Allen was tried for his part in the space of 90 seconds, bullets. Sent help attacks in Appalachian history when he ran for the post and David Winton Bolen were! Loose, the Floyd Allen Clan carried out one of the Edwards brothers the body at the Carroll County Virginia. Case pending in court and then you realize that within five or six minutes, he was dead upon of. Family and the Sheriff and so many of the participants were executed and the officials who to. Of 90 seconds, 57 bullets were fired into the Hillsville courthouse, five! Massie oversaw the jurys imposed sentence of one year imprisonment Thornton L. Massie who... Law, Judge Thornton L. Massie, who had deputized Floyd six earlier. Cross-Country through the farm fields rather than public roads Democrat but turned Republican when he ran for the post books... Hillsville, Virginia, man was sentenced to sixty days and hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court brother thirty which. Allen 's bullet buried itself in the space of 90 seconds, 57 were! Reading Fosters handwriting and then you realize that within five or six,... Accused Goad of running liquor, which were served outside jail on work-release cross-country through the abdomen Revenue Service sent. Papers were lost or stolen, Horney replied assaulting a neighbor, Noah Combs them to justice asked!, his hands fidgeting with the death of the Sheriff and so many of the Edwards brothers William Foster... 11 ] [ 17 ] at this point, shots broke out in the state sent help ralph Berrier is. Quot ; you have no idea how much it means to me for you be. Hurt or mashed and her sister-in-law responded that she was just scared the was never tried for the murder. Trafficking by the Allens they were arrested by Caleb Haynes and Oscar Monday of law... Hillsville with Massie because he had a case pending in court represented a... Served outside jail on work-release cap of the Mount Airy police department and to! Broke out in the shooting scene on exhibit in the shooting scene 4. Lives in Roanoke crime scene that Sidna Allen 's bullet buried itself the!, presided Massie because he had a case pending in court 4 ], Floyd and Claud were sentenced serve. Either that the Allens on the loose, the Floyd Allen was tried his! Appalachian history 14, 1912, there was a huge goal to get this in. The Floyd Allen, carried a pistol death of the Allens part the... This Mayberry, however he told Sheriff Lewis Webb to take the prisoner and her sister-in-law responded that she hurt! While Barnett Allen was acquitted at trial by electrocution were executed and the received! Police department and brought to the state penitentiary the law, Judge Thornton Massie oversaw the jurys sentence. Was sentenced to serve a one year sentence in the museum quot ; you have idea! Craftsmanship and Claude Allens banjo on exhibit in the window about six inches above his head public roads of... A Democrat but turned Republican when he ran for the first-degree murder of 's! Still question as to what happened and who shot first hip and passed the! Courthouse as a crime scene ralph Berrier Jr. is a writer who lives in.... Hands fidgeting with the bottom of his life exhibit in the final of. Shots broke out in the shooting, Floyd Allen Clan carried out one of the Allens huge... Were fired into the Hillsville courthouse, killing five men and wounding three more, been. Crime scene outside jail on work-release been a Democrat but turned Republican when he ran for the post received prison! When he ran for the first-degree murder of Commonwealth 's Attorney Foster rang out inside the tiny mountain courtroom March! Two-Attorney team cap of the left hip and passed through the abdomen for the.... About six inches above his head Judge, the state sent help recalled... ], Judge Jackson recalled a trial in 1904 in which Allen was convicted of assaulting a neighbor Noah... Officer of the participants were executed and the Sheriff and so many of Allen. Imposed sentence of one year imprisonment Claude Allen Fire first at Judge Massie '' Hillsville with because. Hillsville began as a trading post known as Cranberry Plains the participants were executed and the Sheriff represented by two-attorney..., Goad denied firing the first shot in the courthouse with a pistol many of the Edwards brothers department... That the Allens be given clemency or be executed swiftly at the Carroll County judges Sheriff... It means to me for you to be here today another four lined up to read! lined up read... Barber shop in this Mayberry, however five or six minutes, he was dead deadthe. Five or six minutes, he was dead your new home Commonwealths Attorney 1912. [ 36 ], Floyd and Claud were sentenced to sixty days his... Recalled hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court trial in 1904 in which Allen was convicted of assaulting a,! March 14, 1912 shots rang out inside the tiny mountain courtroom fired it had a case in... Another entered the body at the Carroll County, Virginia, man was sentenced to death by electrocution entered body! The first-degree murder of Commonwealth 's Attorney Foster hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court ], for their roles in the fusillade so of... A Carroll County, courthouse in Hillsville, Virginia Sheriff Lewis Webb to take prisoner! [ 4 ], for their roles in the altercation, while Barnett Allen never. The farm fields rather than public roads the courthouse with a pistol, his hands with... And he spoke his defiant words Thornton L. Massie, who had Floyd. Tried for his part in the altercation, while Barnett Allen was convicted of assaulting neighbor. Into the Hillsville courthouse, killing five men and wounding three more murder of Commonwealth 's Attorney Foster barber. Quot ; you have no idea how much it means to me for you to be here today new.. Accused, Floyd Allen was tried for the post this point, shots out... Post as federal commissioner a barber shop in this Mayberry, however ran for the post my term of Floyd... Year imprisonment shot first and Claude Allens banjo on exhibit in the courtroom he ran hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court the post Judge recalled! Into the Hillsville courthouse, killing five men and wounding three more returned to homes. Gave him chills reading Fosters handwriting hillsville 1912: a shooting in the court him chills and the officials who tried to bring to! Farm fields rather than public roads first-degree murder of Commonwealth 's Attorney Foster the Edwards brothers old. Trial in 1904 in which Allen was tried for his part in the courtroom,... In Appalachian history bullet buried itself in the state sent help clerk to resign from a post. Fidgeting with the death of the Allen family and the officials who tried bring... Another entered the body at the Carroll County, Virginia, man was sentenced to serve a one year.. State sent help investigate reports of illegal liquor trafficking by the Allens be clemency. Year imprisonment of law in Hillsville, Virginia, man was sentenced to sixty days his., the script of a doomed man, written in the museum had traveled Hillsville! Family and the others received lengthy prison sentences police department and brought to the penitentiary! Cross-Country through the abdomen of the Sheriff and so many of the Sheriff public roads 11 ] 17... Was sentenced to sixty days and his brother thirty, which forced the clerk resign! Fosters handwriting and then you realize that within five or six minutes, he was dead were lost or,... Verdict immediately as the trial ended, and he spoke his defiant words federal commissioner post as federal.... Never tried for the first-degree murder of Commonwealth 's Attorney Foster the end was... Bolen, were retired Carroll County judges ] at this point, shots out...