In the case of J. Sidna Allen, one of Massies relatives complained that the raw bacon that was seized needed to be sold before it spoiled. In 2015 or so, Sadler also found a .38 caliber bullet among the keepsakes. Built in 1873, the historic courthouse is the site of the tragic courtroom shooting of 1912 and is the current site of the museum. Wesley and Sidna were charged with disorderly conduct, assault with a deadly weapon, disturbing a public worship service, and other violations. The prosecutor's case was based on the formation of a conspiracy by the Allens to kill the trial judge, local law enforcement, and others who had wronged them in the event of a guilty verdict. - Floyd Allen had a long history of serving the law in Carroll County as a deputy sheriff and was, in fact, a special policeman at the time of the tragedy. Sadler took the file drawer to a vault in the courthouse and dove into the trove. 1912 SIDNA ALLEN CRIMINAL HOUSE FANCY GAP HILLSVILLE VA COURT SHOOTING ~ A1 (#185771767538) s***s (604) - Feedback left by buyer s***s (604). [8] Only a month later, their petition for executive clemency was granted by Governor Claude A. Swanson, restoring their political rights to hold office. - William Fosters daughter, Aline, married George Ellison Bud Edwards in 1917. Courthouse Productions will stage "Thunder in the Hills" again at the historic Carroll County Courthouse, North Main Street, Hillsville, Virginia, beginning April 7. The significance of this event to Carroll County is profound, Sadler said. [29], Another witness, Walter Petty, also testified that the first shots were fired from the courtroom's northeast corner, where Claud Allen was standing. 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. [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. Others were captured. 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. Howard, I believe thats what youve been looking for, Horney said. [31], For his part, Claud Allen admitted to firing his pistol while in the courtroom. Airy. Terribly tragic. [36], For their roles in the shooting, Floyd and Claud were sentenced to death by electrocution. In March 1912, there was a shooting at the Carroll County, Courthouse in Hillsville, Virginia. To see this handwritten verdict, I knew it was the Holy Grail and Exhibit One in the commonwealths case against Floyd Allen, Sadler said. However, Goad denied firing the first shot in the fusillade. "Claude Allen First To Fire At Hillsville". The documents found their way to Wytheville because that was the site of the ensuing trials that followed the shootout, the venue having been moved from Hillsville where anger against the defendants boiled. Sadler pored over available documents from the murder trials, but he lamented that many original 1912 exhibits were lost. Massie had been urged by Foster and Goad to disarm the throng before the trail began. 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. The exciting story of the Allen family and the officials who tried to bring them to justice. After years of being privately owned, Sidna Allens house was given to the Carroll County Historical Society in 2014 by siblings Stanley Widener and Bonnie Wood, whose mother, Marlene, often opened the house to the public for tours. As the smoke cleared the sheriff, judge, and the common wealth attorney all lay dead. So was the judge. [26], On the other hand, Floyd Allen and his relatives claimed Deputy Clerk Dexter Goad had fired first, prompted by a long-standing vendetta he and Foster held against the Allen family. When the men were buried, it was beneath one final statement of defiance. See production, box office & company info. Floyd called home to have his son, Victor, bring him to court on Wednesday, March 13th. [18], Seven others were wounded, including Deputy Clerk Goad and Floyd Allen. And then, he apparently moved on with life. Three trials were needed to finally convict Claude. Spread the loveOne of the first writers to bring the real Appalachia to the world was John Fox Jr., who had come to the coal boom town of Big Stone, Spread the loveWe have a two-fer for you this week! . Howard Sadlers grandfather, Howard Gilmer, who died before Sadler was born, carried the enormity of the tragedy with him throughout his short life. Sidna Edwards pleaded guilty in August 1912 to second-degree murder, and was sentenced to 15 years in the penitentiary. No autopsies were performed. Two of whom, Sidna and his nephew Wesley, in Des Moines, Iowa where they were starting a new life. Allen also had political run-ins with Foster, who switched parties from Democrat to Republican in order to defeat an Allen relative for the prosecutors post. On the cold Spring morning of March 14th, 1912 shots rang out inside the tiny mountain courtroom. We dont sell ads, or block you with a paywall. Eleven minutes later, his son, Claud, followed his father to death in the electric chair. Sadler said that reading Fosters handwriting gave him chills. Hillsville Courthouse. [citation needed], Cousins Claud Allen and Sidna Edwards were soon arrested after a brief search. The men were gunned down during one of the most notorious events in Southwest Virginia history. If done right, this sounds as though it could make for a captivating film. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, IHeart Radio or on your favorite podcast app. About; Contact; Links; Search for: Tags. [citation needed], The Commonwealth's attorney, William Foster had served as Carroll County's prosecutor for eight years, having been first elected on the Democratic ticket. B. [34] They returned to their homes by traveling cross-country through the farm fields rather than public roads. How can you have seven murder trials in Wythe County and not have any exhibits whatsoever? Sadler often asked. Hillsville 1912: A Shooting in the Court (2011) Plot Showing all 1 items Jump to: Summaries (1) Summaries On the cold Spring morning of March 14th, 1912 shots rang out inside the tiny mountain courtroom. Horney told Sadler he decided to take one more look in the basement for the lost documents, moving more than 700 boxes. [34] Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards then left Virginia, eventually reaching Des Moines, Iowa. Floyd shot Jack in the head and then began to beat him in the head with a rock while he was out cold. 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. He found the murder indictment against Sidna Allen, Floyds brother who would be convicted and serve more than 13 years in prison. 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. He also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the shooting of Sheriff Webb, and was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment. Look after this now. The execution of father and soon occurred in 1913. [4] In July 1889, the Carroll County court indicted Floyd for assault as well, but in December of that year the Commonwealth's Attorney dropped the case. He was with his brother when the shooting occurred and was in jail with him when a vigilante mob took his brother into the jail yard and killed him. There were, however, nearly 20 Allen men among the spectators in the courtroom. That said, I am glad to have read the book and Ive learned more about this area. 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. Sidna Allen received a 35-year prison sentence, his nephews Wesley and Sidna Edwards and Friel Allen got lesser sentences. - Lewis Franklin Webb, the County Sheriff killed in the Courthouse Tragedy, had just taken office in January of 1912, but had been a deputy numerous times. Two of the participants were executed and the others received lengthy prison sentences. Thousands of people wrote letters to Gov. One can wonder if that was a sign that she blamed her husband for the tragic calamity that befell the family. 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. I recently learned that our town had a number of hiding spots on the Underground Railroad. We are the court of record. Sidna Allen was never tried for his part in the altercation, while Barnett Allen was acquitted at trial. Then he found the original Floyd Allen indictment that bore William Fosters final written words. Hall thinks that Sheriff Webb, who was carrying a borrowed gun, might have fired accidentally. 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. We depend entirely on donations. As the smoke cleared the sheriff, judge, and the common wealth attorney all lay dead. [6], Despite their history of violence, the Allens held considerable political power, and Allen had a reputation for courage. Perhaps the hardest thing for an outsider to understand is the frequently heard claim that the subject is dead. Most likely, someone had intentionally hidden the drawer to keep people from pawing through and perhaps removing the papers. Carroll County Clerk of Circuit Court Gerald Goad opened the formal transfer of the papers from Wythe County in the very room where the shootout occurred - a circle completed some 100 years, nine months and six days since traveling to Wythe County. The documents were found in the basement of the Wythe County Courthouse and have now been returned to Carroll County. It was a huge goal to get this back in Carroll. B. Earle, 1866-1867. - Sidna Edwards presence at Floyd Allens trial was requested by Floyds lawyers. If the Blacksburg-Roanoke-Lynchburg area wants a regional tech hub, here's a chance to help write the rules, Beware the Ides of March; bloom-busting cold likely lurks. This is another book that Ive read in order to learn about my new locale. (Interesting Southwest Virginia side note: Initially, Floyds nephew Barnett Allen, the grandfather of legendary Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer, was charged along with his uncles Floyd and Sidna for taking the Edwards boys from the deputies. He died at his daughters home in Hillsville in 1941. A few weeks ago, that trove of documents related to the shootout and subsequent trials made its way back to Carroll County, where the whole mess started. William Hodges Mann from Hillsvilles one outside line brought the famed Baldwin-Felts detectives to town the next day. Allen and Goad had butted heads before. Again, no investigation was made at the scene. More than fifty bullets were later recovered from the shooting scene. At a church service the next morning conducted by Wesley's uncle, Garland Allen, Thomas reportedly called out Wesley into a fight. Carroll County Historical Society and Museum. He wept freely as the verdict was read. 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. [2] Wesley Edwards tried to grapple with Easter, but Easter got away and fired a shot at Floyd as he did so, wounding Floyd in the finger. [13], The rumor that the Allens were intimidating witnesses was called to the attention of the court. The last and fifth shot went into the calf of the leg and when his trousers were removed, a .32 caliber bullet was discovered. 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. Attorney Howard C. Gilmer, of Pulaski, Virginia, was at Hillsville Courthouse in a room adjoining Judge Massie's courtroom when the shooting broke out. PARROW'S TRIAL POSTPONED Chicago Lawyer Will Not Appear Be fore Jan. 6. - Arresting officer Oscar Monday was the step-brother of the Edwards brothers. 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. The jury fixed the penalty at fifteen years in the penitentiary. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. I enjoy learning about local history. [20], Within a month, all suspected shooters were in custody, except Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards. Everybody was packing weapons, it seemed. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #truckspottinginthe717 . After several months' chase, Baldwin-Felts detectives located them in Iowa after an informant's tip. - Andrew Howlett, one of the spectators who was wounded during the Courthouse Tragedy, was a brother to Mack Howlett, who shot and killed Carr Allen in 1898. [35] In July 1912, after three separate trials, Claud Allen was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Commonwealth's Attorney Foster, and for second-degree murder for the killing of Judge Massie. The Hillsville Massacre By Seth Williamson Nobody knows who fired the first shot that cold, gray day, but before it was over, four lay dead, one was dying, and Carroll County would never be the same again. The end result was three people deadthe judge, the Commonwealth Attorney and the sheriff. The phone hasn't stopped ringing in the. One of these days I would like to sit down and write a book about it but just havent made the time yet. After the Edwards were charged with assault, they fled across the North Carolina border to Mt. Upon conviction of interfering with an officer of the law, Judge Thornton Massie oversaw the jury's imposed sentence of one year imprisonment. [2] The federal court in Greensboro found him not guilty, while Sidna's alleged accomplice, Preston Dickens, was found guilty and sentenced to serve five years in federal prison. Ive already read four books and have another four lined up to read!. Another entered the body at the cap of the left hip and passed through the abdomen. "There were five people murdered. [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. In one case, after having ridden their horses to death, two of them took a mans mules from his plow in the middle of the field. [2] His pistol empty, Allen proceeded to beat Jack with the butt of his empty revolver. WALTERBORO, S.C. ( WCSC /Gray News) - Attorneys in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial are expected to deliver their closing arguments beginning Wednesday after jurors visited the scene of the killings . The oldest, continuously operating . [11][10][40][41] A dispute arose between McGraw and Jack Allen about the Hillsville tragedy; during the confrontation McGraw drew a gun and shot Allen twice, killing him on the spot. Preserving and Presenting the History of the County of Carroll, Commonwealth of Virginia. "[4], Judge Jackson recalled a trial in 1904 in which Allen was convicted of assaulting a neighbor, Noah Combs. Floyd said that Commonwealth's Attorney Foster would not give him a show;[clarification needed] but that if he did not there would be a "big hole put in the court house." - Almost everyone in Carroll County is related to everyone else. Most of the Allens and their cohorts escaped initially, but an emergency call to Virginia Gov. Hillsville began as a trading post known as Cranberry Plains. He began his sentence in August 1913, and died of pneumonia in prison on November 25, 1913.[A]. V. Ray Bowman is known for Hillsville 1912: A Shooting in the Court (2011). The home is owned by Bert and Marlene Widener, who offer tours by appointment. The deputies, though, accused Floyd of forcibly freeing the brothers, assaulting the lawmen and smashing Deputy Samuels pistol against a rock. The bullet came up under the skin of her right breast. The was never a barber shop in this Mayberry, however. [21] When all the smoke cleared, there were five dead, seven wounded. 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. [15] Judge Thornton L. Massie, who had deputized Floyd six months earlier, presided. [8] On February 1, 1908, the Allens were convicted of the charge and sentenced to ten days in jail and a fine of $10. March 14, 1912 - Hillsville Massacre Hillsville's history has a bit of a dark spot within it; the dark spot is known as the 1912 Courthouse Tragedy which was rivaled in the news only by the devastation known as the Titanic. [32], Sidna Edwards testified that he was not armed on the day of the shooting and that he did not like to carry guns. 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. While the state legislature still appointed circuit judges, the new system reduced the ability of individual delegates to ensure that their preferred judge was selected for their particular county; furthermore, judges could no longer practice law for private clients while on the bench, and as regional judges their susceptibility to local influence and public opinion was reduced. Court testimony says she was outside throwing up on the lawn when Doctor Nuckolls came by. Floyd said Goad and Foster were part of a privileged clique, according to Hall, one that would never include the likes of Floyd or his family. '"[11][17] At this point, shots broke out in the courtroom. 2023 TheTVDB.com, A Whip Media Company. The flood of indictments that came just days after the shootout wail with pain, the typewritten words seething on the page while claiming that the Allens unlawfully, feloniously, wickedly and maliciously killed the sheriff and others. The exciting story of the Allen family and the officials who tried to bring them to justice. 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. It sounded like Mayberry, but only for a moment! http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/56171 Ft: Aussens@iter (tobias_weber), Gerd Kohlmeier, Audio Podcast WordPress Theme By VWThemes, Sid Hatfield and Ed Chambers Killed August 1, 1921, World War I Anti-Conscription Movement 1917, https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/49746687/download.mp3, The Hatfields and the McCoys: After the Feud, http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/ramblinglibrarian/41284. Brought the famed Baldwin-Felts detectives to town the next morning conducted by Wesley 's uncle Garland. 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