r 1he Monroe journal VOL. 19. No. 9. MONROE, N. C., TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1913. ALLENS ELECTROCUTED. STRENUOUS F.FFORT TO SAVE T1IF.M FAII.KD. V OKI Man l'loyil Ami His Son Cl.nn' Went to Their iKuth liravely l'laii to Heat tiovcrinir .Mann Au- K'it the Chief Kxccutive. Richmond, Va., March 28. Mum bling a prayer and crying halt au dibly that he was ready to go, Floyd Allen, whose refusal to ac cept a short prison term for a mi nor offense led to the wholesale court murder in Hillsville one year ago, limped to the death chair in the State penitentiary today, 11 minutes ahead of Claude Swanson Allen, his son. The sentence of the court, held up for six hours while desperate and dramatic efforts were being made to save the condemned men by eleventh hour appeals to the Lieutenant Governor, was speed!' ly ordered to proceed when Govern or Mann hastened back to Virginia soil to take charge of a situation which was sensational and exciting to a degree. The prison superinten dent, acting entirely within the law, agreed at 2 o'clock to postpone the execution, giving the Atty. General an opportunity to pass upon the con stitutional right of Lieutenant Gov ernor Ellyson to interfere. i GOVERNOR HASTENS BACK. But the young son of Governor Mann reached his father In Phila delphia by telephone less than an hour after the delay had been order- , ed and by 8 o'clock today the Gov ernor was again on Virginia soil. Incensed, as it afterwards developed, by the unexpected effort to take ad vantage of his temporary adsence when he had repeatedly refused clemency: the Governor boarded an early morning train, arriving in Rich mond at 11:30 o'clock. On the way he telegraphed the Secretary of the Commonwealth that he would be In Virginia by eight o'clock, this in formation suddenly checked the plan of Allen sympathizers in further urging the Lieutenant Governor to Interfere. While every proceeding had halted pending the Governors' arrival, word reached police headquarters that a crowd has assembled at the station, patrolmen, detectives and plain clothes men being hurried there to prevent any demonstration, when the Governor stepped on the plat- form -he was quickly surrounded by officers who escorted him to a taxi cab which took him quickly to the Capitol. In his office at the State prison, .Superintendent Wood was pacing the floor nervously as he awaited developments. The situation there had become more Intense. Precisely at noon the superintendent was call ed to the telephone. "The Governor of Virginia Is at his desk," was tlie message he re ceived from the Copttol and Instant ly preparations were made to obey the mandate of the court. The wlt- nessess who had assembled at 7 o'clock, the hour nnnouueed for the execution, had left the prison with instructions to return at 1 o'clock. Just after sunrise the Aliens prac tically collapsed when informed that a half-day respite had been granted by a combination of legal and technical circumstances as strange as any that had ever been presented to a court of Justice. Claude Allen, who had retained his nerve throughout the trying ordeal In his behalf, gasped and trembled, but he regained his composure as he noted the hopeless and dejected appearance of his aged father in the cell across the corridor. As the morning hours passed they sat with their spiritual advisers, but they nerved themselves again for the end when they heard that Governor Mann bad returned to Virginia. Men prominent in official circles of the State, who waited In the Cap- tol for a final plea to the Governor, were turned away, as his secretary handed out this statement from the Executive: MANN'S FINAL ORDER. "Hearing at five minutes to 3 o'clock this morning of the action taken In the Allen case after I left the city, I considered it my duty to hurry back. I simply desire to re peat that after the most careful ex amination of the evidence in this case, I have not the slightest doubt of the guilt of Floyd and Claude Al len. and 1 will not Interfere. The law must take its course." The Jury which under the law is required to witness all executions, assembled outside the penitentiary shortly before 1 o'clock, mingling there with the crowd, the program as originally announced was carried out without change. While two ministers, who have been unfaltering In their loyalty to the condemned men.were telling them good-bye, the , prison superintendent stepped into the corridor which separated the cells of father and son, and read the death warrant. FAREWELLS SAltJ. Floyd Allen, still limping from the wounds he received In the Hills ville court battle, said the last tearful farewell to his boy and went with the prison guards to the death chamber. A groan escaped him as he sat in the chair while the straps and electrodes were being fastened about him. The current was turn ed on at 1:22 o'clock and In four minutes the surgeon motioned to V j the superintendent that he was dead. ine ooay was speeaiiy re moved. Again the cbalr was tested while Claude Swanson Allen, namesake of a United States Senator, was Indus led through the corridor to the chamber door. Though a trifle pale he marched with measured stride, his head held high, his wonderful nerve with him to the end. As he took his seat he moved his arms to ...ssist the guards who were adjust ing the straps and like his father he went silently and unafraid. When the autopsy had been performed the bodies were given over to Vic tor Allen, Floyd's sen, by vho;n the were taken to the mountains of southwest Virginia for burial. HISTORY OF THE CASE. The execution of Floyd a.ul Claude Allen, who had been the principal actors in the "shooting up" of the Carroll County Court at Hillsville. March 14. 1912. is the closing chapter of one of the most sensational murder tragedies ever enacted in this country. Some time in February, 1912. two nephews of Floyd Allen were ar rested for some minor offense by a deputy sheriff. While they were be ing taken to the Jail, Floyd Allen attacked the deputy, knocking him senseless with the butt of a revol ver and rescued his prisoners. He was arrested and indicted and his trial began In the early part of .March. Floyd Allen had openly boasted tuat he would never go to prison and it is said that the Aliens had made frequent threats against the court and everybody connected with it. He was tried March 13, but the Jury did not bring in its verdict un til the following day. The prison er, being a man of prominence, his trial attracted a great deal of at tention and on the morning of March the 14th, the court room was crowded with spectators, among whom were a half dozen or more of the members of the Allen fami ly. The Jury returned a verdict of guilty and the court sentenced Floyd Allen to one year imprisonment in the p?nitentlnry. When the presid ing Judge, Thorton L. Massle, turn ed the prisoner over to the sheriff, Floyd Allen, exclaiming that he would not go to prison, drew a re volver and opened fire. The other members of the Allen family, who wete in the court room, following his example and for a few minutes bullets flew thick and fast. Judge Massie, State's Attorney Foster, and Sheriff Webb were shot down and killed on the spot and a number of other persons who were in the court room at the time were Injured Two of them, Augustus Fowler, a Juror, and Nancy Ayers, a girl of 19, died ftom their wounds after a few days. The Aliens, excepting Floyd Allen who had been shot in the knee mounted their horses and fled into the wilderness of the Blue Ridpe, where they eluded the posse sent to capture them. The Governor of fered a reward of $1,000 which was later raised to $4,000 for the arrest of the gang. Floyd Allen was arrested on the following day and two days later a special grand Jury returned indict ments against Floyd Allen, Claude Swanson Allen and Victor Allen, son of Floyd; Sidna Allen, a brother of Floyd; Friel Allen, Wesley Edwards and Sldna Edwards, nephews of Floyd; Bird Marlon and John F Moore. The latter was merely in dicted for having assisted tha Aliens to escape. Victor Allen and Bird Marlon were arrested at Pulaski, March 1 7 and taken to Roanoke. Sidna Ed wards was captured six months later in Des Moines. Claude Swanson Allen, almost starved by two weeks ol hiding in the mountains, gave himself up near Hillsville, March 28, and on the following day Friel Allen followed his example. Wesley Edwards managed to escape, but was captured at Des Moines Septem ber 14. Floyd Allen and his son, Claude, were tried seperately for the mur der of States Attorney Foster and found guilty. They were sentenc ed to be executed on November 22 of last year, but obtained several respites, the date being finally fix ed for March 28. Sidna Allen was given 35 years, Wesley Edwards 27 years, Friel Allen 18 years, Sldna Edwards 18 years In the penitenti ary. Victor Allen, Bird Marion and John F. Moore were acquitted. NOT SO BAD AS EXPECTED. A NORMAL SITUATION IS I5Klt. REACHED IX FLOOD DIs-TKKTS. Pun hi r Ik vi ll lilt lit Ihi Xi.t Carry Out First F..-timntiK r Ij i f Lite Hut l'p;rty I.i.h Is lb yinid Viiiiut:itioii No Immediate Kuff liiiK Wv lfc ntli List Xot IU) end Five llui-.dreil. I -cave From an Old Account Hook. In looking over a bunch of old papers one day recently, Mr. A. M. Crowell came across some leaves from an old account book used in 1853 by his father, the late Col. A. H. Crowell and Mr, G. W. Flow of this place, when they were In busi ness in Goose Creek township. The accounts were kept by Mr. Flow.who was then a young man, and are written in a most clear and careful way, the work having Veen done with a goose quill pen, before the days of steel pens. One thing that this shows is that the folks In that time were careful about the pennies, contrary to the usual belief. Many articles are charged on these leaves at twelve and a half cents, seven teen and a half, and bo on, the half cent being put down and car ried out in each case. On the pages appear such names as Robert Howie, Marlon Helms. Wilson Cha ncy. Ellis P. Chancy. David V. Cuthbertson. William F. Cuthbert son. Dr. Thos. C. Caldwell. John A. Clontz, Robert W. Henderson and others. The man who asks for a raise In salary on the strength of what he is going to do for the concern Is trying to sell a pig In a poke. In point of Isss of life the flood disaster ia Ohio and Indiana which swept that section the early part of last week was not so great as was first reported. Some of the earlier reports, which are printed elsewhere in this paper, estimated that three thousand lives had been lost, while the indications now are that the number will not exceed five hundred. Thousands of miraculous escapes that were at first thought impossible, were reported. Peo ple climbed 'phone posts and hung for hours, sought -safety la trees and buildings, and everywhere that they could get a hold to sustain themselves till rescued. The waters cf the upper rhers which caused the floods empty Into the Ohio and the Missouri, and evntually into the .visslsslppl, and the property win oe greater yet. Eery power of the National and State govern ments were put into motion to aid the sufferers, and contributions poured in from all over the country. The following dispatches tell of the situation as it appeaerd later: NO SUFFERING FOR FOOD AND SHELTER. Washington, March 30. "All places affected by the flood In such a way as to need help are receiv ing it, and it Is not believed that there is any suffernng anywhere now from want of food or shelter,' was the report to Adj. Gen. An drews from MaJ. Gen. Wood, chief of staff, who, with Secretary Garri son of the war department, is in the heart of the flooded district directing relief operations. He add ed while loss of life of life had been very heavy. It was not anything like the previous steps Indicated. WAR DEPARTMENT'S WORK. Cincinnati, Ohio, March 30. Sec retary Garrison of the war depart ment, was tonight so well pleased with the handling of the flood situ ation by those in charge in Day ton and Hamilton that he decided to leave early tomorrow morning for Columbus. If his present plans are not changed he will return here tomorrow night and leave for Wash ington by daylight Tuesday. Be sides congratulating Gov. Cox and the citizens of Ohio upon the man ner in which, "with courage and re sourcefulness," they met an appall ing situation, the head of the war department. In a long report to the president tonight, assured Mr. Wil son he would announce that Hamil ton and Dayton, as well as the other piaces seriously affected by the flood had found themselves and are rapid ly tending toward normal conditions. THE SITUATION AT DAYTON. Dayton, Ohio, March 30. Here Is the problem presented to Dayton to night 1- summarized by Geo. F. Burba, secretary to Gov. Cox, and representing the latter here: Forty thousand persons must be fed, clothed and housed for a week more. Many thousand persons must be cared for Indefinitely, those persons who lost their all when their house hold goods were swept away. They must be provided with a few neces sary household articles, such as bedding, pots and pans, stoves and a few dollars. A half million dol Inrs could be used in this way by the relief committee. Fifteen thousand houses and busi ness buildings must be rehabilated. Two thousand houses and other structures, or what remains of them must be pulled down. Thousands of tons of debris must be removed. WEST VIRGINIA IN DANGER. Huntington, W. Va., March SO This city tonight Is In total dark ness, is facing both a flood and wa ter famine, 15,000 out of the 40. 000 Inhabitants are homeless, 12 persons are reported missing and the property damage, according to ctose estimates of leading business men, will amount to nearly $1,000, 000. This afternoon at 4 o'clock the river reached a stage of 66.2 feet the highest in the history of Hunt- ngton, and is now stationary. The entire business section Is Inundated water being up to the Becond floor ol all buildings. Numerous homes have been wrecked and their ecu pants have been forced to seek ref uge In the houses In the surround ing country. Gov. H. D. Hatfield arrived here tonight on a special train from Charleston. He brought supplies, motor boats and skiffs. The motor boats and skiffs are now being tak en through the different sections of the city to rescue hundrds who are marooned. The local military com pany has taken charge of the res cue work. Today Mr. Wilson received his first check In payment for his ser vices as president of the United States. It was for the Bum of $5, 625. from March fourth till April first. Hereafter, the check will be for a full month's sendee and will be for $6,250. one-twelfth of th $75, 000 per year which the president receives. MIL JUSTICE AFTF.lt MIL WATTS. Ti.lil the President I lie livelcll Sena tor I a ICeitcti. miry ami Opinm-il niiKresMve Mcavuie in the I Klntui-r. Mr. E. J. Justice of Greensboro was in Washington last week an called on the President. Afterward Vr. Justice conferred with Secretary or htate Bryan. Senators Gore an Owen of Oklahoma. Secretary of th Navy Josephus Daniels and Secre tary of the Treasury Mc.Vdoo. sav a Washington correspondent to the e.reensDoro News, and he thin sued the follow inn statement: "There was nothing of anv Der- sonai inierest discussed by me wit tlie president. We discussed DUblie questions generally and particular ly my inierest in seeing North Caro lina Democracy he in thorough har mony wim the policies of the Presi dent. I frankly discussed the Nort Carolina situation along the litus had discussed In public prior to the tiammore convention and as 1 dis cussed it in the General Assembly i undertook to Impress unon th President what the fight for Dro- gressive policies such as the ant trust law, the corrupt practices act and tne legalized primary mean to tnose or us who had supported mese measures. "I called his attention to the in herent and persistent reactionary sentiment that has dominated these Democrats who are organized In od position to all the situation to be not a matter of integrity but a ma ter of political principle. Every one who knows about the situation In North Carolina understands tha there is a minority that regards ev ery proposition to progress or change the outworn machine meth ods to modern conditions as being wild Western, Impracticable theories. This class of North Carolina Demo crats have never seen what the President's fight and those wh fought for his nomination as well as for his election meant. "So far as I am concerned think It would be disastrous to the cause of progressive Democracy for this class of reactionaries to be given the Federal offices for the reason that it would be an asset in their hands-to keep North Carolina reactionary. "I said this to the President i substance and I stated to him that nothing I had said was in confi dence. I sincerely trust that ou Senators and Representatives will find pleasure In impressing this view upon 'he .President, and keep mm advised as to the true situa tion. I believe the President Is al ready with the spirit of progres sive Democracy and he will find no tiouble in applying it no North Caro Una when he Is put In possession of the facts." "Did you discuss with the Presi dent the question of naming a col lector of internal revenue for the western district of North Caroli na?" "I don't know that I know all the candidates," said Mr. Justice "but so far as A. D. Watts is con cemed he is on record in the last General Assembly of opposing al most If not all the progressive meas ures, and so far as I know of not favoring any, and to him, more than any one else, is due whatever cred it or blame attaches to the defea of the legalized primary. He made no concealment of the fact that he was violently opposed to the reso lutions I offered inviting the Presi dent, Mr. Bryan and Senator La- Follette to the State to speak and ns I understand it, he placed his opposition particularly upon the ground that they were Invited to speak upon measures which he did not believe in and which In his Judgement the Legislature did not have time to hear discussed." Possible Road Fleet Ions. Under the laws now existing three special road elections may be held In this county and many more town ship elections if desired. On law permits the people of Monroe town ship to vote on the issuing of one hundred thousand dollars in bonds for road Improvement. One law permits the. ounty to vote on the question of Issuing bonds in the sum of two hundred thousand, but letting a majority vote decide it, This is the law under which the election was held last year, but Is amended so that a majority of votes cast, and not a majority of the reg istered voters, decides the ques tion. The other county law per mits the county to vote on the question of the county taking over the chain gang and grading roads and contracting for dragging. The legislature also passed a general statute permitting any township In the State to vote separately on issuing bonds. All of these elec tions are at the discretion of the county commissioners and no steps have yet been taken looking to ward an election. All of these bills except the last have already been published In The Journal. This warm winter kept many flies alive and we will have to begin swatting earlier, and more persis tently this spring than last. Swat ters are of little value except where there are a comparatively few flies. Swatters are Just the thing for those flies that wintered over. Swat now, for It will be a hopeless case In six weeks. When a man begins to blow In his money a lot of people get wind of it. Whatever may be said against It, a Jolly Is always better than a Jar. !, 5 ,! i ' il ; i LOOK UP THERE! ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. Initiative, Ki ft n iiilum mimI lUrall. Don't forget to register for th. ejection April 1 5th on the initia tive, referendum and reci-.ll. Whether you f.nor these meas ures or not. it is our duty to iu' your sentiments. What is iiiep. in by the iuit'.rhe? The initiative is a start or a u-.-gin-iiiiir of some law to he submit led" to popular vote. Thf initiatiu. is a process of popular control or d:r.it hgislaiion by which any municipal- i. ti me uaTe opposite vour iiaiiie't. J ."- on the label reads "fu.d, r back ii,??' T"'' 7 S,aU' a" l' (han April 1. 1913, it Is time for p ", f 8 fihe" P"'""" you to knew Son e are so r back ,,p '? "'ve " T' that they ought to be ashamed of J?.,"1' ? fl" ",s- it. If you are paid up to date, you will have the satisfaction of feeling "o k" when you look at the label. If you are not paid ud. then this is for you and we expect to hear irom you If any one owes for this paper and doesn't expect to pay, we want to und it out. If you have fallen behind from carelesseness, this will remind you. If you have been unfortunate and don't feel able to pay the amount, you have a chance to say so and get square. The labels on The Journal r irn- mg to read in advance, not behind. A great many have rseponded al ready, and we received a good number of renewals this morning aner we nad made up our mailing list for this week and the label will not show It this Issue. If you have sent your renewal lu and your label does not show It, your date will be run up by next week. North Cundiniun to Kepi cm nt l S, at Court of St. Jauiew. vtasningion. March 31. It was brought out today, that Walter H. Page, editor of World s Work and a North Carolinian, had been offer ed and had accepted the ambassa dorship to Great Britian. White Hodse officials confirmed the news and Mr. Page will leave for Lon don within 10 days. with the appointment of Mr. Page to represent the Administra tion at the Court of St. James, he Is the third man born in North Carolina closely connected with the Wilson administration, Daniels, Sec retary of the Navy and Houston. Cecretary of Agriculture, being the other two. Kee-ti-der's Ce.urt. Walter Stack, carrying concealed weapons, two cases; 4 months on roads in each case. Appeals to Su perior court. W. p. Harris, resisting officer: $5 and costs. R. Armfield, disturbing the peace; cost 8. John West, car breaking; bound over to Superior court. Bud Poore, colored, violating or dinance 80; $5 and costs. waiter Babb, assault and battery 30 days. Connie Staten. colored and battery; 30 days. Daisy Houston, colored and battery; not gnlltv. Luther Beaver, carrying conceal cd weapons, $10 and costs; assault with deadly weapon, $10 and costs Pratt Jacobs, larceny; 6 months on roads. John Blount, colored, larceny: - months on roads. Authur Thomas, assault and bat cry; not guilty. Abe McCain, colored, assault and battery; costs. vance Laney, assault; costs. Charlie Laney, carrying conceal ed weapon; $10 and costs. Jas. H. Howie, gambling; $7.50 and costs. assault assault Aid to Flood Sufferer. The Monroe lodge of Eagles made the first contribution from this place to the flood sufferers, having sent a check for ten dol lars Saturday night. The lodge then ppolnted Messrs R. W. Lemmond H. T. Pate and C. E. Schachner a committee to solicit funds and for ward them at once. Any one may make their contributions to either of trie above gentlmen, or leave them at the Journal office or the Bank of Union. Thoiiiax-AuKtin. Miss Estelle Austin, daughter of Mrs. Henry Austin of West Monroe township, and Mr. John P. Thomas of Charlotte were married at the Baptist parsonage In Monroe last Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Mr. ralg officiating. A few friends were present to witness the cere mony. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas left at once for Charlotte, where they 111 continue to live. Mrs. Thomas is a young woman of fine character nd Industry, and Mr. Thomas is a mcst worthy young man. They have many friends who wish them a hap py life. The Little Minister," at the P- tlnie Tonight. A Vltagraph special feature. ."The ittle Minister," Jn three reels and one of the most popular plays ever produced, will be shown at the Pas- ime this afternoon and tonight. A young scotch minister falls In ove with a gypsy girl. The ban of he "Kirk" and the condemnation of the austere town folk Intervene s Carriers to their marriage. Un expected circumstances of a start ling nature happen and their prej udice and Intolerance are removed. Love conquers and the little minis ter and "babble" are married. Matinee at 4:00 p. m. sa),e or defeat, it is the qirutes- s.-nce of majority rule. What is the referendum? Ref erendum means "It must be ivter red." W hen any bill, such us a bill for eonsiitutional amendment or charter amendment is referred to the people to adopt or rejeet it is called a nferenduiH or referred bill. The referendum is a metlud by which the people may rescind tho action of their agents when nectssa ry. By petition of a given percent age of the qualified voters a ot may be had on any local law to de termine whether a majority of tha people want It. This is democracy. What is the recall? The recall Is a process of popular control, by which the people may by majority vote after petition for election bv a given percentage of the voters, dis charge a representative and replace him. It is a safeguard to good government. All business houses have the re call for their employees. All banks, factories and all other corporations employing agents, representatives or servants have the recall for these. All railroads have the recall for their employees. If it is necessary for a railroad or other corporation to lay down and require certain fixed duties of their employees after examining them to see whether they are com petent, is it not much more nces sary for a city, a county or a State to employ competent servants to run their business? How long would a railroad official retain an incompe tent, careless employee or one that does not do his work satisfactori ly? He would be promptly recalled. The railroad officials and the mer chants and the banks examine their employees on certain defined duties. What . merchant would employ a clerk without having any restraint or control over him? How long would a clerk retain his Job, if h'e wasted his time, showed general in competency and carelessness? The merchant would recall him without undue ceremony. What merchant can reserve tho right to discharge an employee for Incompetency or for stealing or for Insubordination or for failure to carry out orders, and then candidly say that this same principle should not apply In government? Is not the government your busiiuss and your corporation? You are taxed to help to run it. If you employ a fellow to work and leave him without restraint, control, responsibilty or supervision you will lose more money ou him than yon can make. It is possible to bankrupt a cor poration in the fiinie way. Public waste, mismanagement and praft in crease the burdens of taxation. Each individual citizen will suffer In pro portion. His business the city gov ernment, the county government or the State government is Just as sure to be wrecked by bad manage uieiit and slack business methods as a private business would be under the same conditions. Those who oppose the initiative, referendum and recall: Thuse who have a nice, easy public plum and wish not to be disturbed in their holding of their easy Jobs; nearly all reactionaries, standpatters, pro fessional politicians, federalists, cen tralists and any others who hold their places and their power by keeping the people in the dark, are opposed to these measures of pop ular rule. The ward politician, the ignorant local dictator as well as the learned senator or representa tive of national fame who wishes to defeat the will of the people his creators Is always opposed to the initiative, referendum and re call. Their specialty Is pulling tho wool over the eyes of lite masses. They are opposed to universal edu cation and to publicity. Their one great argument and scare is "dan gerous, and then fail to qualify their assertions. These measures are bound to come sooner or later. Why not take the advanced step now? Very trulv, II. D. STEWART Mr. J. G. Boylin. editor of Tho Wadesboro Messenger and Intelli gencer, is critically ill with pneumonia. The goods to which you tlve un display space should be goods that will pay you a satisfactory return on that space. Don't wait for the time to come when you need friends to make them. Make them now and let them use you first. Some so-called friends are like burglar alarms they go off when there's trouble around. A man'B business should also ad vertise his advertising. Clothing may come down In price at times, but there are no bargains In law suits.