On this day, March 14, in 1912, in Virginia, five people — including a judge, prosecutor and sheriff — were shot to death in what is known as the “Carroll County Courthouse Tragedy.”
Judge Thornton Massie had sentenced Floyd Allen, the patriarch of a mountain family, to a year in prison for his role in a fight that began over a kiss between two youngsters at a corn-shucking festival.
To the judge’s order, Allen replied, “Gentleman, I just ain’t a going.”
Members of the Allen clan opened fire, leaving five dead and seven wounded. The men fled into the mountains.
Floyd Allen and his clan were captured after a massive manhunt that also recovered several illegal stills and 50 gallons of moonshine.
Allen was executed in the electric chair on March 28, 1913.
– Scott McCabe
