Chap. 302.—An ACT to provide for the payment of compensation to the
counsel employed on behalf of the State by the governor and attorney
general to prosecute Floyd Allen and others, charged with the murder
of the judge of the circuit court of Carroll county, Virginia, and of
certain officers and a juror in attendance upon said court, on the 14th
day of March 1912, and for the payment of compensation to counsel em-
ployed by the judge presiding at the trials to defend certain of the
prisoners unable to employ counsel. (S. B. 241.)

Approved March 25, 1914,

Whereas, the honorable Thornton L. Massie, judge of the cir-
cuit court of Carroll county, Virginia, whilst presiding in said
court; Mr. W. M. Foster, the attorney for the Commonwealth for
Carroll county, Virginia; Mr. L. F. Webb, the sheriff of Carroll
county, Virginia, and A. C. Fowler, a juror in attendance upon
said court, were, on the morning of the fourteenth day of March,
nineteen hundred and twelve, killed in open court; and,

Whereas, the governor of Virginia, in the exercise of the power
end duty imposed upon him by the Constitution of this State to
see the laws duly executed, did. by and with the advice and assist-
ance of the attorney general of this State employ the honorable
Joseph C. Wysor, Mr. John 8S. Draper, Mr. W. S. Poage, and Mr.
S. Floyd Landreth, attorneys at law, as counsel to prosecute Floyd
Allen and others charged with the killing and murdering of said
judge, officer and juror of said court as aforesaid; and,

Whereas, the governor of this State, with the advice and con-
currence of the attorney general of this State, did promise said
attorneys that he would recommend to the general assembly of Vir-
ginia the payment of reasonable fees and compensation to said at-
torneys for services rendered by them in the prosecution of the said
persons charged with the said murders; and,

Whereas, the said attorneys did diligently, faithfully and ably
prosecute all of said persons charged with said murders; first, in
the circuit court of Carroll county, Virginia, in which court indict-
ments were found, and, afterwards, in the circuit court of Wythe
county, Virginia, to which the cases were removed; and,

Whereas, the said attorneys rendered to the Commonwealth their
services in the trials of Floyd Allen, Claude S. Allen, Friel Allen,
Victor Allen, Sidna Allen, Sidney Edwards and Westley Edwards.
which consumed one hundred and eighteen days in actual works
in court; and,

Whereas, the said attorneys were compelled and did devote much
time to the preparation for the trials of said cases and did devote,
at least, nine months of their time to the preparation and prosecu-
tion of said several cases; and, ;

Whereas, the said attorneys rendered said services on the faith
that proper provisions would be made by the general assembly to
pay them reasonable compensation for their services; and,

Whereas, the said attorneys have each presented their accounts
against the Commonwealth for their services, duly verified by
affidavit and approved by the governor and the attorney general;
and,

Whereas, it became necessary in the prosecution of the said cases
that the judge presiding at the trial to designate and appoint at-
torneys to defend Sidna Edwards, Freil Allen and Wesley Edwards,
three of the defendants who were unable to employ counsel for
themselves and did designate and appoint for that purpose W. W.
Coxe and C. F. Cocke, partners as Coxe and Cocke, who performed
the services required by them at great expense and loss; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the auditor of public accounts, upon the approval of the governor
as hereinafter provided, and he is hereby directed to draw his war-
rants in favor of J. C. Wysor for the sum of four thousand dollars;
to John S. Draper for the sum of four thousand dollars; to W. S.
Poage for the sum of four thousand dollars, and to S. Floyd
Landreth for the sum of two thousand dollars, on the treasurer of
Virginia, payable out of any money in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated, in full payment of the claims of said attorneys for
compensation in the prosecution of the said murder cases as afore-
said, and his warrant in favor of W. W. Coxe and C. F. Cocke,
partners as Coxe and Cocke for the sum of twelve hundred dollars,
on the treasurer of Virginia payable out of any money in the treas-
ury not otherwise appropriated in full payment of all claim of said
attorneys for compensation in the defense of said murder cases as
aforesaid. ,

2. Before the auditor of public accounts shall draw the war-
rants provided for in this act, the governor of the State shall certify
to the auditor of public accounts that, in his opinion, the compensa-
tion herein provided for the services rendered by said attorneys is
reasonable and not excessive. .