The Unfinished History of the Hillsville Courthouse Shooting

March 14, 1912. The Carroll County Courthouse in Hillsville, Virginia, was a scene of tobacco smoke and small-town gossip—until it became a killing ground. When Floyd Allen stood after being convicted and declared, “Gentlemen, I ain’t a-going,” more than 50 shots rang out. In the chaos, the judge, sheriff, and prosecutor were killed, and the powerful Allen family fled, triggering a massive manhunt that captivated the nation.In this episode, we speak with Dr. Travis Roundtree, author of Hillsville Remembered, to unravel the complex history of Appalachia's most notorious shootout.Hillsville Remembered: Public Memory, Historical Silence, and Appalachia's Most Notorious Shoot-Out by Dr. Travis A. RountreeThe Carroll County Courthouse Tragedy by R.W. "Ron" Hall is available from The Carroll County Historical Society and Museum.Feud: Hatfields, McCoys, and Social Change in Appalachia, 1860-1900 by Altina L. WallerBalladsBallad of Claude Allen (YouTube)Ballad of Sidna Allen (YouTube)Podcast Sources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Sources & Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore More Content⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Ridge True Crime YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠