Goldsboro, Sept. 8—William R. Allen for 10 years Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, died this afternoon at 3 o’clock immediately following a stroke of apoplexy. The funeral will take place Friday afternoon at 5 o’clock.
Judge Allen, apparently in the best of health this morning, was stricken at his home shortly before 3 o’clock, while he was discussing a point of law with his son, William R. Allen Jr. He died immediately.
Sixty-one years of age, Judge Allen was endowed with qualities of mind and heart that invited and held loyal friendship and admiration. In Goldsboro, where he spent most of his life practicing law, and later serving as circuit judge, he was esteemed for his character, his ability and his broad sympathies.
Judge Allen was one of the most earnest of the supporters of the recent great revival held in Goldsboro by Evangelist Ham of Kentucky some months ago. Having to leave Goldsboro before the revival was concluded he wrote Mr. Hamm: “I feel fortunate in having the opportunity to hear you preach the last few weeks and regret that I have to leave to fill an important engagement with the law class at the University made six months ago.”
The funeral Friday afternoon will be conducted by Rev. G.T. Adams of St. Paul M.E. church at the home in Goldsboro.
Judge Allen was born at Kenansville, Duplin County, March 26, 1860. He was a son of Capt. William A. Allen and Maria Goodwin Hicks Allen. His father was one of the most prominent men in Duplin County, distinguished in civil life and a gallant Confederate soldier. Captain Allen was a brother of the late C.N. Allen of Wake County and more distantly related to most of the well known Allen family in this county.
Judge Allen was educated at R.W. Millard’s and Samuel Clement’s Schools at Kenansville and spent a year at Trinity College.
Judge Allen’s father practiced law at first at Kenansville and later moved to Goldsboro for the practice of his profession. After Judge Allen left Trinity College, he immediately began the practice of law being associated with his father. Later he became associated with the late Chief Justice Faircloth. He was the representative from Wayne County in the House of Representatives in 1893, 1899 and 1901, and served on the judiciary and other important committees. He was at one time chairman of the Board of Education of Wayne County and served as Superior Court judge two different times, from 1894 to 1895 and from 1903 to 1911. In the latter year he was elected associate justice of the Supreme Court, which place he filled with distinction up to the time of his death.
The Goldsboro jurist was always regarded as a very able lawyer. His great ability was recognized by his fellow members of the bar when Associate Justice Lamar of the United States Supreme Court died. On this occasion, he was earnestly urged for the post by Senator Simmons, Senator Overman, the remainder of the North Carolina delegation at Washington, and by the bar of the State. He was given the degree of Doctor of Laws by the University of North Carolina several years ago.
He was married to Miss Mattie Moore of Kenansville, daughter of Dr. Mat Moore, a prominent farmer, physician and legislator of Duplin County.
Judge Allen is survived by his widow and five children: Mary Moore Allen, W.R. Allen Jr., Elizabeth Allen, Oliver Allen and Dorothy Allen. Besides a sister, Miss Elizabeth Allen, and a brother, Judge Oliver H. Allen of Kinston, survive him.
He was a member of St. Paul Methodist Church at Goldsboro and was one of the trustees of the Methodist Orphanage at Raleigh.
From the News and Observer, as reprinted in The Smithfield Herald, Sept. 13, 1921
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