The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-26
DEPUTY BATTLE
 DIES OF INJURIES Murderer Pursued By the En-
 ragged Citizens STORY OF AWFUL CRIME After Shooting Down Battle, Enraged Negro, John Laird, Murdered His Father md Mother--sheriR
 Offers n Reward
STORY OF AWFUL CRIME

 shot and fatally wounded near Oak Grove, in the lower end of the county, Saturday night, by John Laird, negro, died yes- to-day morning at 6 o'clock at his home in Oak Grove. Deputy Battle was shot once in the hip and six times in the back. Anyone of the bullets would have been fatal, 1t Is reported.
 The above information was contained in a message to Sheriff Higdon from Adger, received yesterday morning. Im- mediately upon receiving the message Sheriff Higdon began rushing deputies to the scene and at 7 o'clock yesterday morning 25 heavily armed officers were on the scene with orders to get John Laird. alive if possible, but to get him.
 In addition to the deputies hundreds of citizens armed themselves and joined in the chase of the fugitive. The negro was traced all day, but the men did not come up with him and at an early hour this morning Laird was still at large. Details of inc Shooting The actual details of the shooting did not arrive in Birmingham until yesterday
 morning and according to information re- ceved by Sheriff Higdon it was one of the most brutal murders ever committed in Jefferson county.
 In addition to killing Deputy Sheriff Battle, Laird killed his father and mother, Lewis Laird and Betty Laird.
 Deputy Battle was accompanied by Jepp Knight at the time that he was killed and Laird shot at Knight but missed. Knight went for aid and telephoned to Adger. where the message was forwarded to Col onel Higdon, who immediately went into action.
 It seems that Deputy Battle and Knight were walking along the road not far from where Deputy Battle lives. AS they passed negro cabin they heard ter rible fight going on and cries for help. Both men immediately investigated it and when they opened the door found Laird in the act of firing at his father. When Battle ordered him to desist he fired upon Battle, the bullet striking him in the hip.
 Battle fell to the floor mortally wounded and Knight went for aid, the negro shoot
 HE at IlHl 5tftldt tiiilCo do iic WCnt.
 Knight returned the negro's fire but with cut effect.
 When Right had gone and Battle was lying helpless on the floor Laird emptied his gun at his father and mother, in- stantly killing both. He then calmly re- loaded his gun and walked over to where Deputy Battle was tying and fired six | times Every bullet took effect in his
 back and his body was riddled. Tn spite Of his seven wounds he lived until day break yesterday morning. The negro then dashed out of the house and made his escape. going toward Sum- ter.
 A few minutes later Knight returned
 with help and found one of the most
 Deputy Battle was lying on the floor dy-
 ing. The two negroes were only few
 feet away dead and the floor was GOV cred with blood.
 The men organized a posse and gave
 pursuit to Laird. They were joined at
 4 o'clock yesterday morning by Depu- ties Jones and Smithson from Bessemer.
 Deputies were arriving at every hour and the posse was increased by large num- bers of citizens.
 Serious Trouble Feared Sheriff Higdon is concentrating his dep- uties in the territory around Adger, not only to capture Laird but to prevent trouble if he is found. Deputy Battle was one of the most popular men in the lower end of Jefferson county, and the citizens are up in arms over his brutal murder
 Sheriff Higdon received message yes terday stating that if the negro was caught he would not reach Birmingham alive. The message stated that threats were made by men in the party. Upon this. additional men were hurried to the scene and at o'clock yesterday after
 noon at least 150 men were on the track of the negro.
 The negro is described as being 2l years old, feet 10 inches high, weighs 1SO pounds and was dressed in khaki suit. Immediately after the news of the shooting was known to Colonel Higdon
 he offered reward of s1oO for the ne- gro's capture.
 Negro Reported Surrounded It was reported late last night that John Laird had been surrounded in house near Virginia Mines, but 1t was not stated that he had been captured. The posse took up the trail at Oak Grove and traced the negro through the