The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-03
On Former There Is Great
Unanimity-But About
Lacy Few Agree
HAS IMPORTANT
card" TO PLAY YET
Generally Believed That He Did Not
Surrender Because He Thought
Further Resistance Futile.
He Maintains Silence
Nv HUGH w. ROBERTS

Montgomery, February 2.-(SpecialD
Montgomery is talking politics and
Theodore Lacy. In this regard. the
Capital City is not unlike every other
city of the state. As to the first sub
ject, there is unanimity of opinion. 1t
IL confidently believed and generally
stpied by well informed political stu
dents that Oscar w. Underwood has
= 'sciuchj. that he will sweep the state
from the Tennessee to the gulf, that
xubcrnatorial campaign. plurality
ever all his opponents, but not ma-
jorify, that Charles Henderson is Sec
ond strongest. and that the run-over
Between the leaders will be spirited;
that Thomas u. KiIby Will win without
material difficulty in his race for lien
tenant governor.
But concerning Lacy, there is marked
difference OF opinion, or. rather, there is
q deep mystery. No one attempts to
solve the problem. 1t is not believed,
Of any fear lest he be captured
Prisoner Is Very Calm
The famous prisoner-called by one
facetious newspaper correspondent, the
prodigal son of Alabama might have
pain in the heart or a morbid fear in
his bosom. But he does not indicate the
existence of any such maleVolent agencies.
Instead, he is very calm. He greets his
friends-and they call on him throughout
the day-with a smile, and with hearty
shake of the nand. He begs to be ex-
cused from discussing his plight. Other
wise, there is no mere restraint in his
bearing than when ne was chief clerk
Of the convict department, and popular
with innumerable people in every section
of the state.
1t is regarded as certain that Lacy sur
rendered because he wanted to surrender
There is no man in Montgomery who
thinks that he yielded himself into the
tolls of the law because Of belief that
further resistance was futile It is re-
garded as certain that he has some inn
portant card to play, so important
that he, as a result of his attorneys adj
vice, has hope that he viii extricate him
self from his present embarrassing stua-
tion. Just what that card" is, no one
knows That is the mystery of the situa-
tion. and the answer to the question:
why did he surrender
Expect Something to Drop"
But for the mystery, Lacy days ago
would have been discarded as the favorite
topic of conversation. The people are full
of great expectations. They feel that
something is going to drop" They feel
that something sensational will be said,
some unusual testimony presented.
Lacy says nothing. His attorneys say
nothing But 1t is reported that when the
prisoner is released under bond he will
make statement. 1t is not said that
the statement will be q fuli statement
He may tell whether or not he got the
money, how he got it. why he got it; how
he disposed of it; he might tell how he
escaped from Montgomery. where he has
been, and how he 50 successfully eyaded
the intrepid sleuths Of the law who. at
the command of the governor, so per-
sistently dogged mis- every footstep SO
assiduously followed his every trail. so
faithfully ran down every vestige of evil
dence, and so miseraby failed to accom-
plsh results.
But Lacy the man is unchanged He
10 without narrowing wrinkles which are
traced by fear He is without that
thoughtfulness of expression; that mys-
terfous wandering of the eye which de-
notes sickness of the heart. If his con-
science has whipped him during his alb
sence of 10 months, his right good humor,
his right cheerful smile. are most decep-
tive. 1t is certain that IL he has been
troupieds 1t has not 50 seriously distressed
that dash of gray appeared in his
hair
Entirely Natural
The prisoner-irrespective of the mys-
terry which surrounds him the notoriety
which has attached itself to his person.