The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-19

The two prisoners arrived under heavy guard from Birmingham at 9 o'clock this morning. They were sur q rounded by about 20 soldiers and were marched from the station to the court hcuse in military order. Colonel Dallas Smith, in charge of militia headquar- ters. led the squad, He was followed by a line of four soldiers. Cannon, with a guardsman on either side, came next Two lines of four soldiers abreast followed and then came Springer, with a uniformed man at his right and left. Eight soldiers, four abreast brought up the rear.
 UNUSUAL SCENE
 It was an unusual spectacle and hun dreds rimmed the curbinyg of the streets as the little band of marchers and their prisoners passed. Additional crowds met them at the courthouse lawn and in the little park which leads from the courthouse to the city principal street But the crowd was quiet; there was no suggestion. or even rumors of violence; the multi tude was merely curious and viewed the incident with the same spirit that might cause the people of the staidest community to flock to the corner and watch the patrol wagon dash through the streets.
 Immediately after arriving at the courthouse, the prisoners were passed through line of other guards In the corridor and ushered into tho grand jury room. What they told the inquisi- tors concerning the conspiracy to lynch is problema tical. but it is recognizable presumption that Springer repeated the confession given by him to Judge Horace c. Wilkinson, special attorney .ge neral, in Birmingham Sunday and that Cannon gave testimony seriously duplicating the guardsmen suspects now in jail awaiting the report of the grand jury. They were taken to mili- tary headquarters at noon and prob ably now have been returned to Br- nsingham
 The grand jury with Judge Wilkin- son examining the witnesses ground steadily throughout the day. Such progress was made that 1t Is reliably rumored that partial report will be made Wednesday afternoon and that a final report probably will be made Thursday. The partial report. it is rer ported and with convincing authentici- ty, will formally indict virtually all the suspects now in the Birmingham jail and there Is a probability that two
 
 against guardsmen. not now in jail The final report. on Thursday, it is understood will include such of the suspects as are not indicted in the first report.
 The dragnet which caught the young non- comm issioned officers and privates in the conspiracy which resulted in young Bairds death is being more tightly drawn almost hourly. The lat est development this morning was the discovery by officers of set of uni- forms in the house occupied by soldiers at Townley. The state will allege that these uniforms were hidden by the soldiers when they donned overalls preparatory to their raid on the jail. Identification of the clothing, 1t Is stated. is conclusive in. that many of the garments bear the names of guards men now under arrest, and written or printed in indelible ink. Judge Wilkin- son has possession of the clothing and probably will introduce them into the evidence in the case.
 OFFICERS ENROLLED
 "The discovery of these uniforms, Judge Wilkinson is reported as stat ing, indicates the magnificent co-op- eration that the state is receiving from the military authorities. l am decided ly pleased with the splendid manner in which the officers are assisting in handling this unfortunate affair. Gen eral Steiner. Col. Dallas Smith, Sheriff Cutlery, Chief Conrad Austin - every one of them and all the men in their separate Jurisdictions are giving every possible assistance. expected this, for l know the calibre of their men and know that the state will feel grateful that they are using every industry to bring the guilty to trial and a proper responsibility in a court of justice.'s
 Another development of today was tie employment of counsel by tho suspected guardsmen. The Tuscaloosa law firms of Harwood and Mcqueen and Foster Vernon and Rice have been retained as chief counsel. Fleetwood Rice and John D. Mcqueen were in Jasper today and received an order from Judge Wilkinson to the Bir- mingham authorities to permit them to confer with the prisoners. They left immediately for Birmingham and, it is understood, was in consultation with their clients during the afternoon.
 LESLIE WEST, WHEN
 As thir dimportant development, it is understood that Captain Lollar, com manding officer of Company NJ. who has been in Tuscaloosa, was summoned tor day to report to Jasper and probably will be used as witness before the grand jury tomorrow. In that connection, Leslie West, the chauffeur from whom Judge Wilkinson secured a confession Sunday duplicating the soldiers, may be a witness Absolutely no intimation can be ootained from those in authority as tc West, but it is generally believed that he will be brought to Jasper under guard probably tomorrow. This report is based. ii k thought, on the substantial rumor that a partial report will be made by the grand jury Wednesday afternoon and 1t is reasonably certain that Vests tes- timony will be taken before the report is returned.
 And as further development of more than usual importance, it was stated to- day in the vicinity of Cordova that Company M. the organization to which the suspects belong. is being broken up That is. members of the company are being assigned to other companies doing guard duty in the strike zone of Walker county. The reason Is manifest and further compliments the judgment of the military chieftains. It is but in line with the policy of the commanding officers to reduce any feeling that any of the striking miners or other citizens might entertain toward the company from which the suspects for an awful crime were taken.
 TRIAL NEXT WEEK
 And. finally, immediately after the final report of the grand jury on Thursday. Judge Wilkinson will ask Judge Thomas Sowell of the circuit court. to set the cases for trial on next Monday. January
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