The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-20
MURDER FORMALLY CHARGED ID MEN
 IN LYNCHING CASE
Grand Jury Still at Work and Additional indictments To- day or Tomorrow Expect
 ed in Baird Case

of Company M, Tuscaloosa National Guard, and now in the Birmingham jail, were in- dicted in partial report re- turned this afternoon by the special grand jury in session here.
 The indictments formally charge
 first degree murGcr in connection
 with the Iynchipss, January f3, of
 William Baird. young Nauvoo
 miner, who was taken from the
 Walker county jail and shot to
 death The defendants will he
 served Thursday in their cells and
 probably arraigned before Judge
 Thomas SoweII of the Walker
 county circuit court late Friday
 afternoon or Saturday.
 PROGRESS IS RAPID
 Events came in rapid succession here today Judge Horace c, Wilkinson, special attorney general, who is con ductng the examination of witnesses before the grand jury kept the ma chinery in swift and effective motion. His plans. formulated the previous night. have been carried out to the fi- nal letter and progress--quick and certain and thorough--which has char acterized the entire investigation, was registered with almost each sue ceeding minute.
 Big things began to happen at 9 o'clock when the Frisco train arrived from Birmingham with Leslie West, Holly Grove, chauffeur, who has con- fessed it is alleged, to driving one or the murder cars which carried accused soldier-mobbers from TownIey to Jas A .Ns n @...t, ton. West was accompanied by J. H. Knox and 0. D. Notes members of Chief Conrad Austins state enforce ment squad. Soldiers had been detailed from Jasper headquarters to go 10 Birmingham and accompany the two officers and their prisoner to Jasper. But the soldiers remained in the back ground
 WEST IS WITNESS
 Upon arrival in Jasper, the three hurried to a waiting automobile anl drove to the offices of John IT. Bank head, counsel for West, and later to the courthouse. West immediatelS was taken into the grand jury room and remained there for approximatc5y two hours. It is presumed he repeated to the grand jury substantially what he previously had told Judge Wilkin- son in formal confession. He was excused as witness at the noon hour and taken to military headquarters, where he remained under guard until 2:20, when he was taken back to Bir- mingham Vests appearance in Jas per failed to attract the curiosity that the appearance of Clyde Springer and Guy Cannon, guardsmen, created yes- terday. when they were brought here to testify.
 Indicative of the thoroughness with which Judge Wilkinson is going into the most sensational lynching prob ably in the entire history of America, and the only one on record where soi- diers have been suspected and in of the completeness of the inquiry. more than 75 witnesses have been examined within the last 6t hours Also, the highest of the mill tary officers have not been excepted from the inquistion, Exact justice has been determined upon, and sue cessfully. Colonel Dallas Smith. In command of the strike zone, was Il witneos today. Likewise Captain Lol- lar. summoned from Tuscaloosa yester- day, was examined before the grand jury this morning. To these have been added majors lieutenants, sergeatns, corporals and prlvates, together witt morea than score of civilians living along the route which the alleged ly nchers travelled with their victim be-
  sieved with two dozen bullers.
 EXHAUSTIVE INQUIRY
 Because of the exhaustive man.
 ner of the Wilkinson system of
 boring for facts and declining to
 discriminate ms to titles, 1t is prob
 abie that when the grand jury
 makes It's final report Friday. for
 1t is reasonably certain the inquiry
 will be finished on that date, two
 additional first degree murder
 ch0rses will he preferred and
 probably n batch charging n lesser
 Offense-thnt of aiding in organic
 ing the mob and iu protecting
 them from detection following the
 tragedy. There are no details of
 the entire grewsome transaction.
 from nll indications, that will not
 he in possession of the state when
 the grand Jury files it's final re-
 port.
 incidentally, the examinations of the prisoners before the grand jury arc fair. No advantage is being taken of the prisoners held as material wit Eesses. This was evidenced this morn ing when West was permitted to con- suit with John C. Bankhead. one of the better known of Alabama lawyers. and W ho has been retained as counsel for the defense. The witness was allowed to seek advice before appearing Tn ths grand Jury room. whether he de- clined to answer any questions as result of this conference is not known.
 CHANGE OF VENUE
 Rumor was sufficiently persistent here today to make the statement aI- most certain that change of venue will be asked when the prisoners are arraigned. It is understood that that decision was agreed upon this after noon between Attorneys Bankhead and E. B. Gray. the latter also of counsel for defense and a Jasper lawyer. As a matter of fact it is understood, the motion for a change of venue and which will be presented immediately after the arraignment of the prisoners. is now being prepared in MT. Bank heads offices. This is rumor, but it is understood as correct rumor. The mo- tion will be resisted. 1t is understood on the ground that justice can be had in Walker. and also change would cost the state $l0,000.
 Counsel for the defense. now total ing eight lawyers. 1t Is known, are the proceedings with trained eyes. They recos nize the calihsr of for the state and know that they are scheduled to enter the m1st notable battle ever waged in an Amer lean court. The trial will not only bo spectacular because of the fact thar soldiers are defendants in a lynchina al har ~