The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-20
SID CONAN MAKES
 STATEMENT ABOUT
 LEAVING C.. AUSTIN
tContinued From Page one)


 Coal company purchased Ford car and placed same at the disposal of my detail
 'On the morning of the Sunday On which Phil Painter was assaulted in Birmingham, l drove to Birmingham, accompanied by Deputies Kemp and Boggan, reporting to MT. Austin about II o'clock. 1 was talking to MT. Austin, together. with several of the force, when he called me into an adjoining room, closing the door behind. Turn ing to me, he gave the following or- l. der:
 "'We have decided to change our 1 tactics. This strike Is over, except getting rid of these agitators. I am going to send you Moates (weight 230) pounds), and couple moro big, husky men and, instead of following those fellows around. Nave your men beat he'll out of them every time you catch them out. Arrangements have been made to take care of you, so you will be gotten out of trouble and if you arc fined, your fines will be paid
 T left the room. going to my home My father was critically i'll, .and lcould not ask him for advice. I called mother aside, and etold her of the or> ders that had been given me, and of lmy intention to resign. Her advice l was to ignore the order, but if execu- tion were insisted on to resign This decided to do. I returned to Mr. Austin's office about D. m. He fn- lstructed me to go to the Hotel Tut wiler, and the men posted there would point out some new union organizers who had recently arrived, so might know them should they come to the Walker county district. While stand ing at the main entras,ce of the hotel. Knox. Moates and several other depu- ties passed, going itto the hotel. KnoN asked me If l had seen Phil Painter. l answered: No. What's upg he re- piled: We are going to beat hell out lof him when we find him A few minutes later, I. heard Painter had been beaten up, and saw Painter short ly after in the hotel lobby going to his room.
 T returned to Jasper Next morn ing, about 10 o'clo1k, I was called br Deputy w. F. Scarborough, talkina from Birmingham, who stated as fol-
 "tSfd, the chief went to Montgomery last night. He has just phoned me to get You right away and tell you those orders he gave you yesterday nave been countermanded, and not to ,et anything happen out there. Cut out the rough stuff. Understand?'
 |. replied that nothing was going to happen here understand.
 II then called my mother, asked the condition of my father and told her that l would not have to resign. as tne orders I spoke to her of had been countermanded.
 IN WALKER COUNTY ! continued my duties in the Walker Sounts district, and on the morning of January 13, 1921. was awakened bx loud knocking on the door of my room at the raniord hotel On opening the door informed me that Will Baird had been taken from the jail about 70 minutes peiore by masked mob, and the sheriff mad told him to get me at once. hurriediy dressed and notified the depu- lies who were available to rush over with their arms to the jail as soon aa possible. While my men were dressinr i
 made hurried investigation at the iaii. finding that the mob consisted of be- l tween eight and twelve men, six of whom entered the Jail, all dressed in ordinary clothing. or in overalls. and masked: that Baird had been taken out in his un- derclothing with towel around hts mouth. and that car. or cara were heard to start from in front of the jaii Immediately. notified Colonel Smith. in charge of troops in the Walker county sdistrict, by telephoning. and asked his lco-oper&tion. By this time my men Cannon. Wilson. Boggan and Crow-to- gether with Deputy Sheriff Sides. had arrived. It was raining. We examined the road for fresh car tracks and founa them. continued to follow them on foot. Il Sent Wilson back to get car and catch up with me trailing car. instructed my men to follow these tracks as long ss 4thay could possibly see them.
 1T returned to the Jail. Col. Smith ana other cfficers had arrived and were tele- phonang the news and instructing his de- taehments to look out for the mob. He had also ordered check of all military attachments to ascertain any apoentees. The military authorities. sheriff and my seif continued to investigate. and about i7 ccIeck l heard that the body of Baird had peen found riddled with bullets near the cemetaSy. Colonel Smith and other officers including myself, vent to the scene
 SEE BODY
 The body had just been taken up and vas in the hands of the coroner. ras shown double handful of military Iammunition. % and $ calibre. found on the scene. \ former stated that about i4;D o'clock a- n. two cars had etopped ! at his home near the scene of the killing and 2 man had Inquired the way to Gamble mines. They were ou the wrong road and had to turn back, which they did. He also stated that about an hour later another car with nve men In it had stopped and asked about the first