The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-04
SAYS ACCUSED TROOPER WAS ON GUARD DUTY AT
 CAMP UNTIL MIDNIGHT
tContinued from Page one)


 the four hours and knew that the car was at it's proper place. He also said he visited the various barracks in or der that he might rebuild the fires throughout his guard service.
 On cross-examination the state sought to prove that Searcy's testi- mony did not conform to that given before the grand jury and in the in- vestigation conducted in Judge Wilkin- sons office in Birmingham, but this effort failed. A portion of the testi- mony which quoted Searcy as saying he was on duty at Townley was read by Judge Wilkinson, but Searcy in- sisted that his previous story was that he was on guard at the barracks, which were located in Townley.
 Didn't. you tell Pvt. James Frank lin the morning of the lynching that you saw the gang leaving Townley?' Judge Wilkinson asked.
 No, sir, l did not, was the answer.
 Pvt. Westley Patton, another
 member of Company M, testified
 that he was on patrol duty with
 Sergeant Lancaster until IF
 o'clock; that all members of the
 patrol left TOwnIey about IF for
 the barracks md walked all the
 way. This testimony was fm-
 Dortant, because Leslie West.
 chauffeur, testified that he picked
 up the crowd of soldiers at the
 drug store earlier on the night of
 the lynching and drove them
 nearly to the barracks, and that
 they joined him later with nn-
 other automobile, which the state
 Insists was the captains car.
 LANCASTER IN ROOM
 Patton snfd he knew Lancnster
 was in his room after IF o'clock.
 because he knew his voice, and he and Roy Patton, another defend- at, kept him awake for 30 min utes or more with their conversa- uon. He also said the captains car was sitting near the orderly room at the barracks when he got
 up at 4'3O n. m.. and that there was no mud on 1t. This statement also was important, because West had testified there was much mud
 to contend with on the return trip from Jasper, and that the cars
 stuck in the mud several times.
 Westley Moore, another member or the company. cOrrOborated the previous testimony about Lancas- ters patrol walking from Town icy to the barracks at midnight.
 when moore arrived at camp he went Into Ben G. Searcy's room to wake him for guard duty from 12 to 4, but found Senrcy awake. This was important, because it corro- nornted Senrcy's statement that he was on guard from 12 to 4, or dur Ing the hours the Iynching is aI- ieged to have occurred,
 Ha A~ufnd th-A
 the patrol rode from TownIey to the barracks.
 CAN'T IDENTIFY CLOTHING On cross-examination the state so,,ynr 10 gain the admission from Moore thai me overcoat found in the walls and bear ng the initials "R. L." was the prop srty or Robert Lancaster, but he said he 1id not know. The witness also said he could not say whether or not a pair Of gloves and cigar holder found in one of the oyercoats removed from the walls belonged to Lancaster
 lie also could not identify an overcoat bearing the initials '.W. E. H." as be- ing the property of William E. Hamby, another defendant
 Which one of the boys had a girl who called herself The Vamp?" asked Judge Wilkinson The court sustained the de- fense objection.
 If the court please, I have a letter addressed to a soldier which is signed The Vamp', said Judge Wilkinson, but he court refused to permit an answer Did Roy Patton have a girl at Jas- per who signed herself The Vamp' Y' questioned Judge Wilkinson. Another objection of the defense was sustained
 Here's the letter." said Judge Will <inson, as he presented it to the judge, does your honor want to read it?"
 No sir." replied Judge Sowell, amid laughter.
 Judge Wilkinson also sought to obtain from Moore an admission that he told Masie Burton. young lady at Townley, that he had done more devilment last night than have ever done before," but but the objection of the defense was sustained.
 Moore denied that he knew anything about the clothing being placed in the walls at the barracks and declared that he did not hear Joe Key tell Robert Lan- caster on train between Jasper and that he was afraid they would find the clothes. or hear Lancaster reply that there was no need to be afr aid.
 On redirect examination, Moore said Judge Will<inson threatened him If he did not tell about the crime the morning after his exam- ination In Birmingham. and that among other things Judge Wilkin- son said he didn't see how he could fail to have him indicted.
 Corpl. B. B. True on duty at Town ley with Company M, was very inn portant witness for the defense, be- cause of his direct answers to ques- tions. His military bearing and his CHE ulnl0nT 07