Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-18
'SOLDIERSHELD.
IN ALABAMA FOR
DEATH OF MINER

JASPER, Ala, Jan. IA special
term of Walker county circuit court
will be convened next Monday, at
which time eleven members of Com
pany NJ Alabama national guard, ar
rested yesterday, will be placed on
trial in connection with the lynching
of William Beard, a miner, here last
Thursday, according to announce
ment today by Judge Horace C. will
kinson, special assistant attorney
general.
Judge Wilkinson, who arrived here
today, to assist Solicitor Pennington
and Coroner Legg, announced that
the confession of Leslie West, taxi
cab driver, who said he provided the
cars for the lynching party, covered
sixteen pages of typewriter matter
and has been placed before the cor
oner's jury which resumed invest1ga-
ton Of the case The prosecutors
announced that the evidence was
practically ready to be handed to the
grand jury.
West, in his confession, according
to Judge Wilkinson, said that the
lynching party drove directly from
the Jail after Beard had been seized,
to the cemetery on the Manchester
road, where Private Morris, Boards
alleged victim, was buried. The par
ty later passed beyond the cemetery
to lonely wood, where Beard was
shot ten times, the members of the
lynching squad taking turns in fir
ing.
Company M is a Tuscaloosa COM
mand detachments of which have
been on duty in Walker county since
the coal strike was called September
Ia.
Judge T. J. Sewell, of Walker coun-
ty circuit court, today empannelled y
special grand jury and witnesses
went directly from the hearing be-
fore Coroner Legg to appear before
the inquisitorial body.
Clothing said to have been worn
was exhibited before the coroner's
jury today.
Baird was in Jail at Jasper await
ing trial for the killing of Private
James Morris, of Company M, after
Morris had shot and killed John
Northcutt had been arrested by Nor
| ris on a charge of disorderly con-
duct while the company was station
| ed in Jasper in connection with the
miners strike.
| According to Judge Wilkinson,
w CoI uCS1oA GU I1AC SOlulClS WoLC
civilian clothes, including overalls,
and these were burned after they
| returned to Townley, where they
were encamped. The trip was made
| in two automobiles. The party went
to the jail shortly after midnight
overcame the jailer's resistance and
bundled Baird into one of the ma
chimes after putting a towel around
his neck. About two miles outside
of Jasper, the confession continued
Baird was showed from the automo-
bile and shot to death. The soldiers
then sped back to camp, arriving in
time to be checked up.
First reports were that one Of the
soldiers had confessed. but this
| proved to be erroneous.
| Guardsmen under arrest are: Ser.
geants r. o: Cox, Glenn L. Stephens
and Robert J. Lancaster; Corporals
Joseph w. Key and Manly r. Sex
ton; Privates William E. Handy
James Franklin, Ernest w. Speed
CLYDE Springer, Roy Patton, anG
Bugler Richardson.
Five of the gurdsmen under ar
rest are just eighteen years of age
| two are nineteen years old and -four
give their ages as twenty-five, ac-
cording to the coroner's records
Stephens served In the 18TH infan-
try overseas and Lancaster was g
member Of the 117th field artillery
| the evidence disclosed.