The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-11

AfA' S. w. tNHoN IOlAOWcQ GlilS on the stand He testified he operated drug store at Townley at the time of the Baird killing. That night, he testified, Leslie West and some young ladies entered the drug store ob- jections by the defense were over ruled by Judge Gamble. This was about 10 o'clock at night, the witness said. Lancaster was there at the time, he said, together with Roy Pat ton, The witness could not remem- Der who else was there He closed his store between l and o'clock, he said. Some time after 10 o'clock, he said he heard car drive up.
 Efforts by the state to show that the defendant said something about 1t being time to go when the car drove up were defeated when Judge Gamble sustained objection to the evidence by the defense.
 The next witness was Beeeher oBrien, soda clerk at Knox's drug store in Townley the night Baird was killed. He testified to Leslie West coming to the store with soma girls that night. At the time, the witness testified, he recognized Lan- caster, Joseph Keys. Roy Patton and William Hanby, and there were five or siv soldiers he did not know also there, he said. West left at 12 o'clock, the witness testified. and the soldiers left with him. The witness heard Il car drive up, he said. Over objec- lions by the defense O'Brien was all lowed to testify that neither West nor any of the soldiers returned to the store that night. After West and the soldiers left, he testified, Joseph key returned and got hall. a bucket of water, which he took out In about five minutes, he said. he heard the automobile leave.
 Was Union Member
 On cross examination by LeciI Gray. the witness admitted he belongs to the United Mine Workers.
 There was strike out there. wasn't there, and these soldiers were there to preserve order. weren't they?" he was asked. The witness denied that he knew 1t was a part of the plan of the United Mine Work CTS to get rid of the soldiers. Ho admitted he was one of the striking miners. Asked whether mau named Gewin told him to hold his nerve when he went before the grand jury and tell his story and he would De backed up by the miners, the wit ness denied ever being with Gewin while In Jasper. He admitted that .AO N'Ao iOt hilOW WHO went away Tn the car he testified to hearing leave the drug store, or whose car 1t was.
 Clarence Mason, who testified that January 13, 1921, he was running a presser for the Corona Coal company at Townley, was next called He quit work at Il o'clock and after taking bath went to Knox's drug store be- tween 11:30 and 12 o'clock, he said. When he got there, he testified. he found several soldiers in the drug store and others came in. making eight or 10 altogether. The only ones he knew, he said, were Lancatser and Roy Patton. The witness also testi- fled to seeing Leslie West there about l2 o'clock and about that time an automobile drove up and stopped. Leslie West came in the drug store and after about 15 or 20 minutes Lam caster and all the other soldiers and West left, he said. The witness tes tffied he was on the sidewalk when he saw Lancaster and the other efrht or 10 soldiers get into the-car with west, who was driving. One of the soldiers got water for the radiator. and the car left towards the camp. he said short distance down the road 1t forks, he said, one branch go- ing towards the camp, the other to-
 
 store about an hour and a half. the witness testified, and none of them returned to the store.
 On cross examination by A IT. Car michael, for the defense, Mason testi- fled he had formerly belonged to the United Mine workers in 1919 but dropped out. He said he testified be- fore the grand jury, but had not testi- fled at the former trial of Lancaster. Vests Version of LynchinT He was followed by Leslie West, alleged driver of the car in which Baird was taken to his death. He 1 testified he lives at Holly Grove, near Townley, and that he is now mining At the time of Baird's lynching. he said, he was running a taxicab, using Buick Six. He was in Townley January 12, 1921, West testified, and knew the defendant, Lancaster. West testified that he drove one of the two cars that carried the lynchers to the Jasper jail The other car, a Ford, was referred to by the men as the captains car" he said Captain Lollar was commander of Company M, he testified. The crowd left with him from Dr. Knox's drug store about 12 o'clock, he testified.
 Lancaster, Patton, Stephens, Key, Hanby and number of other soldiers were 1t the drug store when he drove up, West testified. Some of them said, Let's ride around" he testi- ned, and he said, "All right" Lam caster and the others got into the car. West testified. and they went to Union Point" Glen L. Stephens at this point said to wait a minute. he testified. The right road goes to Jasper, the left fork to camp, he said. Lancaster and several of the others got out and went to camp, he testified, returning in few minutes In Ford car.- They said, Let's go." he testified, and after driving a short distance they exchanged overcoats with him and drove on to Jasper. Here, he testified. he waited in the car about 40 yards from the jail, while the others got out.
 After about 10 minutes, he said the soldiers returned from the jaiI, bringing a man with them, whom they put in the Ford. After going two miles. he said. Lancaster got out and told the Ford, which had stopped. to go ahead. After going another mile they all got out. he said, and showed the man they had around to the rear of the car and they all be- gan shooting.
 He turned his face to avoid seeing it. he testified. They then went back to the soldier camp, he testified, the Ford leading at first but witness car getting ahead later. They ar rived back at camp about 4:30 a. m., he testified. The Ford had aready arrived. Glenn L. Stephens rode be- side him all of the time, West testi- fled. Witness was the only civilian in the crowd. he testified. all the re- mainder being soldiers. They were armed with both rifles and pistols, he testified. On the return trip the cars were stuck twice, he said, and all