The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-23
PLOT TO LYNCH
 BAIRD CHARGED
State Rests Case In Lancaster Case After Spring New
 Testimony
By STAFF CORRESPONDENT

HAMlLTON, Ala, Jan. 22.-State forces seeking for the third time the conviction of Robert J. Lancaster. for mer sergeant in the national guard, for the allaged lynching of William Baird, Walker county miner, during the 1921 strike, rested the commonwealth's case this afternoon.
 With the bulk of evidence already given by former guardsmen, two of whom were members of Lancaster s company when the lynching occurred, only few witnesses will be recalled be- fore the actual close of the prosecution early Wednesday.
 The states promised sensation was sprung at the opening of court this morning in the testimony of Bryant Hartley, former member of Company NJ, national guard Every inch of his testimony as brought about by Horace C. Wilkinson, special prosecutor was bitterly fought in series of exceptions on the part of the defense. headed by A.. H. Carmichael of Tuscumbia.
 New Witness Testifies 11dTllcy, put Ou lOE I1rsC time, offered briefly that he was member heard conversations relative to going over to Jasper" /.
 He said that week following the conversation in which "going to Jas per" was mentioned, he was awakened at night and asked to "come along to Jasper" but had refused. After this, he testified, that Lancaster and others were not there, that he saw them come ill later with mud on their clothes and guns. He was ordered, according to the testimony, to clean Lancaster's gun, and told that the officers-meaning the law enforcement officers-were right behind Lancaster and the soldiers. The defendant and the others went out of the room immediately, he said. Hartley testified that Lancaster said, Baird liked to have got away from us, we had to hit him two or three times" Several other remarks of this kind were made by Lancaster. accord ing to Hartley. Attempts by the de- fense to impungn the testimony of Hartley by showing that he was dis charged from the army on q charge of stealing supplies. were unsuccessful and other than gaining a few points about certain details of his statement, his evidence remained intact under the cross-examinatiOn.
 Questioned About First Shot Clyde Springer, another former mem Der of Company NJ. testified thh he asked Lancaster who fired the first shot, referring to the lynching, and that Lancaster pointed to himself. Defense counsel drew from him the statement that he had been given job as miner since the first trial and that he was carried to Montgomery after the lynch ing by the law enforcement officers un- der arrest, and that he was uncertain whether or not Lancaster correctly understood his request about the first shot.
 Capt. H. l.. McMeans of Birming- ham. inspector and instructor in the Walker county district at that time, testified to finding muddy and wet army overcoats in clothing with initials corresponding to those of the suspected soldiers, concealed at Townley, in the barracks of the men now facing trial.
 Other witnesses testified to hearing and seeing two cars go by between 5 and 4 o'clock in the morning, and to identifying Leslie West, taxi driver, as the operator of one of the cars.
 Defense Opens Up
 The defense will offer tomorrow character witnesses and perhaps others, it was intimated. Plans for vigorous attact on the testimony of Hartley were begun tonight.
 Indications pointed to the conclusion of the trial Friday morning, Judge J. Charles F. Almon declaring that night caSSiops UouId not he held