The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-26
WILL APPEAL CASE
 TO SUPREME COURT
Verdict Marked Finale Of Long Legal Battle, Including Change
 Of Venue And Two Mistrials
OTHER CASES DOCKETED
 FOR TRIAL NEXT WEEK
Venire Of 100 Men Each Drawn For Trials Of Joseph Key
 And Roy Patton
(By Staff corrsspendsnt)

HAMILTON. Ala. Jan. 25.-After more than eight hours of deliberation a jury of Marion county citizens Fri day morning at I 80 o'clock found Robert J. Lancaster, former national guard sergeant. charged with the lynch- ing of William Baird. Walker county miner, guilty of murder in the second degree and sentenced him to IS years in the penitentiary.
 He immediately noted an appeal
 Lancaster, after shaking hands with his wife and little 2-year-old daughter and a number of his comrades, seven of whom will be tried on the same charges beginning Monday, was taken into GUS tody by Sheriff Luther Loyd.
 Shows No Emotion
 He displayed no emotion, and whispered words of encouragement to Roy Patton and Joseph Key, former members of Company NJ, who will bs tried next week.
 The jury, after unfruitful delibera- tions from 5 80 o'clock Thursday eve ming until 10 80 o'clock the same night, renewed their attempts to reach a ver- dict at 80 o'clock Friday morning and knocked on the door at II 80 o'clock
 Two preceding juries had failed to reach verdict, and mistrials were called.
 Judge Charles P. Almon was warmly thanked and congratulated by the att torneys for both sides and scores of spectators and others for his conduct of the trial. The speed and prompt ness with which he confined the cass to essentials was especially commended by the defense and prosecution.
 Much Interest Shown Wires and long distance calls from all parts of the state began pouring into the little court house village Fri day morning requesting information relative to the verdict. All telephone lines were busy during the day answer ing calls as to the result
 Ten attorneys. dozen or more aides, witnesses. spectators. soldiers and Judge Charles P. Almon left Hamilton im- mediately following the verdict.
 An informal poll of the jury follow ing the trial and verdict disclosed that all 12 had, from the first, agreed on murder in the second degree and . sentence of from 10 to 20 years. The long deliberations, they said, resulted from a failure of three of their number to agree on the 1S-year sentence
 Attorneys Make No Comment
 Neither Judge Horace c. Wilkerson, chief of the prosecution. nor Senator A. II. Carmichael, veteran defense counsel. would comment on the verdict. Judge Wilkerson paid tribute to W. c. Davis, Ralph Quinn. Grady Wilson, J. NJ. Pennington and c. E. Mitchell. his associates ill the case, for their work.
 The untiring work of these at- torneys is largely responsible for the success attained from the standpoint of the state" he declared.
 Attorneys for both sides will return to Hamilton Sunday afternoon with Judge Almon for the trial of Joseph Key, another member of Company NJ, who will be arraigned for Baird's mur- der Monday morning at $ 80 o'clock.
 New Evidence Hinted
 lntimations that quantity of new evidence will be uncovered at the trial of Key and the other guardsmen, and
 (contIHued on Paoe Two Column Three)