Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1925-03-20
COURT RULING
GIVES ANOTHER
TRIAL 10 SOLDIER
By International Labor News Service /

By International Labor News Service
indianapolis, Ind, March I2.-fhe
action OF the State court OF appeals Of
Alabama in reversing the decision Of
the lower court IN the case Of the
Commonwealth against Robert Ian
caster for the murder of William
Baird on January y, 1921, recalls the
history of that tragic killing anu III
dicates there is slight chance OF Ian
caster or any one else serving time
for the murder.
The killing vas one Of the many
murderous incidents connected with
the strike of coal miners in the Sta,e
in l9202l.
A union coal miner named North
colt, who was also a preacher and
kindly disposed man, incurred the dis
pleasure of the State militia used by
the non-union coal operators in help
ing to break the strike, and who had
full control of the situation In the
strike zone. \ squad of soldiers
went to the Northeott home at Jasper,
Ala, to arrest him on some tfumped-
up charges. Northcott was found in
the woodshed Of mis- home working.
Two Killed in Shooting.
William Baird, union coal miner
and a son-in-law OF NOrthcott, arrived
home while the soldiers were brow
beating his father-in-law. Baird pro-
tested the treatment to the elderly
man, whereupon a soldier by he name
of Morris whipped out a revolver and
shot Northcott to death and then
wheeled in AN attempt to kill Baird.
Baird. however, was quicker on the
draw and got his gun in action and
killed Morris. Although he had com,
mand of the situation, he submitted
to arrest by the other soldiers on the
ground that he had acted IN sell
defense. Baird was taken to the
county jail at Jasper.
Some time later in the night i
squad of nine soldiers said to be IN
command of Sergeant Robert Ian
caster visited the Jail ostenSibly to
get some information from Bard.
Entering the small cell room, the sol
diers overpowered the jailer aud, OBJ
tanning the cell keys, dragged Balrd
out. A mask was thrown over his
face and he was hustled to waiting
automobile and carried several miles
into the country and into an edge of
a woods. Here he was thrown from
the car and without mercy and Win,
out provocation the military squad
literally shot Baird to pieces and left
his riddled body lyinp in the roadway
where it was subsequently found anu
taken to the morgue at Jasper
Investigation Forced.
Through the efforts OF the United
Mine Workers an investigation OF the
lynching was forced and a county
grand jury brought in indictments
AGAINST the nine soldiers for paftlcl-
nation in the murder. Robert Ian
caster, the sergeant, from Tuscaloosa,
Ala, and in charge OF the squad, Was
among the indicted and the hrst TO De
tried. -,
Inere were two mistrials Of the
case. but on the third trial Lancaster
was found guilty of murder anu sen
fenced to the penitentiary Ter Is
wears. He appealed the case anu
bending the appeal had been conhnea
in the county Jail. The higher court
a few days ago reversed the decision
of the lower court and ordered tha'
lancaster be given another nearing.
This fourth hearing is about to De
called. and it is the opinion OF many
miners that Lancaster will never serve
his time and that there will be no oth-
MANY Murders During Strike.
The lynching of Baird ana tne
shooting of old man Northeott were
the most brutal of the many niufoeis 'lls
committed in that section during the
coal strike. Northcott was man u
local reputation as a preacher anu a
Quiet. peaceable citizen. HIS only
dfTense % was that he belonged to the
nnion and he was hated accordlngiy.
His slaying was without the shghte9'
provocation as he had not even Nio-
The killing of Baird, who had at II,
tempted to defend his fatherr-lnn-l:a"s law
and himself, was equally brutal; balla
vas vas a neaceable citizen and had never
heen in trouble until he protested
against the brutalities Of the STATE
militiamen. e.u.,, ,,ial of
one Of his alleged murderes Is belng
watched with interest.
Wealthy convicts slept in special ;a