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Eddy said he feels that one day some of those who took part may come forth to clear their con- sciences. ~ “T think it’s going to take a deathbed confession or a real change @f heart by these individuals,” he said. : Conspiracy assumed ; Jefferson County Circuit Judge Art Hanes Jr., who defended Chambliss, said it was always clear that more than one person was involved. ” “Tve never heard of this Alexander fellow,” he said. “But I suppese anything is possible. During the trial, Chambliss had always maintained he was innocent, but with every passing day, I per- sonally believe he was guilty.” 2 In Washington, D.C., John Kundts, supervisory special agent in the FBI's press office, said the agency has not prepared a response to last week's allegations about the Birmingham church. {» There are no federal laws pertaining to murder except on federal properties, and civil rights stat- utes expire after five years in most cases. “. In earlier statements, the new FBI Director Louis J. Freeh ordered the agency to inquire into the Edwards case “as to whether anyone inthe FBI attempted to intervene on behalf of 2 suspéect in a state murder case in Alabama in the 1970s.” Freeh also said that the agency will respond to requests from the Edwards family about the case Le Kundts said the agency is responding in part because of reports in the press. ; Alexander 1s mot the first dying man who claimed a part in the bombing of the Birmingham church. In 1988 Gary A. Tucker, a Walker County truck driver, told FBI agents he had been the bomber, and named an alleged cohort. But the agency sald his story was fabricated and full of inconsistencies Jack Shows, who headed Baxley’s investigative unit in Montgomery, said bombing cases are diffi- cult te prove, and cases that are old are more so. “A lot of the people responsible are prabably dead.” he said, ‘and so are some witnesses." 7 Eddy added, “You have to remember that 25 or 30 years ago we didn’t have the forensic expertise we now have. I found the big problem is that after so many years, people can't remember some de- tails They remember something taking place, but they can’t remember when. Memories are blunted by time.” , Firefignters search rubble in basement of church. NEWS FILE PHOTC