A second court-appointed attorney wants off the Toomer's Corner tree poisoning case in Auburn.

Jerry W. Hauser filed a motion to withdraw as Harvey Updyke's attorney in court papers in Lee County District Court on Tuesday morning. Hauser cited a conflict of interest, specifically, his wife, Dr. Margaret E. Fitch-Hauser, is the head of the Department of Communications and Journalism at Auburn.

Updyke, who is accused of poisoning the two oak trees at Toomer's Corner, lost his first court-appointed attorney, Philip Tyler, who said he was faced with a conflict of interest. The court replaced Tyler with Hauser.

Updyke is free on $50,000 bond.

The poisoning has caused much concern among Auburn fans and an examination of the Auburn-Alabama rivalry because of Updyke's affection for the Crimson Tide. The university is scrambling to see if it can save the trees, the site where Tiger fans have traditionally celebrated victories.

The latest project is the removal of poisoned dirt around the trees.