Monday, 9th June 1913 Foreman Tells Why He Holds Conley Guilt
Monday, June 9th, 1913
R. P. Barrett, in Letter to Georgian, Gives Reasons for Suspecting Negro of Crime.
R. P. Barrett, foreman of the metal department at the National Pencil Factory, in a letter to The Georgian Monday, gives his reasons for believing that Jim Conley, negro sweeper at the plant, attacked and strangled Mary Phagan.
It was Barrett who found the strands of hair on the lathing machine in his department. This is supposed to be where the girl was thrown against the machine in her struggles.
Later Barrett testified positively that the blood stains in the second floor were not there before the crime. He is certain that the girl was attacked on the second floor and just as certain that Conley, not Frank was the slayer.
The letter reads:
Editor The Georgian:
I would like to make a statement in regard to the Mary Phagan murder.
Sees Motive for Notes.
If Jim Conley found Mary's body in the plating department near the …More
Monday, 9th June 1913 Rosser Asks Grand Jury Grill for Conley
June 9, 1913
Luther Z. Rosser, chief of counsel for Leo M. Frank, issued the first public statement Tuesday that he has made since the arrest of the factory superintendent six weeks ago on the suspicion of being the murderer of Mary Phagan.
He took occasion to point out many of the absurdities in the stories of the negro Jim Conley, and paid his respects in a forcible manner both to Chief of Detectives Lanford and Colonel Thomas B. Felder, who have been accusing each other of trying to protect Frank.
Mr. Rosser explained the violation of his invariable custom of maintaining absolute silence in regard to a case in which he was interested by calling attention to the prejudice that had been aroused in the public mind against Frank by the controversy between Lanford and Colonel Felder.
His statement, in full, follows:
Mr. Rosser's Statement.
Editor, Atlanta Georgian:
Felder and Lanford, in an effort to make progress in their feud …More
Monday, 9th June 1913 Defense to Make Next Move in Phagan Case
Monday, June 9th, 1913
Apparently Prosecuting Officials Consider Their Investigation Complete
Chief of Detectives Lanford has announced that Jim Conley, the negro sweeper, who is the state's principal witness in the case against Leo M. Frank, indicted for the murder of Mary Phagan, will not be cross-examined again unless he voluntarily sends for the officers to make a statement.
It is known that no developments have changed the theory of the prosecuting authorities, and it is apparent from the remark of Chief Lanford and other statements that the officials consider the investigation of the Phagan murder as complete, and are now waiting for the big legal fight to be staged before Judge L. S. Roan probably on Monday, June 30.
With the state "resting on its oars," it is naturally expected that the next move, if there is to be one, will come from the defense of Mr. Frank.
To forecast any "move" which may be made by the defense …More
Sunday, 8th June 1913 Scathing Replies Made to Letters Attacking Them
Sunday, June 8th, 1913
Colyar Addresses Felder as "Dictograph Tommy" and "My Dear Co-conspirator in Crime"
SEND HIM TO CREMATORY, SAYS DETECTIVE CHIEF
J. R. Gray Said: "I Have No Comment to Make—Mr. Felder's Controversy Is With A. S. Colyar"
Replying to the open letters of Thomas B. Felder, attacking them, A. S. Colyar and Chief of Detectives N. A. Lanford last night gave to The Journal statements, denouncing Mr. Felder in unmeasured terms. Chief of Police James L. Beavers, who was also the subject of attack, was out of the city and, therefore, could not be given the opportunity to reply.
James R. Gray, when shown Mr. Felder's communication, addressed to him, said:
"I have no comment to make on Mr. Felder's letter. His controversy is with A. S. Colyar. I suppose Mr. Colyar will wish to reply."
The statements of A. S. Colyar and Chief Lanford follow below in full:
COLYAR'S REPLY.
T. B. Felder Esq., alias Dictograph …More
Sunday, 8th June 1913 Solicitor Makes No Reply to Mrs. Frank
Sunday, June 8, 1913
Hugh M. Dorsey Has No Comment to Make on Mrs. Frank's Letter
Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey has declined to make any answer to the published statement of Mrs. Leo M. Frank, charging him with allowing the use of "torture" to force people to make false statements against her husband, who is charged by a grand jury indictment with the murder of Mary Phagan.
In her statement, Mrs. Frank flayed the solicitor general, charging that it is evident from his card that he believes that he is perfectly justifiable in using testimony procured from witnesses by torture.
While the statement of the accused man's wife is directed at the solicitor general, she pays her respects to the city detectives in no uncertain terms, and she speaks often on the "detectives' torture chamber."
According to the authorities, there have been no recent developments in the Phagan murder investigation, and the state and the defense are both …More
Sunday, 8th June 1913 Lanford Answers Felder’s Charge
Sunday, June 8, 1913
Declares That He Has Never Seen Gentry But Once in His Life.
"Tom Felder is a contemptible liar," blazed Chief Lanford last night when informed of the contents of Colonel Felder's letter directed to him through The Constitution. "I never saw this Gentry but once in my life, and that was before this dictagraph exposure ever happened. I have never seen him since.
"Gentry telephoned police headquarters Saturday, a week ago, however, and asked for Febuary, my secretary. Febuary happened not to be in at the time. I answered the telephone. Gentry wanted to know if a warrant was out against him. I told him I did not think there was, and that he had done nothing for which a warrant could be issued against him.
"I informed him that if a warrant was served on him, for him to notify me and I would help him out of his trouble. That was the last I heard of him until he left town. I did not have a thing to do with his departure …More
Sunday, 8th June 1913 Felder Makes Answer to Dictagraph Episode
Sunday, June 8th, 1913
Well-Known Attorney Writes Four Cards Covering All the Phases of Situation and Answering All Charges.
DICTAGRAPH TRAP JUST "FRAME-UP," HE SAYS
Col. Felder Asserts George Gentry, Who Took Down the Stenographic Notes, Will Return and Expose the Deal.
Colonel Thomas B. Felder has written four cards—to Chief of Detectives Newport Lanford, Chief of Police Beavers, James R. Gray, editor of The Journal, and Foster Coates, manager of The Georgian—all bearing on the late pictograph incident which was published in the three papers of Atlanta. He states the whole thing was a "frame-up" from beginning to end and says he will produce proofs of his statements. He says Gentry, who took down the stenographic notes, will return to Atlanta and tell the truth about the whole deal.
In his card to Newport Lanford, Colonel Felder brands him as a crook and applies to him various epithets.
The letters follow:
Apologizes to …More
Leo Frank Statement to Chief of Detectives Newport Lanford at the Atlanta Police Station, April 28, 1913
On Monday morning, April 28, 1913,
Leo Frank gave an unsigned statement before N. A. Lanford, Chief of Detectives, at the Atlanta Police Station. The statement was stenographed by a government magistrate in the presence of Frank's attorneys, Luther Zeigler Rosser and Herbert Haas, along with detectives involved in the Mary Phagan murder investigation.
In the statement, Frank identified himself as General Superintendent and Director of the National Pencil Company at 37 to 41 South Forsyth Street in Atlanta, a position he had held since August 10, 1908, overseeing a workforce of approximately 107 male and female employees.
Mary Phagan's Arrival: 12:05 to 12:10 PM
Most critically, Leo Frank's Monday, April 28, 1913, statement placed precise bookends around the time Mary Phagan had arrived at the National Pencil Company factory on Confederate Memorial Day, Saturday, April 26, 1913. Frank …More
Saturday, 7th June 1913 Lanford Claps Lid on Detective News
Saturday, June 7th, 1913
All Information in Future Must Come Through Office of the Chief.
Chief Newport Lanford yesterday morning issued a special order prohibiting the disclosing of information to newspaper reporters.
It was stated in The Constitution in its story Friday morning the investigation in the Phagan case had been seriously hampered by the publication of developments, many of which were made public in premature form. Solicitor Dorsey wrote Chief Lanford requesting him to clap on the lid.
Chief Lanford, in a talk with reporters, said that much of the publication of developments was not caused through his office, but was due to the energy and enterprise of Atlanta reporters, who, independent of detectives, managed to secure their information.
The special order is No. 6 and prohibits an attache of the detective department from giving news to reporters. The only source from which information can hereafter be gained is …More
Saturday, 7th June 1913 Current in Effect on Day of Tragedy
Saturday, June 7th, 1913
Report That Elevator in Pencil Factory Was Not Running Proves Groundless.
Following a widely-prevalent rumor that Leo Frank's defense will strive to prove that the current was shut off from the pencil factory plant on the day Mary Phagan was slain, and that, for this reason, James Conley could not have lowered the girl's body to the basement on the electrically-driven elevator as he claims in his confession, it was established conclusively last night that the Georgia Railway and Power company's electric service was in effect on the tragedy day.
This statement was made to a Constitution reporter by S. Arthur Redding, general superintendent of the department of electricity of the local power concern. Mr. Redding investigated his reports of the murder date to ascertain whether or not the power was running into the pencil factory building on April 26, revealing that the service was effective.
A rumor was …More
Saturday, 7th June 1913 Mrs. Frank Attacks Solicitor H. M. Dorsey in a New Statement
Saturday, June 7th, 1913
Solicitor Hugh M. Dorsey refused late Saturday afternoon to make reply to the reiterated accusations of Mrs. Leo M. Frank that "torture chamber" methods were made use of by the state to secure evidence from witnesses.
"I hav[e]n't had time to read Mrs. Frank's statement fully," declared Mr. Dorsey, "and even though I did read it, I do not know that I would reply to it."
Mrs. Frank's second letter was made public Saturday morning and is as follows:
Atlanta Georgia, June 7, 1913.
Editor Atlanta Georgian:
I think fairness to Mr. Frank requires that the public should clearly understand Mr. Dorsey's position as stated by him in his card in The Constitution of June 6, and repeated in the papers yesterday, in reply to my statement that he proposes to use testimony which comes from witnesses as the result of torture.
His real position, as gleaned from his card, can be stated in the …More
Saturday, 7th June 1913 Defense Digs Deep to Show Conley is Phagan Girl Slayer
Saturday, June 7th, 1913
Getting New Evidence to Show Negro Was Located in Factory—Theory Explains Mystery of Staple Pulled From Back Door of Basement.
The defense of Leo Frank against the charge of murdering Mary Phagan will be more than a mere attempt to clear Frank's skirts of the crime. It will seek directly to fix upon James Conley, negro, full and complete responsibility for the crime.
Despite the secretiveness and the silence of Frank's attorneys, it has been ascertained with a reasonable degree of authority that the foregoing is the program of the defense, and that the defense believes itself abundantly prepared to take care of itself along that line.
An ironclad alibi, covering all the time cited in the Conley statement with a substantial margin of time to spare, will be set up by Frank.
In addition to this, it will be shown that Conley was in the factory at the time he himself says Frank committed …More
Saturday, 7th June 1913 Defense Bends Efforts to Prove Conley Slayer
Saturday, June 7th, 1913
The defense of Leo Frank against the charge of murdering Mary Phagan will be more than a mere attempt to clear Frank's skirts. It will seek directly to fix upon James Conley, negro, full and complete responsibility for the crime.
Despite the secretiveness and the silence of Frank's attorneys, it has been ascertained with a reasonable degree of authority that the foregoing is the program of the defense, and that the defense believes itself abundantly prepared to take care of itself along that line.
An ironclad alibi, covering all the time cited in the Conley statement with a substantial margin of time to spare, will be set up by Frank.
In addition to this, it will be shown that Conley was in the factory at the time he himself says Frank committed the murder, and for a long time before.
The defense will try to show that Conley had ample opportunity to accomplish the murder, and that every circumstance …More
Saturday, 7th June 1913 Torture Chamber Methods Charged in Getting Evidence
Saturday, June 7th, 1913
In Card to The Journal, Wife of Factory Superintendent Declares Solicitor Dorsey Has Approved Third Degree
"WE ARE SUFFERING NOW, BUT WHO WILL BE NEXT?"
Her Statement in Full—Conley Will Not Be Indicted as Accessory, but if Frank is Acquitted, He Will Be Tried
Mrs. Leo M. Frank, wife of the indicted pencil factory superintendent, Saturday afternoon sent The Journal a second statement in which she renews her charge that Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey and the city detectives are obtaining evidence in the Phagan murder case by torturing witnesses into giving testimony.
Mrs. Frank's statement is given out in reply to one issued Thursday afternoon by the solicitor. She declares that her negro cook, Minola McKnight, was arrested in violation of the criminal laws, because there was no charge against her and she was suspected of no crime.
"I do not wish to be in any manner bitter towards Mr. …More
Friday, 6th June 1913 Probe of Grand Jury Goes Over One Week
Friday, June 6th, 1913
Only Routine Matters Up Tuesday—Dictograph Controversy Not Considered
It will be week after next before the Fulton county grand jury resumes its investigation of the vice situation in Atlanta, if any further investigation is to be made at all.
This was made plain Friday afternoon by Foreman Lewis H. Beck, who stated that Solicitor Dorsey had advised the grand jury that he had sufficient routine works ahead to engage its attention for at least three days next week.
Mr. Beck feels that three days a week is sufficient to ask the members of the jury to give from their business affairs unless matters of very pressing importance demanded attention. The grand jury will meet next Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, and will consider the business which Solicitor Dorsey has in hand.
MAY PROBE FURTHER.
No agreement has been reached as to whether the vice probe would be resumed week after next. "We have gone pretty far …More
Friday, 6th June 1913 Conley Sticks to His Story; Declares Detective Chief
Friday, June 6th 1913
Report of a Confession, Different From One Given to the Detectives, Is Ridiculed by Chief Lanford
DORSEY MAKES REPLY TO MRS. L. M. FRANK
No More News of Phagan Case to Be Given to Newspapers Except Through Head of Detectives
Chief of Detectives Newport A. Lanford gave out a statement Friday morning in which he characterized as absurd the rumor that James Conley, the negro pencil factory sweeper, had ever made any confessions other than those contained in the affidavits given the detectives.
The chief stated that he had questioned Conley on this subject both Thursday evening and Friday morning and that the negro had positively denied that he had made any other confessions.
This rumor is said to have originated at the court house Thursday following certain questions which the members of the grand jury are said to have put to A. S. Colyar, a witness. Colyar is said to have been asked if he had …More
Friday, 6th June 1913 Jail Sentence for Woman Convicted in Vice Crusade
Friday, June 6th, 1913
Mrs. N. Powell, Charged With Operating Disorderly House on Spring Street, Gets Heavy Sentence
HAD ENJOINED CHIEF FROM RAIDING HOUSE
Case is One of Few on Record Where a Woman Is Sentenced to Jail Without Alternative of Paying Fine
Mrs. N. Powell, of 95 Spring street, was convicted in the city criminal court Friday on the charge of operating a disorderly house, and was sentenced to serve a term of four months in jail by Judge A. E. Calhoun.
This is one of the few cases on record where a woman, charged with operating a disorderly house, has received a straight jail sentence without the alternative of paying a fine.
It is understood that Mrs. Powell through her attorneys, Jackson and Gober, will appeal from the decision of the city court.
The case of Mrs. Powell is made doubly interesting by the fact that she some time ago secured a temporary injunction restraining Chief of Police Beavers from …More
Friday, 6th June 1913 A. S. Colyar Is Again Released From Custody
Friday, June 6th, 1913
Tennessee Requisition Papers Not Forthcoming, So Judge Orders His Release
A. S. Colyar, who was arrested by a sheriff's deputy Thursday while waiting to be called as a witness before the Fulton county grand jury, was released from custody by Judge J. T. Pendleton Friday afternoon.
Colyar was arrested on a warrant from Knoxville, Tenn., said to be the same warrant upon which he was arrested several days ago by the police. Sheriff C. W. Mangum wired the chief of police of Knoxville to send the necessary requisition papers.
Not having heard from his telegram the sheriff fent [sic] before Judge Pendleton Friday afternoon to whom Colyar had applied for a writ of habeas corpus and stated the facts in the case. It was then that Judge Pendleton ordered Colyar's release. Colyar was represented by Attorney John Y. Smith.
Friday, 6th June 1913 Felder and Lanford Come Near to Blows
Friday, June 6th, 1913
Personal Encounter in Solicitor's Office Is Narrowly Averted by Bystanders.
What threatened to be a serious personal encounter between Colonel Thomas B. Felder and Detective Chief Newport Lanford was narrowly averted Thursday morning in Solicitor Hugh Dorsey's office by the interferences of bystanders.
The two men who for several weeks have been hurling ugly charges at each other were facing each other at the time after the passage of a few words when they were seized and hustled away from each other.
Out of the seriousness of the near fight grew a laughable incident through the failure of the flashlight apparatus of a newspaper photographer. When the men summoned at the grand jury probe began to arrive the air was pregnant with impending trouble and the photographer held his camera in hand ready for instant action. By his side walked an assistant with a full load of powder in the pan of the flashlight …More
Friday, 6th June 1913 Grand Jury May Drop Vice Probe
Friday, June 6th, 1913
Foreman Beck De[c]lines to Talk of Probable Action of Jury—Felder to Issue a Public Statement.
"The grand jury has finished its questioning of witnesses with its adjournment, and unless members of the jury should desire that those of the several witnesses summoned, who have not been heard, should be brought before them, there is nothing more to do." This was the statement made yesterday by L. H. Beck, foreman of the grand jury, which adjourned at 2 o'clock after a three-day probe in vice conditions in Atlanta.
Foreman Beck stated that the body would meet again Tuesday, but at the instance of the solicitor, and to take up the criminal business which the present probe and the lengthy examination preceding the indictment of Leo M. Frank had greatly delayed.
Asked as to the nature of the action that the grand jury would take in regard to the results of its vice probe, the foreman replied that he was not in a position …More