JAMES MILTON GANTT, Sworn In For The State, 9th To Testify

JAMES MILTON GANTT, sworn for the State.

From June last until the first of January I was shipping clerk at the National Pencil Company. I was discharged April 7th by Mr. Frank for alleged shortage in the pay roll. I have known Mary Phagan when she was a little girl. Mr. Frank knew her, too. One Saturday afternoon she came in the office to have her time corrected, and after I had gotten through Mr. Frank came in and said, "You seem to know Mary pretty well," No, I had not told him her name. I used to know Mary when she was a little girl, but I have not seen her up to the time I went to work for the factory. My work was in the office and she worked in the rear of the building on the same floor in the tip department. After I was discharged, I went back to the factory on two occasions. Mr. Frank saw me both times. He made no objection to my going there. One girl used to get pay envelopes for another girl with Mr. Frank's knowledge. There was an alleged shortage in the pay roll of $2.00, Mr. Frank came to see me about it and I told him I didn't know anything about it, and he said he wasn't going to make it good, and I said I wasn't, and he then discharged me. Prior to my being discharged Mr. Frank told me he had the best office force he ever had I was the time keeper. Mr. Frank could sit at his desk and see the employees register at the time clock if the safe door was closed. Mr. Frank did not fix the clock frequently, possibly two or three times. On April 26th, about six o'clock I saw Newt Lee sitting out in front of the factory and I remembered that I left a pair of shoes up there and I asked Newt Lee what about my getting them, and he said he couldn't let me up. I said Mr. Frank is up there, isn't he? because I had seen him in the window from across the street, and while we were standing there talking, in two or three minutes, Mr. Frank was coming down the stairway and got within fifteen feet of the door when he saw me and when he saw me he kind of stepped back like he was going to go back, but when he looked up and saw that I was looking at him he came on out, and I said "Howdy, Mr. Frank," and he kind of jumped again. I told him I had a pair of shoes up there I would like to get and he said, "Do you want to go with me, or will Newt Lee be all right?" and he kind of studied a little bit, and said, "What kind of shoes were they?" and I said, "They were tan shoes," and he said, "I think I saw a negro sweeping them up the other day. " And I said, "Well, I have a pair of black ones there, too," and he kind of studied a little bit, and said "Newt, go ahead with him and stay with him until he gets his shoes," and I went up there and found both pair right where I had left them. Mr. Frank looked pale, hung his head, and nervous and kind of hesitated and stuttered like he didn't like me in there somehow or other.

CROSS EXAMINATION.

I testified at the coroner's inquest. I admit I did not testify about Frank's knowing Mary very well there, that has been recalled to my mind since I was arrested on Monday, April 28th, at 11 o'clock and held until Thursday night about six.