Author: Historical Librarian

Both Sides Called in Conference by Judge; Trial Set for July 28 The Atlanta GeorgianTuesday, June 24, 1913 Dorsey, Beavers and Lanford Summoned to Appear June 30 With All Affidavits They Have Secured Relative to the Phagan Slaying Case. Just before the conference with both sides in the Frank case started Judge Roan intimated strongly that he would set the case for July 14 or July 28 and hold it in some more commodious court room than the one in which he sits on the fourth floor of the Thrower building. Judge Roan's personal inclination leans to a date in

Frank's Trial Set For Next Monday The Atlanta ConstitutionTuesday, June 24, 1913 Indications Are Case Will Begin on That Day—Jury Panel Not Yet Drawn by Judge Roan. The trial of Leo M Frank, superintendent of the National Pencil Factory, now under indictment for the murder of Mary Phagan on April 26 in the factory, has been definitely set for next Monday. This was the announcement of Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey last night after he had been working upon the court calendar for the coming week. Solicitor Dorsey announced Sunday upon his arrival from New York city where he had

July 28 Is Date Agreed Upon for Trial of Frank The Atlanta JournalTuesday, June 24, 1913 Judge Names Date After Statement From Reuben R. Arnold, In Which He Said Trial Would Last Two Weeks DEFENSE TAKES STEPS TO GET STATE'S EVIDENCE Subpenas Duces Tecum Issued, Demanding Production of Affidavits and Popers in Possession of Solicitor Leo M. Frank, accused of the slaying of Mary Phagan, will not be tried before superior court Judge L. S. Roan next Monday. The judge in a conference with attorneys at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon formally set the trial for Monday, July 28, and no

Both Sides Are Ready for Trial of Frank The Atlanta JournalWednesday, June 25, 1913 Few Developments Expected Between Now and July 28, Conley Is Grilled The statements made by Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey and by Reuben R. Arnold and Luther Z. Rosser, the counsel for the defense before the postponement of the trial of Leo M. Frank from June 30, the date set by the solicitor, to July 28, indicate very strongly that neither side expects further developments of importance in the investigation. Mr. Dorsey told the court that his case was complete and that he was ready for

Conley, Put on Grill, Sticks Story The Atlanta GeorgianWednesday, June 25, 1913 Police Resume Questioning of the Negro Sweeper Who Accuses Leo Frank. Puzzled by several of the statements of Jim Conley in regard to his part in the happenings the day that Mary Phagan was killed, the police have resumed the questioning from which the negro had been free since he was taken to the police station by the detectives. One point that has not been cleared up is why Conley saw every one else that went into or left the factory and yet failed to see Mary Phagan.

Trial of Leo Frank Postponed by Judge The Atlanta ConstitutionWednesday, June 25, 1913 Date of Trial Changed From June 30 Until July 28 at Plea of Attorneys for Defense. The first appearance in open court of the indictment against Leo M. Frank for the murder of Mary Phagan came yesterday afternoon when Judge L. S. Roan, presiding over the criminal division of superior court, summoned attorneys for both sides, and after a hearing changed the date of trial from June 30, as set by Solicitor Hugh M. Dorsey, to July 28. This and the legal move by the defense in

Stover Girl Will Star in Frank Trial The Atlanta GeorgianThursday, June 26, 1913 State, However, Must Prove She Entered Factory Before Mary Phagan. With the selection of the court room made Thursday, all is virtually in readiness for the trial of Leo M. Frank, accused of strangling Mary Phagan. The venire of jurymen has been selected and July 28 is fixed as the date, and both sides have announced they are ready to go into court. A definite decision was reached by Judge L. S. Roan to hold the trial on the first floor of the old City Hall building.

To Hold Frank Trial in the Old City Hall The Atlanta JournalThursday, June 26, 1913 Case Will Be Heard in Courtroom Now Used by Judge Pendleton The trial of Leo M. Frank on July 28 will be held on the first floor in the old city hall building, at the corner of South Pryor and East Hunter streets. Solicitor Dorsey, Judge L. S. Roan and court attaches formally decided upon this room as the proper place to conduct the trial. The court room designated is at present occupied by Judge John T. Pendleton, of the motion division of superior court.

Hooper Sees Conley for the First Time The Atlanta JournalFriday, June 27, 1913 Attorney Who Will Aid Solicitor Hears Negro Sweeper Recite His Story Frank A. Hooper, the attorney who will assist Solicitor Hugh M. Dorsey in the prosecution of the case against Leo M. Frank, indicted for the murder of little Mary Phagan, interviewed James Conley, the negro sweeper, for the first time on Friday morning. The attorney talked with the negro in the office of the police board for nearly an hour. Detective Starnes, who has been working under the direction of the solicitor, was the only officer

New Frank Evidence Held by Dorsey The Atlanta GeorgianFriday, June 27, 1913 Solicitor Closely Guards Data of Which City Detectives Have No Knowledge. New activity was injected into the Phagan case Friday when James Conley, negro sweeper at the National Pencil Factory, was removed secretly from his cell in police station and closely questioned by Frank Hooper, who will aid Solicitor Dorsey in the prosecution of Leo Frank. The move was surrounded with the utmost secrecy. The negro was taken from his cell by Detective Starnes, and behind locked doors questioned anew in the room used by the Police Commissioners.

Hooper and Goldstein Join Little & Powell The Atlanta JournalSaturday, June 28, 1913 Former Solicitor of Southwestern Circuit and Popular Atlantlan Join Firm Frank A. Hooper, who is to assist the solicitor general in the prosecution in the Phagan case, and M.F. Goldstein, a well known young attorney, will join the law firm of Little & Powell on July 1. The senior members of the firm are John D. Little and Judge Arthur Powell. After July 1 the firm will be styled Little, Powell, Hooper & Goldstein. Mr. Hooper served in the southwestern circuit for twelve years as solicitor general,

Lanford and Felder Indicted for Libel The Atlanta ConstitutionSaturday, June 28, 1913 Indictments Grew Out of the Dictagraph Episode and the Letters Which Followed. Formal investigation into the invectives hurled between Colonel Thomas B. Felder and Detective Chief Newport Lanford resulted yesterday in indictments of criminal libel being returned by the grand jury against each of them for their cards and interviews in the daily papers in which they attacked each other's character, after the dictagraph row. Colonel Felder is held under two indictments on a bond of $500, while Chief Lanford has one indictment against him, and is free

State Secures New Phagan Evidence The Atlanta GeorgianSaturday, June 28, 1913 * Conley's Admission Strengthens Rumor That He Saw Child Just Before Slaying. Frank A. Hooper, associated with Solicitor Dorsey in the prosecution of Leo M. Frank on the charge of strangling Mary Phagan, admitted Saturday that Jim Conley, negro sweeper at the National Pencil Factory, had made important additions to the story of his part in the murder mystery and had told of circumstances on the day of the crime which he had revealed in none of his previous statements. A persistent report that Conley had made the startling

Many Experts to Take Stand in Frank Trial The Atlanta GeorgianSunday, June 29, 1913 Great Array of Finger-Print and Blood-Stain Students Will Give Their Views. The trial of Leo M. Frank will bring forth the most prominent array of criminal and medical experts ever grouped in a Southern court room. This became known Saturday when Solicitor Hugh M. Dorsey began making preparations to have the skilled investigators who have worked in the Phagan case return to Atlanta for the trial, July 28. The defense has not been idle and is prepared to have an expert on almost every conceivable angle

Conley Tale Is Hope of Defense The Atlanta GeorgianMonday, June 30, 1913 DEFENSE PLANS TO TEAR DOWN CONLEY TALE* * This headline appeared on Page 3 of the Georgian. Expect to Prove Frank Innocent By Discrediting Negro's Story Of Phagan Crime. Warned that the State is basing practically all of its expectations of sending Leo M. Frank to the gallows on the dramatic story told by Jim Conley, the defense this week is completing the collection of a strong line of evidence with which it is planned utterly to discredit the negro's statements and his testimony in court. Conley again