Leo Frank TV

Atlanta JournalJuly 29th, 1913 Indications Are That Trial Will Be Longest Over Which Judge Roan Has Presided, To Hold Two Sessions Daily Attorneys both for the defense and for the prosecution of Leo M. Frank believe that his trial will last at least one week, perhaps, two weeks. If the trial continues through more than one week it will be the longest over which Judge L. S. Roan has ever presided. But, while he will expedite the trial as fast as possible, he intenrs to give attorneys all the time needed for the introduction of testimony and for argument. He

Atlanta JournalJuly 29th, 1913 Each of First Three Witnesses In Case Shows Distinct Personality and Entirely Different Side of Human Nature, Some Character Studies Three of the witnesses who testified Monday afternoon at the Frank trial were more distinct as personalities than the characters you could see portrayed in any theater, except that very tragic one of a criminal court room. Much testimony and such individuality as that of these witnesses, has kept the court room crowded by at least 200 people during every minute of the Frank trial—crowded with well dressed men who lean forward in their seats, intent

Atlanta Journal Thursday, May 29th, 1913 Lawyer Not Ready Yet, Is Answer—Beavers Says He Is Disappointed Chief of Police James L. Beavers called Attorney Carl Hutcheson over the telephone Thursday morning and asked if the list of "protected disorderly houses," which Mr. Hutcheson promised in a card several days ago was ready. Mr. Hutcheson is said to have replied that the list is not yet ready and that he will telephone the police official when it is completed. Chief Beavers in the telephone conversation is said to have reminded Mr. Hutcheson that Thursday is the third day since the publication

Atlanta Journal Thursday, May 29th, 1913 Tennessee Authorities Failed to Forward Requisition Papers on Date Agreed A. S. Colyar, the Tennessean, who figured conspicuously in the recent dictograph sensation involving bribery charges and countercharges of graft between Colonel Thomas B. Felder, Mayor Woodward and others, on the one hand and Chief of Police Beavers and Chief of Detectives aLnford , on the other was released from his bond Thursday at 2 p. m. by Chief Beavers. Colyar's name jumped into the news when the dictograph matter became public and the following day there came a wire from the Knoxville police

Atlanta Journal Wednesday, May 28th, 1913 Negro Declares He Met Mr. Frank on the Street and Accompanied Him Back to the Factory, Where He Was Told to Wait and Watch—He Was Concealed in Wardrobe In Office When Voices Were Heard on Outside, It Is Claimed NEGRO LOOKED UPON AS A TOOL NOT PRINCIPAL DECLARE DETECTIVES WHO HAVE QUESTIONED HIM Chief Beavers Confer With Judge Roan In Reference to Taking Conley to Tower to Confront Frank but Is Told That It Is a Question for Sheriff to Decide—No Effort In This Direction Likely Until Mr. Rosser Returns to City "Write ‘night-watchman,'"

Atlanta JournalJuly 29th, 1913 His Brow Does Not Wrinkle, His Eyes Do Not Quail or Even Flicker—He Is Cool and Quiet Leo M. Frank's expression of quiet confidence has surprised every visitor to the court room where he is being tried for murder. He sits for the most part with his hands crossed, and listens coolly to the testimony or to the argument of attorneys. Not since the trial began has he seemed the least perturbed. His manner has been quiet and contained, like that of one who is sure of himself and sure of his cause. Yet he has

Atlanta JournalJuly 29th, 1913 Negro Nightwatchman Who Found Mary Phagan's Body in National Pencil Factory on Stand—Girl's Mother and Newsboy Examined Newt Lee, the negro nightwatchman who found Mary Phagan's body in the pencil factory basement, was hammered by the defense for over two hours, on the witness stand Monday afternoon. Mrs. J. W. Coleman, mother of the murdered child, and George W. Epps, a playmate who came to town with her on the fatal day, testified in that order. Mrs. Coleman being the first witness called to the stand when the trial started. Newt Lee was the third witness.

Atlanta JournalJuly 29th, 1913 Agent Who Said That Conley Told Him of Killing "a Girl" May Testify W. H. Mincey, who has made affidavit that James Conley, the negro sweeper, practically confessed to him as being the murderer of Mary Phagan, is in Atlanta but has not yet gone to the courthouse where Frank is being tried. At the time of the murder, Mincey was employed here as an insurance solicitor. On the day of the murder, he says that he met Conley at the corner of Carter and Electric streets. The negro, according to the affidavit, was drinking, and

Atlanta Journal Wednesday, May 28th, 1913 Calls Rim "a Contemptible Liar" and a "Pig Head." Chief Asks for That List Attorney Carl Hutcheson renewed his attack on Police Chief Beavers Wednesday when he gave out an open letter referring to the chief as a "malicious and contemptible liar," a "pig head," and asserting that he didn't have "enough brains in his head to rattle in a gourd after the water was turned off." Mr. Hutcheson objects to the chief's reference to him as "small fry" and "only a cog in the gang machine." The first open letter written by Mr.

Atlanta Journal Tuesday, May 27th, 1913 Last week, when the detectives were laying their plans to trap Colonel Thomas B. Felder with a dictograph, they came very near trapping the colonel with his own instrument. The amusing incident, which has just come to light, revolves about Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey. Before a dictograph was installed in the Williams house room the city detectives told the solicitor that the attorney was negotiating for the purchase for $1,000 of certain papers in the Phagan case. The solicitor said nothing about the confidences of the detectives, and a short time later Colonel

Atlanta Journal Tuesday, May 27th, 1913 Declares Chief Beavers Is Only Bluffing, and That if All the Allegations Made by the Police Were True, It Wouldn't Be a Case for the Grand Jury, as He Has Violated No Law in Seeking Evidence of Corruption In Police Department CHIEF BEAVERS CONFERS WITH SOLICITOR DORSEY IN REFERENCES TO LAYING WHOLE MATTER BEFORE JURY He Expects the Solicitor's Co-operation — James Conley Is Identified by Mrs. Arthur White as the Negro She Saw Lurking Near the Elevator of the Pencil Factory on Day of the Tragedy—"This Is H— of a Family Row and

Atlanta JournalJuly 29th, 1913 Thirty Girls and Men Are Waiting to Appear as Character Witnesses. Thirty girls and men who are employes of the National Pencil factory are waiting to testify to the good character of Leo M. Frank. "Ever girl employed at the factory believes that Mr. Frank is innocent," said Miss Rebekah Carson Monday afternoon. "He was as kind as an employer could be. There never was a time when he wasn't considerate of every one employed at the factory. But at the same time he was a man with two ideas. And they were his wife and

Atlanta JournalJuly 29th, 1913 QUESTIONS DIRECTED AT NEGRO INDICATED AN EFFORT TO THROW SUSPICION UPON WATCHMAN "We Might as Well Begin to Show the Negro a Criminal Now as Later," Declared Attorney Rosser, In Arguing for Admissability of His Questions—Negro Was Taken Over His Testimony Many Times in Effort to Break Him Down INDICATIONS TUESDAY ARE THAT TRIAL WILL LAST MANY DAYS, PROBABLY AS LONG AS TWO WEEKS Morning Session Enlivened by Clashes Between Attorneys, Every Point Is Bitterly Contested—Frank Keeps Serene and Untroubled Throughout Session—Full Story of Testimony Given by Witnesses During the Morning After a luncheon recess of

Atlanta JournalJuly 28th, 1913 Negro Cook in the Selig-Frank Home Repudiates Affidavit She Swore to Against Frank, Will Refuse to Swear to the Paper, She Says Minola McKnight, the negro cook, who signed an affidavit which is to be used by the prosecution against Leo M. Frank, said Monday morning that the police, by three hours' sweating, forced her to sign this affidavit, and that when she is called as a witness that she will refuse to testify to the statements set forth in it. The substance of the affidavit was that, on the morning following the murder of Mary

Atlanta Journal Saturday, May 17th, 1913 (Page 1, Column 3) State Is Apparently Ready, as Solicitor Says That He is Not Expecting Any New Evidence for Some Time BURNS' INVESTIGATOR ON THE JOB, SAYS FELDER Attorney Declares Fund for Employment of the Famous Sleuth Has Reached $1,500, About $5,000 is Needed That the state considers its case as practically complete and is ready to definitely charge the Mary Phagan murder to an individual and to start the legal machinery moving towards a superior court trial is believed from a very significant statement made Saturday by Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey.

The Atlanta Journal Friday, May 16th, 1913 (Page 1, Column 1) Two Employes of Pencil Company Appeared Before Grand Jury Friday in Answer to Subpenas FELDER RAISING FUND TO PAY W. J. BURNS The Journal Subscribes $100, Mr. Felder Declares a Burns Investigator Will Be Put On the Case at Once By means of a subpoena duces tecum Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey Friday obtained possession of a number of books and papers of the National Pencil company. The subpoena was served on Herbert G. Schiff and M. B. Darley, two officials of the pencil company, by Deputy Sheriff Plennie

The Atlanta Journal Monday, May 12th, 1913 (Page 1, Column 7) At Request of The Journal, One of Numerous Reports About Man Held in Phagan Case Is Investigated TWO ‘NO BILLS' NECESSARY TO FREE PRISONERS Solicitor's "Famous" Detective Has Left City-Character Witnesses Not Likely to Be Used At the request of The Atlanta Journal, the Brooklyn Eagle, one of the most conservative and reliable newspapers in the whole country, has investigated the most serious of numerous rumors which are being persistently circulated about the character of Leo M. Frank, superintendent of the National Pencil company, who is held in connection

The Atlanta Journal Sunday, May 11th, 1913 (Page 2, Column 2) Interest in the investigation of the mysterious murder two weeks ago of little Mary Phagan centered Saturday in the grand jury. Two men, Leo M. Frank, superintendent of the pencil factory, where the tragedy occurred, and Newt Lee, negro night watchman, have been ordered held by a coroner's jury, but no intimation has been given as to the time when bills against the two men will be presented to that body. The jury is not due to hold a session until next Friday, but the solicitor general or the

The Atlanta Journal Sunday, May 11th, 1913 (Page 1, Column 7) The Journal Presents First Complete Statement of Case Solicitor and His Investigators Seek to Build HOW DETECTIVES THINK CRIME WAS COMMITTED They Maintain That Mary Phagan Was Left Unconscious in Factory Near Midday and Killed Later in Afternoon For the first time since the lifeless body of pretty fourteen-year-old Mary Phagan was found in the basement of the National Pencil factory, this morning two weeks ago, The Journal is enabled to make public the theory of the city detectives and others investigating the murder mystery as to how the

Atlanta Journal Saturday, May 10th, 1913 (Page 1, Column 1) Pinkertons Declare the State Has No Evidence of Importance That Hasn't Been Given to the Newspapers IDENTITY OF SOLICITOR'S DETECTIVE A MYSTERY Chief Lanford Believes He Is One of Sheriff's Capable Deputies—Gantt Questioned, Newt Lee Has Lawyer The probe into the mystery of little Mary Phagan's death two weeks ago still goes on. The small army of professional, amateur, city, state and private detectives which took up the chase of the murderer soon after the horrible details of the crime became known still pursues the investigation with unabated vigor. Solicitor

The Atlanta Journal Friday, May 9th, 1913 (Page 1, column 7) Belief That the Detectives Had Positive Evidence, Which They Were Withholding, Dissipated by Admissions SCOTT AND BLACK REFUSED TO NAME MAN SUSPECTED Case Now Goes to the Grand Jury but No Action Is Expected for a Week—Search for Evidence Will Continue Coroner Paul Donehoo and the six jurors who investigated the murder of little Mary Phagan in the National Pencil factory on April 26, concluded Thursday the most thorough and exhaustive probe of a violent death ever conducted in this county and probably in the state. The jury recommended

Atlanta Journal Friday, May 9th, 1913 (Page 6, Column 2) Leo M. Frank general superintendent of the National Pencil factory, was recalled to the stand. He was questioned regarding the elevator. The coroner wanted to know what kind of a door there is to the shaft on the office floor. The witness replied that it is a heavy door solid, that slides up and down. "Where was the elevator on Saturday, April 26?" he was asked. "I didn't notice." "Where was it on Friday night?" "I didn't notice." "Was the door open on Saturday?" "I didn't notice." Asked whether it

The Atlanta Journal Friday, May 9th, 1913 (Page 6, Column 2) Newt Lee, the negro night watchman, was recalled and asked to tell about any conversation he had with Mr. Frank at the jail or the police station. Lee said he has not talked to Mr. Frank at the jail, but that he had talked with him at the police station. Mr. Frank came into the room, where he was, Lee said, and asked, "How are you feeling, Newt?" "Not so good, Mr. Frank?" Lee said was his answer. Lee said that he then told Mr. Frank that it was

The Atlanta Journal Friday, May 9th, 1913 (Page 20, Column 4) General satisfaction was expressed Friday morning by the detectives working on the Phagan case at the action of the coroner's jury. Chief of Detectives Lanford, however, declares that the work of his department is just now getting under way. "We are going to continue right on with the investigation," said the officials, "and try to dig down to the truth of this matter." "We have a theory as to who committed the crime, but we are ready to change it if we can possibly unearth any evidence, which will

The Atlanta Journal Friday, May 9th, 1913 (Page 6, Column 1) Full Story of Hearing Thursday Afternoon When Frank, Newt Lee, Detectives Black and Scott and Several Character Witnesses Were Placed on the Stand The verdict of the coroner's jury that Mary Phagan came to her death by strangulation and its recommendation that both Mr. Frank and Lee be held for investigation by the grand jury was rendered at 6:30 o'clock, PM, Thursday afternoon and marked by the conclusion of one of the most remarkable inquests ever held in this state. Deputy Plennie Minor carried the news of the coroner's

The Atlanta Journal Friday, May 9th, 1913 (Page 6, Column 1) Detective John Black followed Detective Scott on the stand. He was questioned about the finding of the bloody shirt at Newt Lee's home. He said that on the Tuesday afternoon after the murder he went with Detective Fred Bullard to Newt Lee's house at 40 Henry street. They searched the premises, he said, and found the bloody shirt in a clothes barrel in Lee's room. The shirt was near the bottom of the barrel and was covered with scraps of old clothes, he said, the barrel apparently being used

The Atlanta Journal Friday, May 9th, 1913 (Page 6, Column 1) An unexpected turn was given to the coroner's inquest into the mysterious murder of Mary Phagan, Thursday afternoon, when Harry Scott, the Pinkerton detective who has been representing that agency in its work on the case, was called to the stand by the coroner. Mr. Scott was in the room at the moment. One new detail that he revealed was in a reply to a direct question from the coroner, when he stated that Herbert Haas, attorney for Leo M. Frank and attorney for the National Pencil factory, requested

The Atlanta Journal Friday, May 9th, 1913 (Page 6, Column 5) The coroner's charge to the jury was in part as follows: "You have heard the statement of the county physician. You have seen what caused death. You have seen the body and have heard the evidence in the case. "It is your duty to inquire diligently as to how Mary Phagan came to her death. That was your oath. In case of unnatural death, you were to determine at whose hands death came. "You have heard the county physician say strangulation caused death. In determining who is guilty of

The Atlanta Journal Friday, May 9th, 1913 (Page 6, Column 5) Tom Backstock, of 21 Hightower street, a youth of about sixteen or seventeen years, testified that he worked at the pencil factory about a year ago. He didn't know Mr. Frank personally, he said, but knew him when he worked at the factory. "Did you have any opportunity to observe his conduct with the women there?" the lad was asked. "I saw him ‘pick' at the girls," was the reply. "Who were they?" the coroner asked. "I couldn't tell their names now," he said. "I didn't work there long

Atlanta Journal Monday, May 26th, 1913 That the past career and record of C. W. Tobie, the Burns investigator who came to Atlanta to probe the Phagan mystery for Colonel Thomas B. Felder, is being investigated by the local police is shown by a telegram received by Chief of Police J. L. Beavers Monday morning. The telegram was from the chief of police of Topeka, Kan., and reads as follows: "Tobie tried to kidnap incubator baby at Sedan, Kan., but failed, being employed by Detective Tillotson. Subsequently Tillotson kidnaped the child at Topeka and was convicted, but Tobie was not

Atlanta Journal Monday, May 26th, 1913 "I Shall Lay Evidence Gathered by the Detectives and Col. Felder's Charges of Graft and Corruption All Before the Grand Jury," Says the Chief, "Asking That a Searching Investigation Be Made So That the Whole Truth Shall Come Out" "ONE CROOK FREQUENTLY TURNS UP ANOTHER," DECLARES CHIEF IN STATEMENT MONDAY MORNING Mayor Woodward Gives Out Interview, Answering the Chief and Denying That He Has Hampered Him in His Crusade. He Says Chief Should Clean Up Center of the City—Hints of an Investigation by Police Board—Col. Felder Has No Statement Monday After giving out a

Atlanta Journal Monday, May 26th, 1913 Chief Detective Declares He Has No Direct Evidence of Attempt to Influence Witnesses, as Published CONLEY STICKS TO STORY UNDER SEVERE GRILLING His Statement That He Wrote Notes at Frank's Dictation a Disturbing Element—Search for Evidence Continues Chief of Detectives Lanford positively denied to The Journal Monday afternoon that he has secured any proof of efforts to bribe witnesses in the Phagan case proper. The official made this statement, when questioned about the numerous rumors and reports of bribery of witnesses, some of which have been published and given general circulation. Chief Lanford states

Atlanta Journal Monday, May 26th, 1913 … if I did introduce you to my wife and you make the remark that you had had the pleasure of meeting her in Chattanooga? And yet one of our alleged newspapers that has been very busy defending your good name, and painting mine blacker than hell in this community, has the audacity to publish in their Sunday morning edition a statement that my wife became so disgusted with me that she separated with me a year ago. This statement is without any foundation whatever, and an alleged representative of this alleged newspaper had

Atlanta JournalJuly 27th, 1913 Accused Superintendent's Story Is Unbroken by Any Save a Negro Leo M. Frank's sworn statement of his whereabouts each hour on the day of April 26, when Mary Phagan met her death, is of unusual interest in the case, especially since no witness except Conley had been found, at least as far as the public knows, who can break his story. Frank's statement of his whereabouts as given at the coroner's inquest, when he was under oath, follows: SATURDAY APRIL 26. 7 o'clock a. m.—Arose and dressed at home. 8—Left home for the factory office. 8:20—Arrived

Atlanta JournalJuly 27th, 1913 April 27—The dead body of Mary Phagan is found in basement of National Pencil factory at 3 a. m. by Newt Lee, the negro night-watchman. Police hold Lee, who yater in the day re-enacts discovery of the remains before city detectives. April 27—Leo M. Frank, superintendent of the Pencil factory, called from bed to view Mary Phagan's body at April 27—Arthur Mullinax arrested on information given the police by E. L. Sentell, who declared he saw the murdered girl in the former's company at 1220 o'clock on the morning of the murder. April 28—Coroner Donehoo empanels

Atlanta JournalJuly 26th, 1913 Pencil Factory Superintendent Declares the Sooner He Faces a Jury the Sooner He'll Gain His Freedom ACCUSED OF PHAGAN CRIME, HE WELCOMES TRIAL DAY Wife is Regular Visitor to the Tower—Frank's Time In Prison Is Spent in Reading and Playing Chess Leo M. Frank is ready and anxious to go on trial for his life before Judge Roan in the superior court next Monday morning, according to statements he has made to friends who visited him in his cell in the tower. "The sooner I face the jury, the sooner I will gain my liberty," he

Atlanta JournalJuly 25th, 1913 Defense Subpoenaes 150 Witnesses, and If Any of the Chief Witnesses Are Ill, Continuance Can Be Asked JUDGE ROAN, WHO WAS ILL, IS REPORTED IMPROVED Indications Now Are That Defense Will Make No Effort to Have Trial Put Off—144 Veniremen Summoned The stage is set for the trial of Leo M. Frank for the murder of Mary Phagan on April 26. Veniremen and witnesses for the defense are being summoned. The witnesses for the state are already under subpoena. Judge L. S. Roan, who was ill Thursday, is better and ready for the trial. Solicitor General

Atlanta JournalJuly 24th, 1913 Judge L. S. Roan, Who Will Preside at the Trial, Returns to Atlanta Thursday Afternoon and Is Ill SOLICITOR SAYS STATE WITNESSES ARE READY Reuben Arnold, One of Frank's Attorneys, Returns After Conference in Covington With Judge Roan Judge L. S. Roan, who will preside at the trial of Leo M. Frank when he is arraigned for the murder of Mary Phagan, returned from Covington Thursday afternoon quite ill and went immediately to his home. He will be unable to go to the court house during the afternoon, but announces that the venire will be drawn

Atlanta JournalJuly 23, 1913 No Witnesses for Defense Have Been Called for Monday, and Indications Are They Will Not Be CRAWFORD CASE CHECKED TO DATE OF FRANK TRIAL Attorney R. R. Arnold May Go to Covington to Request Judge L. S. Roan to Postpone Case While the position of the defense of Leo M. Frank has not been announced, Attorney Luther Z. Rosser and Reuben R. Arnold have indicated clearly that they desire to postpone the trial of case from next Monday, when it is set. Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey, on the other hand, has announced the state's position.

Atlanta JournalJuly 22nd, 1913 BLOODY STICK NOW IN POSSESSION OF FRANK'S ATTORNEYS Was Found on May 10 by Two Pinkerton Detectives on the First Floor of the Pencil Factory DEFENSE TO CLAIM NEGRO WIELDED THE INSTRUMENT It Was Sent to Chemist Outside of State for Examination—Subpenas Issued for State's Witness In the possession of the defense of Leo M. Frank is a bloody bludgeon with which it will be claimed at the trial, in all probability, that James Conley, the negro sweeper, struck Mary Phagan over the head while she battled on the first floor of the National Pencil factory