Wednesday, 13th August 1913: Campbell Told By Mrs White Of Negro Lurking In Factory, The Atlanta Constitution

Reading Time: 6 minutes, [975 words]

Wade Campbell, an inspector for the National Pencil factory and brother to Mrs. J. A. White, who declares she saw a negro lurking behind some barrels on the second floor the day of the murder, was called to the stand following the office boy.

The young man came in and took his seat, bowing cordially to Leo Frank as he did so. Frank returned the salutation with a pleasant smile. Campbell made the first witness to speak to the defendant in the courtroom.

"How long have you worked for the National Pencil company?" Mr. Arnold first asked.

"About a year and a half," he replied.

"Is Mrs. J. A. White your sister?"

"Yes."

"Did you talk to her on the Monday afternoon following the murder?"

"I did."

"Tell us what she said."

"Well, I don't remember her exact words, but she told me that as she went into the factory about 12 o'clock Saturday she saw a negro near the elevator shaft on the first floor."

"Were you at the factory on April 26?"

"Yes, I got there about 9:30."

"Did you see Frank?"

"Yes."

Knew Mary Phagan.

"Did you know Mary Phagan?"

"Yes."

"Did you know her by sight or did you know who she was by name only?"

"I knew her, knew her name and knew her face."

"Did you ever see her talk to Frank and do you know if he knew her?"

"I've never seen them talking together in my life; as to whether or not they knew each other I can't say."

"You went to see your sister about what she saw that Saturday in the factory?" asked Mr. Dorsey.

"Yes."

"Who sent you?"

"Mr. Darley."

"Oh, yes, and then you reported to Mr. Darley?"

"Yes."

"Did she tell you she saw the negro as she went in the factory?"

"Yes."

"What did she say happened as she came out?"

"She said she heard low voices, but could not tell from where they came."

"Did your sister say she saw a man as she was coming out?"

"No, sir."

Could Not Recognize Signature.

Mr. Dorsey then showed Campbell a statement purported to be the one the witness had made to him before B. S. Smith, and asked him if that was his signature on it. Campbell swore that he did not know whether it was or not.

"Didn't you have Mr. Smith make several changes in the affidavit before you finally signed it?"

"Yes."

"Well, didn't you sign your name right here? Isn't this your signature?"

"I signed my name to an affidavit in your office, but I don't know whether that's the one or not. It looks like it, though," he finally admitted.

"That's all," said Mr. Dorsey.

"Why did you go to Mr. Dorsey's office?" asked Mr. Arnold, again taking up the questioning.

"He wanted me there."

"Did he subpoena you?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you thought you had to go, did you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, well, I'll admit just to stop the argument that I sent for this young man and he came to my office," interrupted Mr. Dorsey.

"Well, your honor, that isn't the thing," retorted Mr. Arnold. "I want to show by this witness an entirely new method of legal procedure that Mr. Dorsey has adopted. If he can force witnesses to come to his office, why can't I or any other lawyer do the same thing?"

"You thought you had to go, did you?" he exclaimed, turning to the witness. "Well, it was simply a form of unlawful imprisonment while he kept you in his office under those conditions."

Admits Correctness of Affidavit.

Mr. Arnold then took the affidavit and declared that it amounted to some 22 pages of typewriting. He went through many of the questions and answers with the witness who declared that they were as he had answered them.

"Do you know Jim Conley?" he next asked.

"Yes."

"Did you see him reading newspapers in the factory on a day or so after the tragedy?"

"Yes."

"How often?"

"About twice."

"Well, Mr. Campbell, did you see the spots of blood, or whatever it was, on the metal room floor?"

"Yes, I glanced at them."

"Had the floor been cleaned up while you were there?"

"No, I never heard of that floor being scoured or cleaned."

"Where did Conley sit when he read the papers after the murder?" asked Mr. Dorsey on cross-examination.

"Near the elevator on the second floor."

"During work hours?"

"Yes."

"Did he read papers anywhere else?"

"The other time he was in the rear of the building."

"Did you tell the officers about seeing him reading papers?"

"No."

Knew Conley Could Write.

"Did you know Conley could write?"

"Yes."

"Everybody knew it, didn't they?"

"No."

"Did Frank know it?"

"Not that I know of."

"Did you ever see the negro write?"

"Yes, I've seen him writing with a pen and ink in the box room."

"Did you tell Darley all your sister had said?"

"Yes."

"Tell Denham?"

"No."

"Did you see the blood spots in the factory?"

"I say some spots in the metal room."

"Had you seen spots like them often."

"Yes."

"You knew that these spots were blood?"

"No."

"Well, didn't you look at them carefully?"

"No; not much."

"Well, do you mean to tell me that you know, as you did, that a murder had been committed and then you saw what everybody said was blood on the floor and you took only a casual glance at it and did not stop long enough to examine it so you could tell what it looked like?"

Mr. Rosser asked that this question be ruled out and Attorney Hooper made the point that it was necessary to show the line of conduct of the witness and that the state was not trying to prove by this that the spots were really blood. Judge Roan allowed the question.

Campbell declared that he had not taken more than a casual glance at the spots and could not describe them.

"Did you ever see anything else on the floor in the metal room that looked like those spots?" asked Mr. Dorsey.

"Yes, but I never paid any particular attention to them," replied Campbell.

He was then excused and court adjourned for lunch.