Wednesday, 13th August 1913: Mrs Selig Follows Husband On Stand In Leo Frank Case, The Atlanta Constitution

Reading Time: 6 minutes, [901 words]

Mrs. Emil Selig, mother-in-law of Frank, followed her husband to the stand.

"Mrs. Selig, is your health bad or good?" she was asked by Mr. Arnold.

"Bad."

"How long have Mr. and Mrs. Frank been living in your home?"

"For the past two years."

"Has the sideboard in the dining room been in the same position since Memorial day?"

"Yes."

"What time did you have lunch on April 26?"

"Some time after 1 o'clock."

"Did Frank eat his dinner?"

"Yes, he sat at the table with us."

"What time did you and Mrs. Frank leave?"

"About 1:30 to go to the opera."

"When did you next see Frank?"

"At exactly 6:10 p. m. We were passing through downtown in a car and saw him enter a Whitehall street drug store."

"Did you notice anything unusual about him that day?"

"Not a thing in the world."

She was cross-examined by Mr. Dorsey.

"Whom did you leave at home on the afternoon of the tragedy?"

"The cook, Mr. Frank and my husband."

"When you clean the dining room, you move about the sideboard, don't you, and replace it?"

"Yes; it is on rollers."

"Did Frank tell you why he went to town so early on Sunday morning of the discovery?"

"Yes; he mentioned it at the dinner table."

"Didn't you say at the inquest that no mention was made of the crime that day?"

"I don't remember."

"Didn't Frank seem unconcerned that Sunday?"

"No."

"But, didn't you tell the coroner that he was?"

"I don't recollect that I did."

"Didn't you tell the coroner that he seemed to not attach any importance to the crime?"

"I don't remember."

"He said nothing of the youth of the victim?"

"No."

"He didn't remark of the crime's brutality?"

"No."

"You know that Frank wore the same suit on Sunday and Monday, don't you?"

"I don't remember."

"Didn't you tell the coroner he wore the same suit Sunday, Monday and Tuesday?"

"I was mistaken if I did."

"When did you first learn the name of the murdered girl?"

"In the Monday papers."

"Was the crime mentioned at dinner?"

"Yes, it was spoken of."

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Testimony of Office Boy Causes Warm Clash Between the Lawyers

Philip Chambers, an ex-office boy in Frank's office, was put on the stand during the afternoon session. It was during an examination by the solicitor in which questions were put regarding alleged improper advances the accused man had made to the boy that a sensational argument was projected between the state and defense. Judge Roan ruled in behalf of the defense.

He was questioned by Mr. Arnold.

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen years."

"Were you ever office boy at the pencil factory?"

"Yes."

"What time?"

"From December 12, 1912, until March 29, 1913."

"How late did you stay on Saturdays?"

"Until 4:30 o'clock and sometime 5."

"Did you ever leave beforehand?"

"No."

"What time did you leave for dinner?"

"At 1:30 and get back by 2."

Had No Women in Office.

"On any Saturdays or other days, did Mr. Frank ever have any women in his office "did he ever give beer drinking parties?"

"No, sir; I never saw any."

"Ever see Jim Conley?"

"Yes, sir; I'd see him sweeping around the factory."

"What time was this?"

"On Saturday afternoons."

"Have you ever known the front door to have been locked on Saturday afternoons?"

"No."

"Ever known anybody to watch the front door?"

"No, sir."

"Ever see Frank touch any girls or women?"

"No."

"Ever see Mary Phagan talk to Frank?"

"No."

The cross-examination began.

"Where do you now work?"

"At the pencil factory."

"What did Frank try to get you to complain about?"

"I never complained to Mr. Gantt."

Improper Advances Alleged.

"Do you deny that you told Gantt of improper advances and propositions Frank had been making to you?"

"Yes."

"Didn't you tell Gantt that Frank had threatened to fire you if you didn't permit him to do with you what he wanted to do?"

Here a protest was made by Attorney Arnold, who asked the court to rule out all questions and answers of that nature, on grounds that they were grossly prejudicial and irrelevant.

Judge Roan ruled to sustain the defense.

PAGE 3, COLUMN 5

Miss Corinthia Hall Testifies About Her Visit to Factory

Miss Corinthia Hall, who visited the pencil factory just a few minutes before Mary Phagan entered on Memorial day to draw her pay, took the stand late in the afternoon.

"Where do you work?" she was asked.

"In the pencil factory in the finishing department."

"Do you recall April 26?"

"Yes."

"Did you go to the factory that day?"

"Yes."

"What time did you enter the building?"

"About 11:25."

"Who was with you?"

"Mrs. Emma Freeman."

"Did you go to Frank's office?"

"Yes; as we came down from the fourth floor."

"What for?"

"To use the telephone."

"What time did you leave the place?"

"11:45 o'clock."

"Did you see Frank?"

"Yes."

"What was he doing?"

"Writing."

"Did he say anything?"

"Yes; he asked Mrs. Freeman how was the bride."

"Was anyone with him?"

"His stenographer, Mr. Arthur White and two men."

"Who was in the fourth floor?"

"Arthur White, Harry Denham and May Barrett."

Mr. Dorsey began the cross-examination.

"You say you left at 15 minutes until 12; did you meet Holloway going away?"

"Yes."

"Didn't you swear before the coroner that you arrived at the factory at 11:45?"

"I said it was 11:45 when I left."

"Where did you meet Quinn?"

"At the Busy Bee cafe near the factory."

"What time was it "about 5 until 12?"

"I don't know exactly; we had been in the place and had ordered sandwiches and coffee when Quinn came in."

"How long would you estimate the time?"

"I don't know."

"You may come down."

Mrs. Emma Freeman, who married at the pencil factory a short time before the tragedy, and who accompanied Miss Hall there on the 26th, went to the stand to corroborate the Hall girl.