Friday, 15th August 1913 Factory Forewoman Swears Conley Said He Was Drunk on April 26

Atlanta Constitution
August 15th, 1913

Miss Rebecca Carson, a forewoman in the pencil factory, who made the startling statement that Jim Conley had admitted to her that he was drunk on the Saturday of the murder was put on the stand.

"Did you see Leo Frank at any time on April 26?"

"Yes, I saw him on Whitehall street near Hunter between 2:20 o'clock and 2:25."

"Did you speak to him?"
"Yes."

"Did you come to the factory Monday morning following the murder?"
"Yes."

"Did you see Frank?"
"Yes."

"Jim Conley?"
"Yes."

"Did you talk with Conley?"
"Yes."

"What did he say?"
"I asked him where he was on the previous Saturday and he told me he was so drunk that he didn't know where he was or what he was doing. My mother said, ‘Jim, they haven't got you yet,' and he answered that he hadn't done nothing to be gotten for.

"He told my mother and I that Frank was as innocent as either of us and when mama said that whenever they caught the man Mrs. Arthur White had seen on the first floor that they would have the murderer, Jim dropped his broom and looked startled."

Mr. Hooper began the cross-examination.

"How long have you been a forewoman at the pencil factory?"
"About three years."

"When was the last time your salary was raised?"
"In January."

"What is it now?"
"Ten dollars a week."

"Are you well acquainted with Frank?"
"In a business way."

"Your salary hasn't been raised since the murder?"
"Indeed not."

"Did Jim Conley ever before admit to you that he was drunk?"
"No."

"He just volunteered this information this time?"
"Yes."

"But it was so significant that you had to tell your mother?"
"I tell my mother everything."

"Oh, you do it by force of habit this time?"
"Not exactly."

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