Saturday, 16th August 1913 Host of Witnesses Declare Franks Character to Be Good

Atlanta Constitution
August 16th, 1913

The greater part of the time Friday was taken up by the defense in producing witnesses to swear to the good character of Frank. One witness placed on the stand, F. F. Gilbert, an employee of Montag Mros. [sic], swore that he did not know Frank well enough to testify to his character.

The witnesses who were used solely to attest his good character were: Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Sommerfield, of 300 Washington street; F. Schiff, of 18 West Fair street; Joseph Gershon, of 390 Washington street; P. D. McCarley, of 24 Hemphill avenue, in charge of the oil business of M. Frank, Leo Frank's uncle; Mrs. M. W. Myers, of Washington street; Mrs. David Marx, wife of Rabbit Marx, of 354 Washington street; Mrs. R. I. Harris; Al Guinman, of 479 Washington street; M. S. Rice, who formerly boarded at the same place with Frank; Mrs. B. Giogowski, with whom Frank once boarded; Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Moss, Mrs. Joseph D. Brown; E. E. Fitzpatrick, of 105 Sinclair avenue, foreman of the shipping and receiving department of Montag Bros.; Emil Dittler, William Bauer, Miss Helen Loeb, J. C. Mathews, of 86 Sinclair avenue, employee of Montag Bros.; Al Fox, Mrs. Adolph Montag, who said Frank had been discussed by Mrs. Myers, his landlady, who had said how attentive to her wants he was to her when her husband was out of town, and F. F. Gilbert, an employee of Montag Bros., who swore he did not know Frank well enough to tell of his character.

Mrs. Martin May on Stand.

Mrs. Martin May, a petite and stylishly dressed brunette, followed. As she took the stand she bowed and smiled to Mr. and Mrs. Frank. She testified that the defendant's character was good and was not cross-examined.

In rapid order, and without examination from Dorsey, the following witnesses testified to Frank's good character:

Julian Roehm, an insurance agent; Mrs. Mollie Rosenberg, a trained nurse; M. H. Silverman, a lawyer; Mrs. M. L. Stearne, wife of the auditor of the Fulton Bag and Cotton mills; Charles Addler, a life insurance agent; Mrs. R. H. Sonn, wife of the superintendent of the Orphans' home; A. J. Jones, Mrs. Dan Klein.

When Nathan Copeland, an attorney at law, took the stand he answered the usual questions by the defense and was examined by Dorsey.

"On last Thanksgiving did Mr. Frank have anything to do with the entertainment at the Orphans' home?"
"Yes. He had charge of getting the refreshments."

"Was Frank present at the entertainment?"

"He was there with his wife."

Mailing Clerk on Stand.

The witness was dismissed and Miss Ray Klein followed, testifying that Frank's character was good. Lester Einstein, who stated that he had worked for Frank at the pencil factory as billing clerk, testified that the defendant's character was good.

M. J. Bernard next testified. Dorsey asked Bernard whether he had ever talked with any girls at the factory, and he answered that he had not.

Mrs. John O. Parmalee, whose husband, she said, is a stockholder in the pencil factory, testified that Frank's character was very good, emphasizing the "very."

Mrs. Parmalee is a director of Sheltering Arms.

Dorsey examined her.

"When did you first meet Frank?"

"Four years ago when I went to the pencil factory one day with my husband."

"When did you next meet him?"
"In the jail."

"How often?"

"Twice."

"Did you see him between the time you met him at the factory four years ago and the time you met him in the jail?"
"Only on the street."

"Who did you hear talking about Frank's character?"
"Numbers of people."

After much questioning Dorsey was able to get Mrs. Parmalee to name the Haas, Montags and one or two other families that she had heard speak of Frank.

Jacob Fox and Marcus Loeb testified that the defendant's character was good.

Bauer in Factory on Saturdays.

Roy Bauer, son of William Bauer, a delicatessen keeper on Whitehall street, next testified. He stated that he had been at the pencil factory with Frank on many Saturday afternoons.

Dorsey attempted to break down the witness' memory.

"Have you worked at the pencil factory with Frank?"
"Yes."

"Within the last year?"
"No. Not since about a year and a half ago."

"Did you ever see any women there with Frank?"
"No."

"Did you ever see Schiff there?"
"Yes."

"Did you ever see any women with him there?"
"No."

At this point court adjourned for the morning.

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