Monday, 6th October 1913 Sparta Citizens Insist Henslee Was Prejudiced

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You Said Frank Was

Guil-

Ty, They Tell Juror

in Let-

Ter Sent to Him,

and Fur-

nish Copies to the

Press.

WE

PRACTICALLY

TRIED

HIM BEFORE THE

TRIAL

Say They Will Not

Allow

Henslee to Call

Them Liars

To Protect Himself

From

Criticism He

Deserved.

Declaring that they had practically tried Leo M. Frank for

the murder of Mary Phagan before the case was called, the three

men who made affidavits against A. H. Henslee, a Frank juror,

charging him with bias, yesterday mailed a sensational letter to

the Atlanta newspapers, presenting their side of the case. The

writers of the letter are John M. Holmes, of Holmes & Walker, an

insurance and buggy firm, S. M. Johnson, cashier of the concern,

and Shi Gray, all of Sparta, Ga., who declares he was in the

Holmes & Walker office when Henslee made his alleged

statements, say in their communication that they cannot believe

that Henslee's reply to their forced affidavits has been correctly

quoted.

The writers also say that they believe it impossible that

Henslee could have forgotten the discussion of the Frank case in

the office of the concern and recalled the intense feeling

manifested by Henslee against Frank at the time.

The letter then says:

You must recall in Mr. Holmes' office, on the day stated,

and in the presence of the undersigned, we all discussed the

Frank case and practically tried him, as it were, and that, in the

discussion, you are not only said that Frank was as guilty as"but

you had much to say about Frank's being a moral degenerate"

your exact language we cannot use"further stated that you were

drawn as a juror.

We have no disposition to injure you or to make public your

statement as two of the writers, Gray and Holmes, have known

you and your family for many years and we do not know how the

attorneys were acquainted with the fact of this conversation but

your remark was common talk in the town where there are a

number of people who could have given the information to the

attorneys.

We declined to make voluntary affidavit in the matter and

said nothing until forced to by the court, but let us assure you

that the reluctance to testify in no way changes the fact and you

shall not be permitted to make statements in the public press

denouncing us as liars in order to protect yourself from the

criticism you have justly deserved.

We await your answer.

(Signed) J. M. HOLMES,

S. M. JOHNSON,

SHI GRAY.