Tuesday, 7th October 1913 Henslee Answers Sprata Citizens
The Atlanta Constitution,
Tuesday, 7th October 1913,
PAGE 1, COLUMN 2.
Made His Remarks
About
Leo Frank After Trial
and
Not Before, Says
Juror Ac-
cused of Prejudice.
A. H. Henslee, juror in the Frank case, who has been
declared prejudiced against the prisoner in a number of affidavits
fled with the clerk of the superior court, yesterday sent the
following letter to The Constitution, in which he denies many of
the statements made by Messrs, Holmes, Johnson and Gray, of
Sparta, Ga.
Editor The Constitution: Replying to your article in today's
issue, October 6, in reference to Messrs. Holmes Johnson and
Gray. I will say I am sorry to think that they would go ahead and
make such a statement over their signatures that I discussed and
tried Leo Frank in their office on July 27.
Having read their depositions, in Solicitor Hugh Dorsey's
office, I will say that I spoke of the case freely, and met their
many friends in the office on September 2, which was Tuesday
morning.
Frank Case Not Mentioned.
I am sorry to think they would express themselves and dare
their opposition as they did, either July 27 or June 27. I will say
that I was in this office on June 27, but the Frank case was never
mentioned.
As for branding them all liars, I have never done so, but
they have miscalculated the date.
I did willingly express myself freely regarding the Frank
case on September 2, which was after Frank was convicted.
Tuesday morning, met many of their friends to whom they
introduced me, and did say and express to these friends and to
them, that Leo M. Frank, judging from the evidence of Jim Conley,
was really a prevent.
I made a statement to one of the Atlanta papers that I
almost positively knew that the depositions received from Sparta,
Ga., would not contain anything that I had said prior to the case"
that they would be similar to those from Blakely, Ga.
Regarding the statement that they knew me and my family
for years, I wish to state that I hold these gentlemen in the
highest esteem, as men whom I believe would defend and honor
me and my family regardless of public sentiment.
Surprised at Action.
I wish to state further, however, that after reading their
depositions in Solicitor Dorsey's office, I am surprised that men of
their intelligence should come out in a newspaper and request a
reply in such a way as they have. As to branding them liars I have
never done so. They got their dates wrong, that's all.
In conclusion, considering this as a reply to each one of
them personally, instead of branding them as liars, I would gladly
defend them at all times.
Mr. Julius A Lehman, of the firm of Floyd & Lehman, of the
city Atlanta, makes an affidavit, I understand, to the effect that I
stated to him, on either June 2 or 6, while on the train between
Atlanta and Experiment, Ga., that I believed Frank guilty. This
statement also, I brand as false, as on
Continued on Page Nine.
PAGE 9, COLUMN 3
Continued From Page One.
June 2, 1913, I was on the train between Edison and Arlington, Ga.
On June 6, I was on the train between Tifton and Ashburn, Ga.
Will Ask Indictment.
Regarding his statement and affidavit, I brand them as
absolutely false, and furthermore, I wish state that I called on Mr.
Lehman personally on Saturday afternoon. October 4, at his place
of business, and stated to him, personally, that the only reason I
came by was to inform in that I would get a bill of indictment
against him when the next grand jury convened in Fulton county
for trying to make me out a perjurer. That was all I had to say to
him, and I then left his place or business.
Regarding all of the foregoing statement, I will say that the
proof is on record at the Franklin Buggy company's place of
business in Barnesville, Ga.
(Signed) A. H. HENSLEE.
Barnesville,
Ga.
Macon, Ga., October 6.
SOLICITOR AND
ASSISTANT
TO STUDY CASE IN
VALDOSTA
Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey and his assistant. Attorney
E. A. Stephens, have left for Valdosta, where they will spend the
week quietly studying the 115 reasons cited by attorneys for Leo
M. Frank as basis for a new trial for the murder of Mary Phagan, of
which Frank was convicted after a long trial in the summer.
The idea of the solicitor in leaving Atlanta came from his
desire to devote his entire time to the matter which is due to be
taken up on Saturday. He also had some business to attend to in
Valdosta, and so chose that town as the place for studying the
case.
Several new affidavits attacking Juror A. H. Henslee were
made public Monday afternoon by Attorneys Luther Z. Rosser and
Reuben R. Arnold, for the condemned man. J. J. Nunnally and
Virgil Harris, buggy dealers of Monroe, Ga., and Dr. W. L. Rickert,
a dentist of the Walton county seat, signed them. They accuse Mr.
Henslee of having expressed belief in the guilt of Frank between
the time of the murder and July 28, the day upon which he was
chosen as a juror.
Mr. Henslee is busy preparing an answer to these attacks
made upon him, as is Juror Marcus Johenning, also accused of
bias. The former has conferred with the solicitor in regard to the
matter, and, denying all the charges, declares his intention to
disprove them, if possible.
That Judge L. S. Roan will hear the motion when it is taken
up was made practically certain on Monday when arrangements
for a term of the criminal division of the superior court for October
13 were cancelled.