Sunday, 4th January 1942: L. P. Whitfield, Noted Sleuth, 61, Succumbs, The Atlanta Constitution

Burns Detective Agency Manager Here Figured in Frank Case.

L. P. Whitfield, 61, Atlanta manager of the Burns Detective Agency and chief investigator for the defense in the famous Leo Frank case, died Friday at his residence, 362 Augusta avenue, S. E., after an illness of several months.

Born in Kennesaw, Ga., he moved to Atlanta and joined the agency in 1913. Three years later he became head of the Atlanta office with the agencies of seven southern states under his direction. Until his death he maintained the innocence of Frank, who was lynched after being reprieved in the Mary Phagan slaying.

Whitfield held the distinction of having apprehended more bank robbers than any member of the Burns agency. He was regarded as an expert in solving forgery and bad check cases. In May last year he was made a special investigator for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in charge of bank cases.

He served as president of the Georgia Singing Convention in 1930. He was a Shriner, Knight Templar and a deacon in Kennesaw Baptist church.

He is survived by his wife; his father, T. W. Whitfield; two brothers, A. S. Whitfield and B. H. Whitfield, of Detroit; three sisters, Mrs. W. J. Barnes, Mrs. H. N. Allen and Mrs. E. F. Clegg.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon at Kennesaw Baptist church, with the Rev. G. S. Bond and the Rev. E. M. Altman officiating. Burial will be in Kennesaw.