684 Page – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

Here is the translated text as follows:

652 X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

The testimony of Toney has been passed in this case. Even Mr. Adair admits that there was no demand made for money either by Mrs. Hirsch or Cook. That clears Cook. What will we do with him? Release him! I'm not surprised you won't try the woman. You would have little enough sense to try her, for you know there's not a jury in Georgia that would convict her. What act can they show against Mr. Cook that constitutes blackmail? None! What overt act have they shown that Cook has done to make him guilty of blackmail? None in the world! There's a great deal of difference between blackmail money and hush money. We have heard a great deal from Forrest Adair about hush money. He trapped this woman when he held out great amounts for her to leave her husband, and as soon as she agreed, the books were closed and the law set upon her. If that was not a trap to catch her, I don't know what I am talking about. The woman is the only sufferer in this case. Her home has been destroyed, her husband—I don't know what he thinks about it—but her conscience hurts her when she thinks of him. They say it doesn't make any difference if Mr. Candler committed this act; they have got a case against her and Cook anyhow.

Do you think (holding up the photograph) that he was a party to that? And when he told her, "Come in here, this picture won't be complete without you," I don't blame him for saying it—I like her myself. I like any pretty woman. I'm no saint. I'm just a plain, ordinary citizen. I'm telling you, gentlemen, Candler was caught. Because of his standing and reputation in this community, something had to be done. Candler was ill-advised. When they had the grand jury called in special session and had these people indicted in a misdemeanor case, he was ill-advised.

I was a witness to a lynching once in a Georgia courthouse. I was engaged in the Rawlings case in Valdosta in 1906. I did not want to see anything like that repeated in a Georgia courthouse, and that's why I asked for a change of venue this morning.