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

Here is the translated text as follows:

In the past, a married woman found guilty of the crime of adultery was stoned to death. While that penalty was excessively severe, the current one is too lenient.

Before you sits a very dangerous woman. As an actress, she surpasses even Sarah Bernhardt. The clearing of the courtroom for her statement and her tears are all part of an act. What difference does it make when it will all be made public in the records? She laughed and cried at will. I would love to try her before a jury of good women. There would be no crying then; only weak men are affected by this.

There are too many coincidences in this case. What a marvelous coincidence that Cook emerged from the Grant building when he did, and that she "happened" to come out of the Grant building shortly before. Cook "happened" to hear the two fateful words "Wednesday afternoon" and no more of the conversation. Then something frightened her while she was in Mr. Candler’s office on February 6, and Cook happened to come into the office. The truth is, Cook was mad. He was infatuated with her. He wrote a note to his "dear friend," Hirsch, whom he had only met twice, each time on street corners, and he couldn’t even remember the conversation at those meetings. He loved his friend, Hirsch, so much, yet he called his friend’s wife Peg. Hirsch has a mighty poor way of showing his friendship for Cook, I must say. He never even attended Handsome Bill's trial.

I am glad Hirsch didn’t get that note. Mrs. Hirsch was right on the spot and she phoned Mr. Candler. You know, in some senses, this plot was tolerably slick, but in others, it was a rotten bungle. They didn’t expect Mr. Candler would ever have the grit to come to court. They thought all they would have to do for the rest of their lives would be to clip coupons.

William Candler is young, and they planned to work a blackmail scheme on him at the ladies’ restroom at the Fair. They would have had to work quickly, but then he is young. They allowed more time for an older man. William saw through their plan.

---