Author: Historical Librarian

Victim of Murder Prepared to Die, Believes Dorsey Atlanta ConstitutionThursday, May 15th, 1913 Identification Slip Carried by Mary Phagan in Her Pocketbook Causes Theory That the Victim Had Been Threatened With Violence. Either threatened with death or warned by some dread premonition of an untimely end, Mary Phagan is believed by Solicitor Dorsey to have prepared for her tragic fate by writing the identification slip discovered hidden in a compartment of the metal pocketbook which she carried daily. The slip was given the solicitor Wednesday morning by a reporter for The Constitution. The reporter also made an authorized statement of Read More ...

Books and Papers in Phagan Case in Grand Jury's Hands Atlanta JournalFriday, May 16th, 1913 Two Employes of Pencil Company Appeared Before Grand Jury Friday in Answer to Subpenas FELDER RAISING FUND TO PAY W. J. BURNS The Journal Subscribes $100, Mr. Felder Declares a Burns Investigator Will Be Put On the Case at Once By means of a subpoena duces tecum Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey Friday obtained possession of a number of books and papers of the National Pencil company. The subpoena was served on Herbert G. Schiff and M. B. Darley, two officials of the pencil company, Read More ...

Burns Hunt for Phagan Slayer Begun Atlanta GeorgianFriday, May 16th, 1913 Skilled Aide of Famous Detective Arrives in Atlanta—Keeps Identity Secret. Contributions for a fund to bring W. J. Burns, the great detective, to Atlanta in the Phagan case follow: The Georgian ……………$100The Constitution ……….. 100Homer George ………….. 10 More than six substantial subscriptions from persons who asked that their names be kept secret have been added to the above. The Burns investigation into the Phagan murder mystery began Friday. William J. Burns, who personally will conduct the case some time shortly after his arrival from Europe on June 1, Read More ...

Coming of Burns is Assured, Says Colonel Felder Atlanta ConstitutionFriday, May 16th, 1913 To Solve Phagan Murder, Joseph Hirsch, Capitalist, Starts Public Subscription to Assure Fund for Burns. SOCIETY WOMEN AID MOVEMENT FOR FUND Local Detectives in Conference and Are Believed to Have Secret Documents Bearing on Case. With The Constitution's donation of $100 as a nucleus, Atlanta today begins building a fund with which to employ to ferret the mystery of Mary Phagan's murder Detective William J. Burns, America's most successful detective.Assurance that subscriptions will be plentiful and generous came to Attorney Thomas E. Felder last night in telephone Read More ...

In Loop of Death Dorsey May Have Clue to Murderer Atlanta ConstitutionSaturday, May 17th, 1913 Noose Found Knotted Around Neck of Mary Phagan Being Carefully Examined by Officers. BURNS RIGHT-HAND MAN NOW PROBING MYSTERY Fund Started by The Constitution for Purpose of Bringing Noted Detective to Atlanta Has Reached $1,500. In the noose found knotted around the throat of Mary Phagan's lifeless body, Solicitor Dorsey and headquarters detectives aver they possess a valuable clue to the girl's murderer. It is being inspected by experts, who also are examining specimens of cord picked up here and there in the factory building Read More ...

New Phagan Witnesses Have Been Found Atlanta GeorgianSaturday, May 17th, 1913 Solicitor General Dorsey Declares Work of His Greatest Detective Has Been Completed. WELCOMES AID OF BURNS IN CLEARING UP MYSTERY Solicitor Hugh M. Dorsey said Saturday that his "greatest detective in America" would not figure again in the Phagan investigation, and that it was extremely doubtful whether he would be recalled to testify at the trial. "He has finished his investigation," said the Solicitor, "and we have no further need for him. A detective is one thing and a witness is another. His investigation led us to witnesses. It Read More ...

Phagan Case Will Go To Grand Jury in Present Form Atlanta JournalSaturday, May 17th, 1913 State Is Apparently Ready, as Solicitor Says That He is Not Expecting Any New Evidence for Some Time BURNS' INVESTIGATOR ON THE JOB, SAYS FELDER Attorney Declares Fund for Employment of the Famous Sleuth Has Reached $1,500, About $5,000 is Needed That the state considers its case as practically complete and is ready to definitely charge the Mary Phagan murder to an individual and to start the legal machinery moving towards a superior court trial is believed from a very significant statement made Saturday by Read More ...

Burns Sleuth Makes Report in Phagan Case Atlanta GeorgianSunday, May 18th, 1913 Progress of Investigation Into Girl's Slaying Very Rapid, Declares Felder. After 24 hours on the scene of the Phagan muder, the head of the department of criminal investigation of the Burns Detective Agency made his first report to his client, Thomas B. Felder, last night. The report was so satisfactory that Colonel Felder announced more had been accomplished in the 24 hours than in any week of the investigation before the arrival of the Burns detective. The fund to secure the services of William J. Burns and defray Read More ...

Phagan Theory is Unchanged After Three Weeks' Probe Atlanta JournalSunday, May 18th, 1913 Most Searching Investigation Ever Conducted in a Criminal Case in Georgia Brings No New Developments STATE WILL STAND BY THEORY AS OUTLINED Fund to Pay Detective Burns is Mounting—Greeks Sent In Subscription Saturday, Grand Jury Acts Soon The hunt for the murderer of Mary Phagan has now been in progress for three weeks. Never before has there been such a thorough, exhaustive and efficient probe made of a crime committed in this state. And now the authorities are back to the theory which the city detective have Read More ...

Three Arrests Expected Soon in Phagan Case Atlanta ConstitutionSunday, May 18th, 1913 Members of the Staff of the Solicitor General Are Now Keeping Trio Under Strict Surveillance. LANFORD HAS EVIDENCE TO CONVICT, HE SAYS Will Not Divulge Its Nature to Anyone, He Declares. Court Postponed to Allow More Time to Probe Case. SATURDAY'S DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PHAGAN MYSTERYRumors from office of solicitor general say that three arrests will be made of attaches to pencil plant before case goes to grand jury. Trio will be jailed, it is said, within next few days.Chief Lanford, of police headquarters, announces he possesses documentary Read More ...

Burns Eager to Solve Phagan Case Atlanta GeorgianMonday, May 19th, 1913 Famous Detective Expected to Arrive From Europe and Start Work Before June 1. STARTLING NEW EVIDENCE IS REPORTED DISCOVERED Important Revelation Looked For To-day—Search Being Pushed With Renewed Vigor. Colonel Thomas B. Felder announced Monday morning that he had received word from William J. Burns that he would arrive in America before June 1 and would probably be on the scene of the Phagan slaying before that date. Colonel Felder said the great detective had taken an unusual interest in the Phagan mystery and he would not be surprised Read More ...

Burns' Investigator Outlines His Theory of Phagan Murder Atlanta JournalMonday, May 19th, 1913 It Coincides In Practically Every Feature With Theory Held by Solicitor Dorsey, Detectives and Pinkertons MYSTERY CAN BE SOLVED, INVESTIGATOR DECLARES He Holds Long Conerence With Solicitor, Who Has Welcomed Him Into Case, Urged to Contribute to Fund The theory of the murder of Mary Phagan entertained by the city detectives and outlined in The Journal first on Sunday a week ago is the theory in which C. W. Tobie, manager of the criminal department of the William J. Burns agency, believes. Mr. Tobie, who has been Read More ...

Detectives Seek Clue in Writing of Negro Suspect Atlanta ConstitutionMonday, May 19th, 1913 Another Employee of the National Pencil Company Now Held at Police Headquarters. VALUABLE EVIDENCE FOUND BY BURNS MAN For Hours the New Detective, Col. Thomas B. Felder and Solicitor General Hugh Dorsey Discuss Case. In the first report of his investigation of the Mary Phagan tragedy, William J. Burns' agent informs Solicitor General Dorsey that he already has obtained a valuable clue, and that a new phase of the mystery, upon which he is basing his operations, will be productive of early and startling results. Sunday was Read More ...

Cases Ready Against Lee and Leo Frank Atlanta GeorgianTuesday, May 20th, 1913 Solicitor General Dorsey Declares All Evidence Will Go to the Grand Jury Friday. Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey announced Tuesday morning that the State's case against Leo M. Frank and Newt Lee in connection with the Phagan murder, would go to the Grand Jury Friday of this week. He said that he could anticipate no new arrest or development that would make it necessary to change this plan. Mrs. Jane F. Carr, 251 Ponce De-Leon Avenue, in an open letter, asked every woman in Atlanta to contribute to Read More ...

Phagan Case Goes to the Grand Jury in Present Form Atlanta JournalTuesday, May 20th, 1913 Solicitor and Detectives Are Ready With Evidence and Will Present Bills for Jury's Consideration Friday CAN FRANK INTRODUCE WITNESSES IN DEFENSE? This Question Is Being Considered by Solicitor—Another Report That Mary Phagan Was Seen Saturday P. M. The Fulton county grand jury will commence its investigation of the murder of Mary Phagan on Friday, not Thursday morning, according to an announcement from the solicitor general's office. Unless there is an important development before that time, and none is considered likely, the names of only two Read More ...

Women Declare Phagan Murder Must Be Solved Atlanta ConstitutionTuesday, May 20th, 1913 "Freedom of Murderer Is a Menace to Honor and Life of Every Woman," Writes Mrs. James Carr. Optimistic over the prospects for solving the Mary Phagan mystery, C. W. Tobie, chief of the William J. Burns criminal department, told a reporter for The Constitution yesterday morning that he was confident the girl's murderer would be apprehended and convicted in a surprisingly short while. "What if Mary Phagan were your child?" is the subject of an eloquent plea made to the women of Atlanta by Mrs. Jane F. Carr Read More ...

Finger Print Expert Works With Dorsey to Solve Mystery Atlanta JournalWednesday, May 21st, 1913 P. A. Flak, of New York, visits Scene of Crime and Also Takes Finger Prints of Men in the Tower BURNS INVESTIGATOR INTERVIEWS NEWT LEE He is Said to Be Convinced That Negro Is Innocent—Pinkertons Still Busy in Search for Additional Evidence The employment by Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey of one of the best known finger print experts in the world on the Phagan mystery was Wednesday's principal development in the sensational case. P. A. Flak, of New York City, noted criminologist, and a recognized Read More ...