Author: Research Librarian Simon Pauling

  • Leo Frank TV
  • Articles by: Research Librarian Simon Pauling

The Leo Frank Trial: Week One

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100 years ago today the trial of the 20th century ended its first week, shedding brilliant light on the greatest murder mystery of all time: the murder of Mary Phagan. And you are there. by Bradford L. Huie THE MOST IMPORTANT testimony in the first week of the trial of National Pencil Company superintendent Leo Frank for the murder of Mary Phagan was that of the night watchman, Newt Lee (pictured, right, in custody), who had discovered 13-year-old Mary's body in the basement of the pencil factory during his nightly rounds in the early morning darkness of April 27, Read More ...

The Leo Frank Trial: Week Two

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The trial of Leo Frank for the murder of Mary Phagan ended its second week 100 years ago today. Join us as we delve into the original documents of the time and learn what the jurors learned. by Bradford L. Huie THE EVIDENCE that National Pencil Company Superintendent Leo Frank had murdered 13-year-old child laborer Mary Phagan was mounting up as the second week of Frank's trial began in Atlanta, and passions were high on both sides as star witness Jim Conley (pictured) took the stand. The attempt to frame the innocent black  night watchman, Newt Lee, had failed, Read More ...

The Leo Frank Trial: Week Three

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The trial of Leo Frank (pictured) for the murder of Mary Phagan ended its third week 100 years ago today. Join us as we break through the myths surrounding the case and investigate what really happened. by Bradford L. Huie AS THE THIRD WEEK of the trial dawned, the prosecution had just made its case that National Pencil Company Superintendent Leo Max Frank had murdered 13-year-old laborer Mary Phagan — and a powerful case it was. Now it was the defense's turn — and the defense team was a formidable one, the best that money could buy in 1913 Read More ...

100 Years Ago Today: Leo Frank Takes the Stand

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Today, on the 100th anniversary of Leo Frank taking the stand in his own defense, we present a digest of opinion and contemporary sources on his statement. AT THE CLIMAX of the Leo Frank trial, an admission was made by the defendant that amounted to a confession during trial. How many times in the annals of US legal history has this happened? Something very unusual happened during the month-long People v. Leo M. Frank murder trial, held within Georgia's Fulton County Superior Courthouse in the Summer of 1913. I'm going to show you evidence that Mr. Leo Max Frank inadvertently Read More ...

The Leo Frank Trial: Week Four

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Join The American Mercury as we recount the events of the final week of the trial of Leo Frank (pictured) for the slaying of Mary Phagan. by Bradford L. Huie ON THE HEELS of Leo Frank's astounding unsworn statement to the court, the defense called a number of women who stated that they had never experienced any improper sexual advances on the part of Frank. But the prosecution rebutted that testimony with several rather persuasive female witnesses of its own. These rebuttal witnesses also addressed Frank's claims that he was so unfamiliar with Mary Phagan that he did not Read More ...

The Leo Frank Trial: Closing Arguments of Hooper, Arnold, and Rosser

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The American Mercury continues its centenary coverage of the trial of Leo Frank for the slaying of Mary Phagan with the closing arguments presented by the prosecution and defense. by Bradford L. Huie IT'S A LONG READ — but an essential one for everyone who wants to consider himself well-informed on the Leo Frank case: the closing arguments from indefatigable Fulton County Prosecutor Hugh Dorsey and his assistant Frank Hooper, and from Leo Frank's brilliantly skilled defense attorneys Reuben Arnold and Luther Rosser. Here we present their final arguments in full — practically the length of a sizable novel — Read More ...

The Leo Frank Trial: Closing Arguments, Solicitor Dorsey

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by Bradford L. Huie THE AMERICAN MERCURY now presents the final closing arguments by Solicitor Hugh Dorsey (pictured) in the trial of Leo Frank for the murder of Mary Phagan — a powerful summary of the case and a persuasive argument that played a large part in the decision of the jury to find Frank guilty of the crime. It is also riveting reading for modern readers, who have been told — quite falsely — that the case against Frank was a weak one, and told, equally falsely, that "anti-Semitism" was a major motive for the arrest, trial, and conviction Read More ...

New Audio Book: The American Mercury on Leo Frank – Judge Leonard Roan’s Charge to the Jury

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THIS WEEK we present our final installment of our audio books on the subject of the 1913 trial of Leo M. Frank for the strangling and sex murder of his 13-year-old sweatshop employee, Mary Phagan. Today we hear the words of Judge Leonard Strickland Roan (pictured) in his charge to the jury, exactly as they were uttered more than a century ago. A few hours later, the jury returned its verdict of guilty. The Leo Frank case was one of the major factors that led to the founding of the prominent Jewish pressure group, the ADL. This new audio book Read More ...

New Audio Book: The American Mercury on Leo Frank – 100 Reasons Leo Frank Is Guilty

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by Penelope Lee THIS WEEK, as we are preparing the (very long) audio book version of the Leo Frank defense team and prosecution team closing arguments, the American Mercury is proud to present the new audio book version — never before available in its entirety — of our editor Bradford L. Huie's 100 Reasons Leo Frank is Guilty, read by Miss Vanessa Neubauer. As you listen, you can follow along with the text of the original piece.   **** 100 Reasons Leo Frank Is Guilty Proving That Anti-Semitism Had Nothing to Do With His Conviction and Proving That His Defenders Have Used Read More ...

ADL: 100 Years of Hate

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by Valdis Bell TODAY MARKS THE 100th anniversary of the largest and most-well funded hate and defamation group in the history of mankind: the Anti-Defamation League, or "ADL." The organization was originally called the "Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith" after its parent group, the Jewish fraternal order B'nai B'rith (meaning "Sons of the Covenant," or, literally, "Sons of the Cut" — referring to circumcision). (ILLUSTRATION: Abraham Foxman, director of the ADL) The ADL was founded in the immediate aftermath of the conviction of Atlanta B'nai B'rith President Leo Frank for the strangulation and sex murder of a 13-year-old factory girl, Read More ...

Phagan Family Newsletter Number One

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My name is Mary Phagan-Kean and I am the great-niece and namesake of “Little Mary Phagan,” the thirteen-year-old girl who was raped and murdered on April 26, 1913, by Leo Max Frank, the president of Atlanta’s B'nai B’rith Lodge No. 144. Leo Frank was the general superintendent of the National Pencil Company — a sweatshop factory where over a hundred children labored, and where the Sam Nunn federal building stands today. Little Mary Phagan was 12 years old when she started working there in 1912, and Frank admitted he was the last person to see Mary Phagan alive. In fact, Read More ...

Phagan Family Newsletter Number Two

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The Family of Little Mary Phagan & The Truth About the Leo Frank Case In 2019, under intense pressure from the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard established the “Conviction Integrity Unit,” which is intended to reverse the 1913 conviction of the murderer and rapist Leo Frank. All evidence proves that Frank murdered our beloved family member, 13-year-old Little Mary Phagan, but many outright lies have been told about the case that MUST BE CORRECTED! GO TO LITTLEMARYPHAGAN.COM for more TRUTH about the murder of Little Mary Phagan. Leo Frank, Sexual Predator—the Harvey Weinstein/Jeffrey Epstein Read More ...

Phagan Family Newsletter Number Three

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The Phagan Family Asks D.A. Paul Howard Why The Secrecy? In 2019, under intense pressure from the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard established the “Conviction Integrity Unit,” which is intended to reverse the 1913 conviction of the murderer and rapist Leo Frank. All evidence proves that Frank murdered our beloved family member, 13-year-old Mary Phagan, but many outright lies have been told about the case that MUST BE CORRECTED! Go to LITTLEMARYPHAGAN.COM for more TRUTH about the murder of Little Mary Phagan. Since the Conviction Integrity Unit has been established to review the Leo Read More ...

Phagan Family Newsletter Number Four

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Former governor Roy Barnes Claims Leo Frank Did Not Kill Mary Phagan. He Insists that the Century-Old conviction was “wrong”. What Roy Barnes doesn’t want you to know: 107 years ago, Leo Frank, the general superintendent of an Atlanta pencil factory, targeted my great aunt, 13-year-old Mary Phagan—just like he had targeted 20 other young girls who worked there at the National Pencil Company. He attempted to rape her and she resisted. He beat her and then strangled her. Now former governor Roy Barnes and the Anti-Defamation League want to exonerate Leo Frank and claim that an African-American man was Read More ...

Phagan Family Newsletter Number Five

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Steve Oney says “NO NEW EVIDENCE” to exonerate Leo Frank for the murder of Little Mary Phagan On February 17, 2020, Steve Oney spoke in Savannah on the Leo Frank case. Mr. Oney is considered by many Frank supporters to be an expert, having written a book on the subject. The Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard is being pressured by a group of non-experts to exonerate B’nai B’rith leader Leo M. Frank, who was convicted 107 years ago of the rape and murder of my great aunt Little Mary Phagan at his pencil factory when she was just 13. Read More ...

Phagan Family Newsletter Number Six

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Will New District Attorney Bow to Pressure to Exonerate Leo Frank for Murder of Little Mary Phagan? Attorney Fani Willis beat Fulton County DA Paul Howard Jr. in a landslide victory —72% to 28% But will she bow to the same pressure that was put on her former boss to exonerate a man who raped and murdered our family member? The Conviction Integrity Unit established under Fulton County DA Paul Howard was not transparent: the Phagan family was not contacted and he refused to acknowledge the Phagan family. Obviously, it was set up for one single goal—to “legally” clear Leo Read More ...

Phagan Family Newsletter Number Seven

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DENIED! Georgia state board of pardons and paroles denies Phagan Family December 4th, 2020, request to declassify the non-public documents from it's files on Leo Frank!!! Georgia’s 106 Year Old Secrets! The Phagan family filed requests for all of the documents, recordings, and other data related to the case of the convicted murderer Leo M. Frank. We received over 1500 documents in December 2020, which included Alonzo Mann’s videotaped testimony when certain people and organizations were seeking a posthumous pardon for Leo Frank in the 1980s. But some documents were DENIED to the family and considered “state secrets”? In a Read More ...

Phagan Family Newsletter Number Eight

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Georgia Legislators Propose Cold Case Lynching Law But REAL Aim is to Exonerate A Single Person: Leo Frank There is no more important word in today’s world than JUSTICE. I am Mary Phagan-Kean and I am the great-niece and namesake of “Little Mary Phagan,” the thirteen-year-old girl who was raped and murdered by B’nai B’rith leader Leo Max Frank on April 26, 1913. Leo Frank—who admitted he was the last person to see Mary alive—was the factory manager at the National Pencil Company, where the Sam Nunn federal building stands today, and where Mary worked and was killed. On August Read More ...

Phagan Family Newsletter Number Nine

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Broadway play PARADE IS NOT THE “TRUE STORY” OF LEO FRANK Its sole purpose is to falsely place blame for the murder of Little Mary Phagan on an African-American man named James Conley. New York City Center (NYCC) has announced that it will present one of the most blatantly deceitful productions ever to appear on an American stage. Parade purports to be a “true account” of the 1913 rape and strangulation murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in an Atlanta factory. Leo Frank, the factory manager, was arrested and convicted of the crime. I am Mary Phagan-Kean, and I represent the Read More ...

Phagan Family Newsletter Number Ten

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  Barnes & Lebow Can’t Tell the Truth • Twitter Revolt Against ADL • “PARADE” Fools Broadway, Again • Stew Peters’ ADL Exposé Roy Barnes and Steven Lebow: Why do you continue to tell the “Big Lies” ? In another one of his now tiresome interviews former governor Roy Barnes continues to repeat lie after lie after lie about the murder of my great aunt Mary Phagan by her employer, Leo Frank, sexual pervert . Author Steve Oney also stated Leo Frank was a “sexual predator” . According to Barnes in his June 23, 2023 interview with the Marietta Daily Read More ...

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs National Pencil Company

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In the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia. This the petition of Pinkerton's National Detective Agency, a corporation, respectfully represents unto this Honorable Court as follows: 1 The National Pencil Company is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Georgia, having its principal place of business in the County of Fulton, State of Georgia. 2 On or about the 28th day of April, 1913, petitioner was employed by the National Pencil Company to render services as a detective agency in the matter of procuring evidence to convict the murderer of Mary Phagan, who was alleged to have Read More ...

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs National Pencil Company: Amended Motion for New Trial

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(AMENDED MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL.) GEORGIA, Fulton County. Now comes the defendant, the National Pencil Company, and amends its motion for a new trial heretofore filed on Nov., 22, 1915, and says that the verdict in the above stated case should be set aside and a new trial granted for the following reasons, to-wit: 1. Because the court on its own motion and although the plaintiff's attorney had withdrawn all objection, refused to admit in evidence certain portions of the argument made by the solicitor General of the Atlanta Circuit on August 23d and 25th , 1913 at the trial Read More ...

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs National Pencil Company: Answer of Defendant

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Pinkerton's National Detective Agency v. National Pencil Co. No. 31231 In the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia. ANSWER OF DEFENDANT. Now comes the defendant, the National Pencil Company, and answers as follows: 1. Defendant admits the allegations of paragraph 1. 2. Defendant admits the allegations of paragraph 2. 3. Defendant denies the allegations of paragraph 3. 4. Defendant admits the allegations of paragraph 4 except the following allegation, to-wit: *and also to pay proper incidental expenses incurred by petitioner in this behalf* which allegation defendant denies. 5. Defendant denies the allegations of the paragraph following the paragraph numbered 4, Read More ...

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs. National Pencil Company – Approval of Brief of Evidence

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Approval of Brief of Evidence. The foregoing 134 pages constituting the brief of evidence in the above stated case, are hereby approved as a true and correct brief of the evidence produced upon the in the above stated case. Let the same be filed as part of the record herein. This February 3, 1916. W.D. Ellis, Judge S. C. A C. Filed in office this the 4th day of February, 1916. T. C. Miller, D. Clk.

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs National Pencil Company: Bill of Exceptions

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PINKERTON'S NATIONAL DETECTIVE AGENCY verses NATIONAL PENCIL COMPANY. No. 31,231. Fulton Superior Court. BILL OF EXCEPTIONS. GEORGIA, FULTON COUNTY. Be it remembered that on the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 22nd days of November, 1915, at the regular November Term of the Superior Court of Fulton County before the Honorable W. D. Ellis Judge, presiding, there came on to be tried the case of the Pinkerton's National Detective Agency v. National Pencil Company. A jury was stricken, evidence was introduced for plaintiff and defendant, and after argument of counsel and the charge of Court, the jury rendered a verdict in favor Read More ...

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs National Pencil Company: Brief of Evidence

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(BRIEF-OF-EVIDENCE.) Harry Scott, for plaintiff, testified as follows: I am at present superintendent of Pinkerton's National Detective Agency at Syracuse, NY. In 1913, I was assistant superintendent of the Atlanta Office. Acting in behalf of the Plaintiff, I made the contract with the defendant. On the afternoon of April 26, 1913, I was called on the telephone by Mr. Frank who asked me to come down to the Pencil Factory, which I did, and we discussed the case as it had developed up to that time, after which he inquired as to our rates, and I told him that our Read More ...

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs National Pencil Company: Charge of Court

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Gentlemen of the Jury: This is a suit brought by Pinkerton's National Detective Agency, originally in the papers alleged to be a corporation, but by way of amendment to the original petition now charged to be a partnership, against the National Pencil Company, charged to be and admitted to be a corporation. The plaintiff's petition alleges that about the 28th day of April, 1913, this detective agency was employed by the National Pencil Company in the matter of procuring evidence to convict the murderer of Mary Phagan, who was alleged to have been slain on the premises of the National Read More ...

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs National Pencil Company: Corporation/Partnership

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Pinkerton National Detective Agency vs. National Pencil Co. #31231 Superior Court of Fulton County. Now comes the plaintiff and having first obtained leave of the Court amends its petition by striking from the second line thereof the word Corporation and adding the word Partnership. Robert C. & Philip H. Alston, Attys. for Plaintiff. Allowed by consent and ordered filed. This Nov. 17, 1915. W. D. Ellis, Judge S.C.A.C. Filed in office this 22nd day of November, 1915. J. C. Lewis, Deputy Clerk. Min. 74, page 596.

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs. National Pencil Company: Judgment

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JUDGMENT. The jury having rendered a verdict for the plaintiff it is therefore ordered and adjudged that Pinkerton's National Detective Agency do have and recover of the defendant, National Pencil Co., the principal sum of $1286.09 and $170.52 interest to date and future interest at the rate of 7% per annum and ______ dollars cost of court. This 11/22/15. Robt. C. & Philip H. Alston, Attys for Plff.

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs. National Pencil Company: Motion for New Trial

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Pinkerton National Detective Agency v. National Pencil Co. No. 31231. Fulton Superior Court, Motion for New Trial. Verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant at the November Term, 1915, Superior Court of Fulton County, on November 22, 1915. The defendant, the National Pencil Company, being dissatisfied with the verdict and judgment in said case, comes during said term of court, and before adjournment thereof, within thirty days from said trial, and moves the Court for a new trial upon the following grounds, to-wit: 1- Because the verdict is contrary to the evidence and without evidence to support Read More ...

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs. National Pencil Company: Motion for New Trial Acknowledged by Plaintiff

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Due and legal service of the within motion for new trial, rule nisi and order of court acknowledged. This 22 day of November, 1915. Robert C. & Philip H. Alston, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Filed in office this 23rd day of November, 1915. J. C. Lewis, Deputy Clerk. Min. 74, page 557

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency vs. National Pencil Company: Motion for New Trial Read and Considered

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Read and considered. Let the foregoing motion for a new trial be filed to the right of amendment. It is further ordered that the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, the plaintiff, show cause before me at 9 o'clock A.M. on the 18th day of December, 1915, or as soon thereafter as a hearing can be had, why the foregoing motion should not be granted and a new trial ordered. In the meantime, a super sedeas is granted to the defendant in so far as to stay any levy under the verdict and judgment until this motion is disposed of. It is Read More ...

Report of Assistant Superintendent Harry Scott: April 28, 1913

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The following pages contain a correct copy of the report of the said assistant superintendent Harry Scott, dated April 28, 1913, and sent to the National Pencil Company on May 2, 1913; Asst. Supt. H. S. Reports: Atlanta, Georgia Monday, April 28th, 1913. Late this afternoon, I held a conference with Mr. Leo M. Frank, Superintendent, and Mr. Darley his assistant and the officers of the National Pencil Co., #37-39 S. Forsyth st., Atlanta, Georgia Mr. Frank stated that on Saturday, April 26th, 1913 the factory of the National Pencil Co., was closed down and that only two of the Read More ...

Report of Assistant Superintendent Harry Scott: May 18, 1913

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The following pages contain a correct copy of the report of assistant superintendent Harry Scott dated May 18, 1913, and sent to the National Pencil Company on May 23, 1913; Asst. Supt. H. S. reports. Atlanta, Georgia Sunday, May 18th, 1913. This morning I went to Police Headquarters with Supt. H. B. P. and Detective John Black, and arranged to take a statement from James Conley, the negro sweeper formerly employed at the factory of the National Pencil Co., who has been under arrest for the past two weeks, he being arrested on suspicion when he was seen washing one Read More ...

Report of Assistant Superintendent Harry Scott: May 23, 1913

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The following pages contain a correct copy of the report of assistant superintendent Harry Scott dated May 23, 1913, and sent to the National Pencil Company on May 26, 1913. Asst. Supt. H. S. reports: Atlanta, Georgia Thursday, May 22, 1913. This morning I had a long conference with Chief of Detectives Lanford, relative to the case in hand and reviewing what investigation has been made by the Agency and City Police in connection with the case. City Detective Black and myself were then requested to report at Solicitor General Dorsey's office for a conference, which we did, and remained Read More ...

Report of Assistant Superintendent Harry Scott: May 24, 1913

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The following pages contain a correct copy of the report of assistant superintendent Harry Scott, dated May 24, 1913, and sent to the National Pencil Company on May 26, 1913: Asst. Supt. H. S. reports: Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, May 24th, 1913. This morning the negro James Conley sent for City Detective John Black, as he stated that he was going to tell him the truth. I accompanied Detective Black to James Connalley's cell at Police Headquarters, when Connally voluntarily stated that he had written notes for Mr. Frank on Friday, April 25th, 1913 and that as he recalled it Mr. Read More ...

Report of Assistant Superintendent Harry Scott: May 25 & 27, 1913

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The following pages contain a correct copy of the report of assistant superintendent Harry Scott, dated May 25, 1913 and sent to the National Pencil Company on May 26, 1913. Asst. Supt. H. S. reports: Atlanta, Georgia Sunday, May 25, 1913. This afternoon Detective Black and myself were at Police Headquarters again and had another interview with the negro James Connally, and questioned him very closely regarding the statement made to us yesterday morning by him, but he maintained that it was the truth and we could not secure any further information from Connally. Atlanta, Georgia 5/26/13. Reported. F. The Read More ...

Report of Assistant Superintendent Harry Scott: May 28, 1913

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The following pages contain a correct copy of the report of assistant superintendent Harry Scott dated May 28, 1913, and sent to the National Pencil Company on May 31, 1913; Asst. Supt. H. S. reports: Atlanta, Georgia Wednesday, May 28th, 1913. Today Chief of Detectives Lanford and myself had an interview with the negro James Conley again, and after about four hours questioning, we succeeded in having Conley make the enclosed statement to which he made affidavit. We stayed with Conley throughout the entire day, endeavoring to make clear certain points outlined in his statement, which we thought were a Read More ...

Report Of L P Whitfield

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The following pages contain a correct copy of the report of L. P. Whitfield, dated May 16, 1913, and sent to the National Pencil Company on May 21, 1913. L.P.W. Atlanta, Georgia Friday, May 16th, 1913. At 7:00 A.M. I went to Police Headquarters and met W. D. MacW. and city detective Black. We requested Black to secure the handwriting of Conley and Bailey, the two prisoners now in the barracks and to learn their movements on April 26th, 1913. At 8:30 A.M. W.D. MacW. and myself went to #59 Bonnie Brae Ave., in East Point, Georgia, for the purpose Read More ...

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