Category: ALONZO MANN HOAX

Pinkerton Report: Leo Frank Case Source: Leo M. Frank Collection, MS-237, Box 1, Folder 1, American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 Reporting Officer: Assistant Superintendent Harry Scott Location: Atlanta, Georgia Date: Tuesday, May 6, 1913 Detective Black and I left the Quinn residence at 11:06 a.m. and walked very slowly along Mr. Quinn’s reported route, stopping five minutes at Wolfsheimer’s store, then proceeding to the factory, arriving at 11:25 a.m. Upon arrival at the factory we interviewed Alonzo Mann, the office boy, residing at 109 South Gordon Street. Employed at the factory for only one month, he

Here within is a 55-page transcript of an affidavit that Alonzo Mann (1898 - 1985) orated and was videotaped in November 10th, 1982, regarding the April 26, 1913, murder of Mary Phagan 69 years earlier. Although the first pardon application immediately following this affidavit was denied, it was later approved in a second attempt three years later after years of secretive backroom dealing between Pardon board members and the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, Atlanta Jewish Federation, and American Jewish Committee. It was uncovered a decade ago that the videotape of this affidavit has mysteriously disappeared, when members of the

A F F I D A V I T IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, COUNTY OF SULLIVAN The undersigned, being duly sworn, deposes as follows: My name is Alonzo McClendon Mann. I am 83 years old. I was born near Memphis Tennessee, on August 8, 1898. My father was Alonzo Mann, who was born in Germany. My mother was Hattie McClendon Mann. When I was a small boy my family moved to Atlanta where I spent most of my life. In 1913 I was the office boy for Leo M. Frank, who ran the National Pencil Co. That was the

practically nothing. I was nervous and afraid that day. There were crowds in the street who were angry and who were saying that Leo Frank should die. Some were yelling things like, "Kill the Jew!" I was very nervous. The courtroom was filled with people. Every seat was taken. I was interested mostly in getting out of there. I spoke with a speech impediment and had trouble pronouncing the 'r' in Frank's name in those days. The lawyers put their heads together and said that it was obvious I knew nothing and since I was so young they would let

My job required that I open the mail, file papers, keep the office orderly, run errands and the like. Leo Frank arrived in the building that morning shortly after I did. He came into the office and spoke to me. I always called him "Mister Frank" and he referred to me by my given name, "Alonzo." I do not know whether Leo Frank had seen Jim Conley on the first floor when he came into the building that morning. A substitute secretary worked for Leo Frank that morning. As I remember, it was routine Saturday morning for me at the

She had told me that if she was unable to come, for me not to worry. I waited for her for a few minutes. Since I didn't care that much about seeing the parade I went back to work. I can't be sure as to exactly how long I was gone, but it could not have been more than half hour before I got back to the pencil factory. I had no idea that I was about to witness an important moment in a famous murder case--a moment that has not been made public until now; that I was about

the shaft would have been open. Conley could have dumped her down the empty elevator shaft. I believe for some reason, Jim Conley turned around toward me. He either heard by footsteps coming or he sensed I was behind him. He wheeled on me and in a voice that was low but threatening and frightening to me he said: "If you ever mention this I'll kill you." I turned and took a step or two--possibly three or four steps--up toward the second floor, but I must have worried about whether the office upstairs was closed. I did hear some movement

the building and saw Conley with the body. When Frank went to trial and I was called as a witness, my mother tole me I would have to go and testify. She repeated to me what she already had told me the day of Mary Phagan's murder. She told me to keep to myself what I had seen. She said if it were not asked a specific question I did not have to give a specific answer. Jim Conley was the chief witness against Leo Frank. He testified that Frank had called him to his office a little after noon

girl's money and grabbed her. I do not think sex was his motive. I believe it was money. Her pay was never found in the building after she died. Many times I have thought since all of this occurred almost 70 years ago that if I had hollered or yelled for help when I ran into Conley with the girl in his arms that day that I might have saved her life. I might have. On the other hand, I might have lost my own life. If I had told what I saw that day I might have saved Leo

until it was too late to save Leo Frank's life. They will say that being young is no excuse. They will blame my mother. The only thing I can say is that she did what she thought was best for me and the family. Other people may hate me for telling it. I hope not, but I am prepared for that, too. I know that I haven't a long time to live. All that I have said is the truth. When my time comes I hope that God understands me better for having told it. That is what matters most.

Stream Video: Posthumous pardon to Leo Frank denied (1984) Stream Video Download: Posthumous pardon to Leo Frank denied (1984) Download In the 1982 to 1983 timeframe, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles reviewed the "new evidence" presented by Jewish activist groups, including Anti-Defamation League, Atlanta Jewish Federation and American Jewish Committe. The new evidence was nothing more than the statements transcribed from a video recording of a dubious Alonzo Mann affidavit, and the Board determined after much deliberation that Mann's statements 70 years later did not change anything about the evidence, other than the method by which Jim Conley