Category: PRIMARY NEWSPAPER EXCERPTS (YOU ARE THERE)

Court Scenes at Frank Trial; How It Looks Inside and Out Atlanta JournalJuly 28th, 1913 Three Distinct Crowds Are There, Some Laughing, Some Whispering Speculations on Case There were three crowds at the Frank trial Monday morning; and each had an aspect and characteristic as different as east from west—the crowd in the court room, the crowd around the door and in the street, and the throng of witnesses swarming through the upstairs rooms. As one approached the red brick court house down Hunter street, he could see the corner near Pryor black with people. A car would turn the Read More ...

Leo Frank's Trial on Murder Charge Booked for Today Atlanta ConstitutionJuly 28th, 1913 Judge L. S. Roan Announces That He Will Call Case at Nine O'Clock This Morning. LAWYERS BELIEVE JURY WILL BE NAMED IN DAY Legal Representatives Take Good Rest on Sunday in Preparation for Struggle That Begins Today. After weeks of preparation by some of the most skilled legal minds in the state and after every point in the affair that has been made public has been discussed and threshed out by thousands of citizens, the case of the state v. Leo M. Frank, charged with the murder Read More ...

Mary Phagan's Mother Testifies Atlanta GeorgianJuly 28th, 1913 Newt Lee Repeats His Story in Court Room Negro Watchman Swears Frank Acted Oddly Day of Crime Here are the important developments in the trial of Leo M. Frank for the murder of Mary Phagan. Jury chosen at 1:30 p. m. Mrs. Coleman, girl's mother, takes stand after recess, at 3:15, and tells of Mary leaving for the factory 11:45 a. m. on April 26. George W. Epps, boy companion of Mary Phagan, repeats his story that he had an engagement to meet her on the afternoon of the fatal day. Newt Read More ...

Numerous Witnesses Called in Frank Case Atlanta ConstitutionJuly 29th, 1913 List Indicates That Prisoner Is Prepared to Put Character in Evidence. Numbers of witnesses were summoned to court by both sides and when the names were called so that all could be sworn it developed that scores of Leo Frank's friends had been called upon. From the fact that there is not a possibility of one in this number knowing anything of the crime, it appears that the defense has made preparation, at least, to put Frank's character in evidence and has secured these of his friends to testify for Read More ...

Spectators at Frank Trial Make an Absorbing Study Atlanta JournalJuly 29th, 1913 They Come From Every Station in Life—From the Ragged Newsboy to the Business Man With the Diamond Scarf Pin and the Georgia Lawmaker The personnel of the spectators at the average murder trial is one of the most interesting phases of it, and the trial of Leo Frank for the murder of Mary Phagan is no exception to the general rule. One glance about the court room as the case proceeded Monday afternoon showed an ever-changing kaleidoscope of ever changing faces, holding a single characteristic common to all, Read More ...

Defense to Claim Strands of Hair Found Were Not Mary Phagan's Atlanta JournalJuly 30th, 1913 GRACE HIX TESTIFIES THAT GIRLS FREQUENTLY COMBED THEIR HAIR OVER MACHINES Miss Hix Also Testifies That Magnolia Kennedy, Who Worked Near Mary Phagan, Had Hair of the Same Color and Shade—Important Admissions Lay Foundation for Defense's Claim That Murder Was Not Committed in Metal Room STATE ENDEAVORS TO SHOW THAT FRANK VERY NERVOUS AND DID NOT LOOK ON FACE OF MURDERED GIRL Attorney Rosser Directs His Questions to Combat Claim of Nervousness—Witness Declares She Never Saw Any Red Paint in the Metal Room—State Claims New Read More ...

Gantt Has Startling Evidence; Dorsey Promises New Testimony Against Frank Atlanta GeorgianJuly 30th, 1913 STATE ADDS NEW LINK TO EVIDENCE CHAIN BY BOOTS ROGERS' STORY Sensational testimony by J. M. Gantt, discharged pencil factory employee, was promised Wednesday by Solicitor Dorsey and Frank A. Hooper, who is assisting him. They admitted that Gantt had testimony that had never before been published and would be one of the State's most material and direct witnesses. The defense has heard that Gantt will testify he saw Frank and Conley together on the day of the crime. Gantt was expected to follow Grace Hicks Read More ...

Officer Tells About Discovery Of Body of Girl in Basement Atlanta ConstitutionJuly 30th, 1913 Sergeant L. S. Dobbs, one of the policemen who answered Lee's call to the factory, was put on the stand, after Lee was dismissed. He told of the call at about 3:20 a. m. on April 27, and of how he and Officers Anderson and Brown, with "Boots" Rogers, an ex-county policeman, and Britt Craig, of The Constitution, went to the factory and found the body. The officer declared, among other things, that Lee was not frightened or trembling when they got there, that they had Read More ...

Rogers on Stand Describes Visit of Frank to Undertakers Atlanta ConstitutionJuly 31st, 1913 When court convened and before the jury had been brought in Attorney Luther Rosser entered an objection to the drawing of the pencil factory which Solicitor Hugh M. Dorsey had rehung upon the wall after removing the descriptive lines. Objection had previously been made to the lines and the solicitor had caused these to be erased. Attorney Rosser and his colleague Reuben Arnold declared that the dotted lines which shows the state's theory of how the girl's body was carried from the second floor to the basement Read More ...

Rosser Riddles One of the State's Chief Witnesses Atlanta JournalJuly 31st, 1913 Detective John Black "Goes to Pieces" Under Rapid-Fire Cross-Questioning of Frank's Attorney at Afternoon Session Action characterized the Wednesday afternoon session of the Frank trial, and it was the first time the tedious proceedings had taken on life enough to attract more than passing interest. This action came in the fierce and merciless cross-examination of Detective John Black by Attorney Rosser, leading counsel for the defense. Black has taken a prominent part in the investigation of the Phagan murder, and it was expected that he would prove one Read More ...

Scott Trapped Us, Dorsey Charges; Pinkerton Man Is Also Attacked by the Defense Atlanta GeorgianJuly 31st, 1913 FRANK NOT IN OFFICE JUST AFTER 12 ON DAY OF SLAYING, SAYS GIRL The deliberate charge that he had been "trapped" by Pinkerton Detective Harry Scott was made by Solicitor Dorsey at the trial of Leo M. Frank Thursday. Scott played a curious part in the trial, being attacked by both sides. He was given the same fiery baptism that annihilated City Detective Black the day before, but he passed through the ordeal in much better shape than his brother detective. Scott left Read More ...

Conley Takes Stand Saturday Atlanta GeorgianAugust 1st, 1913 Lawyers Wrangle Over Frank's Nervousness DORSEY WINS POINT AS ROSSER BATTLES TO DEFEND ACCUSED Jim Conley, accuser of Leo Frank, will take the stand Saturday morning, according to all indications Friday, to repeat the remarkable story he told concerning his part in the disposition of the body of Mary Phagan and undergo the merciless grilling of the defense. Solicitor General Dorsey said that he expected to have his case completed by Saturday night and police, believing he will call the negro to-morrow, had him shaved and cleaned up and in readiness for Read More ...

Watchman Swears Elevator Was Open; Changes Evidence Atlanta JournalAugust 1st, 1913 E. F. Holloway Angers Dorsey When He Testifies Contrary to Affidavit—Had Told Dorsey Elevator Switch Was Locked Court adjourned at 4:58 o'clock until 9 o'clock Friday morning after a day of surprises in the trial of Leo M. Frank, charged with the murder of Mary Phagan, in the National Pencil factory building. That the switch board which controls the motor used to operate the elevator in the National Pencil factory, where Mary Phagan was murdered was left unlocked Saturday morning when he left the building at 11:45 o'clock, and Read More ...

William Gheesling, Embalmer, Tells of Wounds on Girl's Body Atlanta ConstitutionAugust 1st, 1913 William Gheesling, the undertaker who embalmed Mary Phagan's body, was next called in. "What is your business?" queried Solicitor Dorsey. "I am an embalmer." "How long have you been in that advice?" "Fifteen years, or more." "Did you see the body of Mary Phagan?" "Yes, I first saw it at 15 minutes to 4 on the morning of April 27." "Where was it?" "In the basement of the National Pencil factory." "Describe it." How Body Was Lying. "It was lying on the face, arms crossed, and with Read More ...

Dr. Harris Collapses on Stand as He Gives Sensational Evidence Atlanta JournalAugust 2nd, 1913 Physician Testifies at Frank Trial That Mary Phagan Met Death Half Hour After Lunch—Describes Wounds Secretary of State Board of Health Compelled to Leave the Witness Stand on Account of Illness In the midst of sensational testimony, Dr. H. F. Harris, secretary of the state board of health, collapsed Friday afternoon on the witness stand and was excused until Saturday. Dr. Harris and just testified that his examination of the contents of the stomach of little Mary Phagan showed that the dinner which she had eaten Read More ...

Startling Statements Made During Testimony of Dr. Harris Atlanta ConstitutionAugust 2nd, 1913 Making the startling declaration that Mary Phagan had been killed within thirty or forty-five minutes after she had eaten dinner, Dr. Roy F. Harris, state chemist, took the stand during the afternoon session yesterday. It was Dr. Harris who made the autopsy upon the body when it was disinterred in Marietta on May 5. He brought with him into court specimens of predigested cabbage which had been removed from the slain girl's stomach. He also testified to the effect that the girl had suffered violence before death and Read More ...

Will 5 Ounces of Cabbage Help Convict Leo M. Frank? Atlanta GeorgianAugust 2nd, 1913 Are five and half ounces of cabbage to be the principal factor in sending a man to the gibbet? If the prosecution is warranted in its belief in the vital and incriminating importance of the testimony of Dr. H. F. Harris, director of the State Board of Health, this is exactly the outcome to be expected in the trial of Leo M. Frank, charged with the murder of little Mary Phagan. It remains, however, for the State to show explicitly just how the sensational statements made Read More ...

Conley to Bring Frank Case Crisis Atlanta GeorgianAugust 3rd, 1913 Negro's Testimony Now Supremely Important Both Sides Stake Their All on His Evidence STATE FORGES CHAIN TO TAX ALL THE INGENUITY OF DEFENSES LEGAL ARRAY First Week of Battle Has Fixed the Time Almost Exactly According to Theory of the Solicitor—Doctors' Testimony His Important Bearing. BY AN OLD POLICE REPORTER. There are two tenable theories of the manner in which little Mary Phagan met her tragic death in the National Pencil Factory on Saturday, April 26. Either she was murdered by Leo Frank, as charged in the indictment, or she Read More ...

Detective Waggoner Describes Extreme Nervousness of Frank Atlanta ConstitutionAugust 3rd, 1913 City Detective D. L. Waggoner was called to the stand following Miss Ferguson Attorney Rosser immediately raised the objection that he had been in the court room and the solicitor declared that he did not know whether or not the detective had Waggoner stated that he was present for about 20 minutes Wednesday. "He was not sworn and put under the rule," explained Solicitor Dorsey, "because I did not know that I would need him." The defense made no further objection and the examination began. "How long have you Read More ...

Photo-diagram of court room in old city hall building, where Leo M. Frank, superintendent of the National Pencil factory, is on trial for his life charged with the murder of Mary Phagan. Although the available seats are taken soon after court convenes, the crowd waits without all day for some weary spectator to give up a seat. On the second floor the many witnesses await their turn for a grueling examination by attorneys on either side. State's Case Against Frank As It Stands After Week's Testimony Is Shown Here Atlanta JournalAugust 3rd, 1913 Most Important Points State Sought to Prove Read More ...

Conley's Story In Detail; Women Barred By Judge Atlanta GeorgianAugust 4th, 1913 There was a murmur of excitement following the calling of Jim Conley; there was a wait of several minutes, officers having just left the police station with the negro a minute or two before he was called. Judge Roan impatiently ordered the Sheriff to bring in the witness. A number of spectators who were crowded up too close to the jury box were moved back by the court deputies. "The Sheriff hasn't got Jim Conley," said Attorney Rosser, after a statement from Deputy Sheriff Plennie Miner. "Mr. Starnes Read More ...

Leo Frank's Trial Is Attracting Universal Interest in Georgia Atlanta ConstitutionAugust 4th, 1913 By Britt Craig. There has never been a trial in Georgia's records rivaling the Frank case in general interest throughout the state even the Grace case being a poor second. The Myers trial—the famous Will Myers murder case which is yet to receive its final chapter—created considerable interest both locally and throughout the state but was a mere shadow beside the present case. The Appelbaum case was a short one, was put through the courts more as a matter of routine than anything else. Mrs. Appelbaum is Read More ...

Many Discrepancies Between Conley's Testimony and His Testimony Given to Detectives Atlanta JournalAugust 4th, 1913 Negro Swore Previously That He Never Saw Mary Phagan Enter Factory—Many Other Changes in Story—Fourth Time He's Changed Narrative James Conley's story as he told it on the witness stand Monday morning differs in many important details from the story he told to the detectives in his famous affidavit of confession. In that affidavit he said that by appointment he met Frank at the corner of Forsyth and Nelson streets the day of the murder, and that he first went to the factory on that Read More ...

Frank Very Nervous, Testifies L. O. Grice Atlanta ConstitutionAugust 5th, 1913 Witness Had Gone to the Pencil Factory After Reading The Constitution Extra L. O. Grice was the first witness put on the stand when court convened Monday morning. He was kept there but a few minutes. He stated that he is employed by W. H. Smith, auditor of the Atlanta and West Point railroad, and that he lives at 270 Houston street. "Where were you on Sunday, April 27, about 8 o'clock?" Mr. Dorsey started out. "I was in front of The Constitution building and I saw one of Read More ...

Lawyers on Both Sides Satisfied With Conley Atlanta JournalAugust 5th, 1913 "They Haven't Shaken Him a Particle," Says Dorsey—"He Has Told About 240 Lies Already," Declares Attorney Reuben Arnold Both the state's attorneys and the counsel for Leo M. Frank Tuesday at noon expressed satisfaction with the progress of the cross-examination of James Conley, the negro sweeper. The negro had been on the stand then for more than nine hours, during eight hours of which he had undergone a strenuous grilling at the hands of Attorney L. Z. Rosser. "They have not shaken him a particle," declared Solicitor Dorsey, "and Read More ...

Mrs. Frank Breaks Down in Court Atlanta GeorgianAugust 5th, 1913 Judge, Favoring Defense, Reserves Decision as to Striking Out Testimony CONLEY CONTINUES TO WITHSTAND FIERCE ATTACKS OF ROSSER Reuben Arnold created a sensation at the opening of Tuesday afternoon's session of the Frank trial by making a motion that all of the revolting testimony concerning Leo Frank's alleged conduct before the day of Mary Phagan's murder be stricken out of the records. He also demanded that all of Jim Conley's testimony in reference to watching at the door at Frank's direction be expunged except the time he claims he watched Read More ...

Conley Swears Frank Hid Purse Atlanta GeorgianAugust 6th, 1913 Sweeper's Grilling Ends After 151/2 Hours, His Main Story Unshaken MYSTERY OF GIRL'S MESH BAG EXPLAINED BY NEGRO ON STAND That Mary Phagan's silver-plated mesh bag, mysteriously missing since the girl's bruised and lifeless body was found the morning of April 27, was in Leo Frank's office a few minutes after the attack and later was placed in the safe in Frank's office was the startling statement made by the negro Conley Wednesday in the course of his re-direct examination by Solicitor Dorsey. At 11:10 the negro left the stand after Read More ...

Conley's Main Story Still Remains Unshaken Atlanta ConstitutionAugust 6th, 1913 GRILLED 12 HOURS BY LUTHER ROSSER JIM CONLEY INSISTS FRANK GUILTY MAN Declaring That "I Don't Remember," or, "No, Sir; I Didn't Say That," or Simply Affirming Blandly That He Had Lied on a Previous Occasion, Negro Sweeper Sticks to Story Told on the Witness Stand on Monday Morning Despite Most Rigid Cross-Examination of Trial. AFFIDAVIT BY MINCEY OF CONLEY CONFESSION IS DENIED BY WITNESS Apparently Despairing of Breaking the Negro, Attorneys for Defense Appeal to Judge Roan to Strike All Evidence Relating to Alleged Previous Conduct of Frank Before Read More ...

Judge Roan Reverses Decision on Conley Testimony Atlanta JournalAugust 6th, 1913 Conley's Whole Testimony Will Be Allowed to Stay in Record of Frank Case State Ready With Corroborating Witnesses, if Evidence Is Held to Be Admissible—Jim Conley Adds New and Sensational Feature to His Testimony, Declaring He Saw Frank Place Mary Phagan's Pocketbook in the Factory Safe SOLICITOR DORSEY APPLAUDED IN COURT WHEN SUSTAINED BY RECORDS AFTER DISPUTE WITH ROSSER Those Responsible for Applause Were Immediately Ejected From the Court Room—Dr. H. F. Harris Expected to Resume Stand During Afternoon—State Will Furnish Presentation of Its Case by Thursday but Hardly Read More ...

Roan's Ruling Heavy Blow to Defense Atlanta GeorgianAugust 7th, 1913 Judge Roan administered a severe blow to the defense Wednesday when he ruled that all of Conley's story should stand, although portions of it, he acknowledged, would have been inadmissible had objection been made at the time the testimony was offered. Judge to Rule as Case Proceeds. It was a particularly difficult allegation to combat. Unlike many allegations, it was exactly as hard to fight in the event it was false as in case it was founded on fact. Judge Roan said in regard to the testimony of Dalton that Read More ...

  Brilliant Legal Battle Is Sure as Hooper And Arnold Clash in Trial of Leo Frank The Atlanta Georgian Sunday, June 29, 1913 * * Alternate headline from another page is shown in brackets above. By An Old Police Reporter. As deplorable as the Phagan case is in all its melancholy details, it already is evident enough that there will come of it eventually much that the community may be thankful for. In the first place, Atlanta and Georgia, and incidentally the entire South will have learned a good lesson in law and order, justice and fair play, and to Read More ...

Detective Harry Scott's Testimony as Given Before Coroner's Jury Atlanta JournalFriday, May 9th, 1913 An unexpected turn was given to the coroner's inquest into the mysterious murder of Mary Phagan, Thursday afternoon, when Harry Scott, the Pinkerton detective who has been representing that agency in its work on the case, was called to the stand by the coroner. Mr. Scott was in the room at the moment. One new detail that he revealed was in a reply to a direct question from the coroner, when he stated that Herbert Haas, attorney for Leo M. Frank and attorney for the National Read More ...

Felder Barely Missed Being Trapped by His Own Dictograph Atlanta JournalTuesday, May 27th, 1913 Last week, when the detectives were laying their plans to trap Colonel Thomas B. Felder with a dictograph, they came very near trapping the colonel with his own instrument. The amusing incident, which has just come to light, revolves about Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey. Before a dictograph was installed in the Williams house room the city detectives told the solicitor that the attorney was negotiating for the purchase for $1,000 of certain papers in the Phagan case. The solicitor said nothing about the confidences of Read More ...

Indictment of Both Lee and Frank is Asked Atlanta GeorgianFriday, May 23rd, 1913 Great Mass of Evidence Carefully Prepared by Solicitor Submitted to Grand Jury. CRIME STUDIED 3 HOURS, ADJOURNS TILL SATURDAY Utmost Care Taken to Insure Secrecy at the Investigation, Diagram Studied. The Phagan case is now in the process of investigation by the Fulton County Grand Jury. Two bills for indictment of Leo M. Frank and Newt Lee, for the murder of Mary Phagan, were presented before that tribunal at its session Friday morning by Solicitor Dorsey. A host of witnesses gave their testimony. The torn and blood-stained Read More ...

Lawyers Hammer Lee for Two Hours at Monday Afternoon Session Atlanta JournalJuly 29th, 1913 Negro Nightwatchman Who Found Mary Phagan's Body in National Pencil Factory on Stand—Girl's Mother and Newsboy Examined Newt Lee, the negro nightwatchman who found Mary Phagan's body in the pencil factory basement, was hammered by the defense for over two hours, on the witness stand Monday afternoon. Mrs. J. W. Coleman, mother of the murdered child, and George W. Epps, a playmate who came to town with her on the fatal day, testified in that order. Mrs. Coleman being the first witness called to the stand Read More ...

Probe Phagan Case Grand Jury Urged Atlanta ConstitutionTuesday, May 6th, 1913 Crime Calls for Your Immediate Attention, Declares Judge Ellis, in His Charge. "The Mary Phagan case calls for your immediate and vigorous attention. The power of the state is behind you. What appears to be an awful crime has been committed, and the welfare of the community, the good name of Atlanta, public justice and the majesty of the law demand at the hands of this grand jury and of all officers of the law the most searching investigation and the prompt bringing to trial of the guilty party." Read More ...