Leo Frank TV

Foreman Tells Why He Holds Conley Guilty Atlanta GeorgianMonday, June 9th, 1913 R. P. Barrett, in Letter to Georgian, Gives Reasons for Suspecting Negro of Crime. R. P. Barrett, foreman of the metal department at the National Pencil Factory, in a letter to The Georgian Monday, gives his reasons for believing that Jim Conley, negro sweeper at the plant, attacked and strangled Mary Phagan. It was Barrett who found the strands of hair on the lathing machine in his department. This is supposed to be where the girl was thrown against the machine in her struggles. Later Barrett testified positively Read More ...

Leo Frank Reported Ready for His Trial Atlanta ConstitutionTuesday, June 10, 1913 Many Witnesses Are Being Examined Every Day by Attorneys for the Defense That counsel for Leo Frank is ready for trial was freely reported over the city Monday. Attorney Luther Z. Rosser, his lawyer, when asked regarding this report, gave the reply that has been characteristic of his attitude during the Phagan case. "I have nothing to say." He would in nowise commit himself. It is understood, however, that Mr. Rosser has informed friends that the defense is ready and that there will be no delay in putting Read More ...

Dictograph Records Crooked, Says Gentry The Atlanta ConstitutionJune 11, 1913 NOTEBOOK WILL PROVE REPORTS WERE ‘PADDED,' HE SAYS IN AFFIDAVIT Young Stenographer, Who Made the Report of the Conversation in Room No. 31 Williams House, Voluntarily Makes Statement Before a Notary Public in the City of Washington D. C., Where He Is Employed. ASSERTS THAT HE LEFT ATLANTA WHEN INFORMED OVER TELEPHONE HE MIGHT BE PUT UNDER ARREST Swears That A. S. Colyar Has Made Effort to Purchase His Original Notes, Which Are Now in Possession of His Brotheró"Grand Jury Should Make an Investigation" Declares Mayor James G. Woodward. The Read More ...

Eyewitness to Phagan Slaying Sought Atlanta GeorgianTuesday, June 10th, 1913 Story That Companion of Conley Saw Him Strike Down Girl Opens New Clews. Jim Conley, whose sensational story has made him an accessory after the fact in the murder of Mary Phagan, is sticking closely to the details he unfolded in his remarkable affidavit, according to his attorney, William M. Smith. Mr. Smith said Tuesday morning that Conley has varied in no essential particular from the original tale of his part in the disposal of the body of the strangled girl, under the direction of Leo Frank. To Mr. Smith Read More ...

Luther Z. Rosser, Attorney for Frank, Trains His Guns on City Detective Chief The Atlanta JournalTuesday, June 10, 1913 SAYS CHIEF LANFORD IS NOT SEEKING FOR TRUTH OF MURDER He Charges That the Detective Chief Has Banked His Sense and Reputation on Proving Frank Guilty "WHY HASN'T CONLEY BEEN BEFORE JURY?" Attorney Declares Evidence All Points to Negro—Says Felder-Lanford Controversy Unfair to His Client Luther Z. Rosser, chief counsel for Leo M. Frank, the pencil factory superintendent, who is under indictment for the murder of Mary Phagan, Tuesday afternoon broke his persistent silence regarding the case and gave out a Read More ...

Defense to Make Next Move in Phagan Case Atlanta JournalMonday, June 9th, 1913 Apparently Prosecuting Officials Consider Their Investigation Complete Chief of Detectives Lanford has announced that Jim Conley, the negro sweeper, who is the state's principal witness in the case against Leo M. Frank, indicted for the murder of Mary Phagan, will not be cross-examined again unless he voluntarily sends for the officers to make a statement. It is known that no developments have changed the theory of the prosecuting authorities, and it is apparent from the remark of Chief Lanford and other statements that the officials consider the Read More ...

Frank Tried to Flirt With Murdered Girl Says Her Boy Chum At the left top is Detective Black, of the city, and at the right Detective Scott, of the Pinkertons. Below is a scene of the inquest. At the bottom is a sketch by Henderson of the negro, Newt Lee, whose straightforward story at the inquest has tended to lift suspicion from him. Atlanta ConstitutionThursday, May 1st 1913 Mary Phagan Was Growing Afraid of Advances Made to Her by Superintendent of the Factory, George W. Epps, 15 Years Old, Tells the Coroner's Jury. BOY HAD ENGAGEMENT TO MEET HER SATURDAY BUT Read More ...

Evidence Against Frank Conclusive, Say Police Atlanta GeorgianMonday, May 26th, 1913 Chief of Detectives Newport Lanford Monday announced that the mystery of the Mary Phagan tragedy is solved, as nearly as is possible without the absolute, direct testimony of eyewitnesses, and expressed himself as perfectly satisfied with the evidence now in hand. Accompanying this statement comes the authoritative announcement that the great strangling crime will be placed on Leo M. Frank, now under indictment on the charge of murder, and that Newt Lee, the suspected negro night watchman of the National Pencil Factory, will not be indicted. Lee will be Read More ...

State Enters Phagan Case; Frank and Lee are Taken to Tower Atlanta GeorgianThursday, May 1st, 1913 Watchman and Frank Go on Witness Stand This Afternoon—Dorsey, Dissatisfied, May Call Special Session of Grand Jury To-morrow. Coroner Donohuoo late to-day issued a commitment against Leo M. Frank, superintendent at the National Pencil Company, and Newt Lee, night watchman, charging them with being suspected in connection with the death of Mary Phagan and remanding them to the custody of the sheriff. They were later taken to the Tower. Arthur Mullinaux , held since Sunday, was released. Frank's commitment read as follows: To Jailor: Read More ...

The big picture in the center shows the head of the detective department, Chief Newport A. Lanford. To his left is John R. Black, city detective, who was largely instrumental in convicting the Druid Hills murderers. On the extreme left at the top is Detective Pat Campbell, and below him is J. N. Starnes. To the right of the chief is Harry Scott, of the Pinkertons, who are working on the mystery. The top picture at the extreme right is City Detective S. L. (Bass) Rosser, and below is Detective W. F. Bullard. Detectives Eliminate Evidence in Conflict with Theory Read More ...

Frank is Guilty, Says Pinkerton Atlanta ConstitutionMonday, May 26th, 1913 Sufficient Evidence Found to Convict Him, Declares Man Hired by the National Pencil Company. Announcing that he had secured evidence sufficient to convict his employer Harry Scott, assistant superintendent of the Pinkertons, who has been retained by the National Pencil company since the second day of the Phagan tragedy, said to a reporter for The Constitution Sunday night that it was his intention to help prosecute the suspected superintendent. Scott has been in command of the Pinkerton forces working on the investigation. His employment came about in answer to a Read More ...

Negro Conley Now Says He Helped to Carry Away Body Atlanta GeorgianFriday, May 30th, 1913 Chief of Detectives Lanford admitted Friday morning that Jim Conley, under the rack of the third degree, had made the astounding confession that he had assisted Leo M. Frank in disposing of the body of the murdered Mary Phagan. His new statement is believed to contain even more startling admissions than have not yet been made public. If the negro sweeper is to be believed after his long series of deceits and lies, this forms the most damaging evidence that has been brought against Frank Read More ...

"My Husband is Innocent," Declares Mrs. Leo M. Frank In First Public Statement Atlanta JournalThursday, June 5th, 1913 Wife of Accused Penil Factory Superintendent Arraigns Solicitor General Dorsey for What She Terms the Torturing of Witnesses Into Making Desired Affidavits—Says Treatment of Her Negro Cook by Solicitor and Detectives Taxed Patience DECLARES MR. FRANK'S DEMEANOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT OF AN INNOCENT MAN Says Many Slanders Have Been Circulated Concerning the Alleged Unhappy Married Life of Herself and Her Husband—"He Could Not Have Been the Good Husband He Has Been to Me if He Were a Criminal," Asserts Mrs. Frank Read More ...

Servant of Frank is Liberated After Long Examination Atlanta ConstitutionWednesday, June 4th, 1913 Despite Gruelling Third Degree, Woman Maintains Denial of Having Told Conflicting Stories. FACED BY HUSBAND, SHE CONTRADICTS HIM Her Release Came After Her Attorney Had Threatened to Take Out Habeas Corpus Proceedings. Minola McKnight, the servant girl held in the Mary Phagan case, was given her freedom early last night, and left police headquarters for her home on Pulliam street. She was not liberated, however, until the detectives had obtained her signature to an affidavit telling what she knew of Frank's actions the day of the murder. Read More ...

Frank's Cook Was Counted Upon as Defense Witness Atlanta GeorgianWednesday, June 4th, 1913 While police activities have been turned to this line of investigation, the negro sweeper, Jim Conley, has been given a rest. Chief of Detectives Lanford stated that the negro would be quizzed no more. Cook Counted on by Defense. "If he has not told the whole truth," said the Chief, "he will send for me within the next few days, I believe." The cook is one of the five witnesses upon whom the defense has relied to prove that Frank returned home for luncheon at 1:20 o'clock Read More ...

Conley Sticks to His Story; Declares Detective Chief Atlanta JournalFriday, June 6th 1913 Report of a Confession, Different From One Given to the Detectives, Is Ridiculed by Chief Lanford DORSEY MAKES REPLY TO MRS. L. M. FRANK No More News of Phagan Case to Be Given to Newspapers Except Through Head of Detectives Chief of Detectives Newport A. Lanford gave out a statement Friday morning in which he characterized as absurd the rumor that James Conley, the negro pencil factory sweeper, had ever made any confessions other than those contained in the affidavits given the detectives. The chief stated that Read More ...

Sensational Affidavit Made by Minola M'Knight, Negro Cook at Home of L. M. Frank Atlanta JournalWednesday, June 4th, 1913 In This Affidavit Minola Tells of Conversation That Occurred Between Mrs. Frank and Mrs. Selig, In Which Mrs. Frank Is Alleged to Have Said Frank Was Drinking on Night of Tragedy, and That He Wanted a Pistol to Kill Himself MRS. FRANK SAID, SO NEGRO COOK SWEARS, THAT FRANK MADE HER SLEEP ON THE FLOOR THAT NIGHT Negro Says Further That Frank Came Home at 1:30 o'Clock on Fatal Saturday, but Remained Only About Ten Minutes, and That He Left Without Read More ...

Report Negro Found Who Saw Phagan Attack Atlanta GeorgianFriday, June 6th, 1913 St. Louis, June 6.—That a negro, who is alleged to have said he witnessed the murder of Mary Phagan in Atlanta, is under arrest in Cairo, Ill., and is about to be returned to Atlanta by a Pinkerton detective, was the information brought into St. Louis today by a passenger who declared he overheard a conversation betwene the detective and an attorney in the case who were on the train en route to Cairo. According to the passenger, the negro has admitted that he was in Atlanta with Read More ...

Dorsey Replies to the Charges of Mrs. L. Frank Atlanta ConstitutionFriday, June 6th, 1913 Says the Wife of an Accused Man Would Be the Last to Learn of Her Husband's Guilt. MRS. FRANK BITTER IN HER CRITICISM Detective Department Not at All Disturbed Over Denial of the McKnight Woman That She Signed Affidavit. The wife of a man accused of crime would probably be the last person to learn all of the facts establishing her husband's guilt, and certainly would be the last person to admit his culpability, even though it be proved by overwhelming evidence. Perhaps the most unpleasant Read More ...

Frank Wanted Gun to Take His Life, Says Negro Cook Atlanta ConstitutionThursday, June 5th, 1913 Sensational Affidavit Made for the Police by Minola McKnight, Servant in Leo Frank's Home. Fully as startling as the recent confession of James Conley, an affidavit purporting to have been sworn to by Minola McKnight, the servant girl of the Frank household, was given out to the newspapers yesterday afternoon by Chief Lanford. The detectives assert it is the "final straw" in the mass of evidence they boast of having accumulated. Attesting to a statement that Frank was nervous and excited on the tragedy night, Read More ...

Cook Repudiates Entire Affidavit Police Possess Atlanta GeorgianThursday, June 5th, 1913 Utter repudiation of the affidavits which she was alleged to have sworn to incriminating conversations in the home of Leo M. Frank, indicted for the slaying of Mary Phagan, was made Thursday by Minola McKnight, negro cook for the accused factory superintendent and his wife's parents. The woman denies absolutely every statement attributed to her by the police, and denies that she even signed the paper made public by the police. The Georgian presented the McKnight affidavit to its readers with the distinct admonition that it must not be Read More ...

Attorney Retained for Negro Servant at Frank's Home Atlanta JournalTuesday, June 3rd, 1913 George Gordon Represents Minola McKnight as Attorney and May Seek Habeas Corpus During Afternoon NEGRESS DECLARES HER HUSBAND HAS LIED She Swears Leo M. Frank Was at Home at Time He Testified Before the Coroner's Inquest It became known Tuesday morning that Attorney George Gordon had been retained to represent Minola McKnight, the negro cook employed by Mr. and Mrs. Emil Selig, parents-in-law of Leo M. Frank, held for the murder of Mary Phagan. Who employed the lawyer could not be learned, but the fact remains that Read More ...

Bitter Fight Certain in Trial of Frank Atlanta GeorgianTuesday, June 3rd, 1913 Defense Prepares to Show Glaring Discrepancies in Affidavit of James Conley. "Developments of a startling nature may be expected from day to day in the Phagan case," said Chief of Detectives Lanford Tuesday morning. "They may be expected right up to the date that the trial of Leo Frank begins. "That we feel we practically have a conclusive case against the factory superintendent does not mean that we are resting in our labors to the slightest extent. We are a little more at rest in our minds, that Read More ...

Conley is Removed from Fulton Tower at His Own Request Atlanta ConstitutionSunday, June 1st, 1913 Friends of Leo Frank Have Tried to Intimidate Him, Negro Sweeper Tells Detective Chief as Reason for His Transfer to the Police Station. LANFORD RAPS SHERIFF DECLARING HE IS NOT ASSISTING THE POLICE "He Appears to Be Placing Obstacles in Our Way," Asserts Chief, in Speaking of Attempts to Interview the Suspected Superintendent. Mangum Denies Intimidation Attempts. Chief of Detectives Newport Lanford is authority for the statement that James Conley, the negro floor sweeper of the National Pencil factory, who, in his latest affidavit, has Read More ...

Mary Phagan's Murder Was Work of a Negro Declares Leo M. Frank Atlanta ConstitutionSaturday, May 31st, 1913 "No Man With Common Sense Would Even Suspect That I Did It," Prisoner in Fulton Tower Tells Attache. "It's a Negro's Crime Through and Through." Asserts His Innocence to Turnkeys and to Fellow Prisoners. "IT'S UP TO MR. FRANK TO TELL THE TRUTH," ASSERTS JAMES CONLEY "I Believe He'd Let ‘Em Hang Me to Get Out of It Himself if He Had the Chance," Says Negro Sweeper—Chief Lanford Is Pleased With Work of Department and Ready for the Case to Come to Trial Read More ...

At the top is a photograph of the note written by James Conley, the negro sweeper, at the factory Friday afternoon after he had pantomimed his part in the murder of Mary Phagan. He wrote from memory and without prompting. At the bottom is a portion of one of the notes found by the dead girl's body and which Conley admits he wrote. Conley's Statement Analyzed From Two Different Angles Atlanta JournalSunday, June 1st, 1913 The Weak Points in the Negro's Story Are Shown in One Analysis and the Points That Would Seem to Add to Its Reasonableness Are Weighed Read More ...

Current in Effect on Day of Tragedy Atlanta ConstitutionSaturday, June 7th, 1913 Report That Elevator in Pencil Factory Was Not Running Proves Groundless. Following a widely-prevalent rumor that Leo Frank's defense will strive to prove that the current was shut off from the pencil factory plant on the day Mary Phagan was slain, and that, for this reason, James Conley could not have lowered the girl's body to the basement on the electrically-driven elevator as he claims in his confession, it was established conclusively last night that the Georgia Railway and Power company's electric service was in effect on the Read More ...

Frank's Defense is Outlined Atlanta JournalMonday, June 2nd, 1913 Mary Phagan Met Death on First Floor, Is Claim Defense Will Endeavor to Show That Conley Struck Her in Head and Threw Her Down Elevator Shaft ELEVATOR WAS NOT MOVED APRIL 26, IT IS CONTENDED Blood Spots on Second Floor Explained by Fact That Employes Frequently Cut Fingers—Theory in Detail From apparently reliable authority it was learned Monday that the theory to be advanced in defense of Leo M. Frank, the pencil factory superintendent, who has been indicted for the murder of Mary Phagan, will be that James Conley, the negro Read More ...

Phagan Inquest in Session; Six Witnesses are Examined Before Adjournment to 2:30 Lemmie Quinn, foreman, who testified that he visited the factory and talked to Mr. Frank just after Mary Phagan is supposed to have left with her pay envelope. He was given a searching examination by the coroner Thursday, but stuck to his statement. Atlanta JournalThursday, May 8th, 1913 Lemmie Quinn, the Factory Foreman, Was Put Through a Grilling Examination, but He Steadily Maintained That He Visited the Factory Shortly After the Time Mary Phagan is Supposed to Have Left With Her Pay Envelope FRANK'S TREATMENT OF GIRLS IN Read More ...

Negro Sweeper Tells Officer Frank Asked Him to Write Some Notes Day Before Tragedy Atlanta JournalSaturday, May 24th, 1913 He Thinks These Notes Are the Same as Those Found by the Body of the Murdered Girl, but Had Not Seen the Original Notes When He Made His Sensational Statement to the Detectives Saturday Morning NEGRO STUCK TO HIS STORY THROUGH GRUELLING EXAMINATION IN SOLICITOR'S OFFICE SATURDAY Conley Voluntarily Sent for Detectives to Make His Statement, It Is Declared — He Told the Detectives That He Wanted to Confess the Whole Truth, That Frank Called Him Into His Office and Told Read More ...

Frank the Guilty Man, Declares Chief Lanford Atlanta ConstitutionSunday, May 25th, 1913 "Frank will be convicted. He is the guilty man, and we will show it beyond a doubt. Evidence that we hold but will not reveal will startle those who believe his innocence into conviction of his guilt. It will not be disclosed until the trial. "I have been confident throughout the investigation of his guilt. I am satisfied now. Colonel Felder's charges that we have shielded Frank can find no substantiation. The evidence we have unearthed is proof to the contrary. "The detectives of police headquarters have solved Read More ...

Best Detective in America Now is on Case, Says Dorsey Miss Nellie Pettis, at top, who testified against Frank at the inquest. At the bottom, Mrs. Lillie Pettis, her sister-in-law, former employee at the pencil factory. Atlanta GeorgianFriday, May 9th, 1913 Solicitor Dorsey Says He Has Secured Powerful Aid in Search for Slayer of Girl—Woman Says She Heard Screams in Pencil Factory. Shelby Smith, chairman of the Fulton commission, declared Friday afternoon that the board would back Solicitor Dorsey in any and all expense he might incur in the state's exhaustive investigation into the Phagan murder mystery. Smith said; "We Read More ...

"Lanford is the Controlling Genius of Conspiracy to Protect the Murderer of Little Mary Phagan" Atlanta JournalSunday, May 25th, 1913 So Declares Colonel Thomas B. Felder in Scathing Arraignment of Chief of Detectives and Those Assisting Him. Says Lanford and the Pinkerton Detectives Are Doing All They Can to Hamper the Phagan Investigation — Refers to Lanford as the "Lieutenant Becker" of the Department CHARGES A. S. COLYAR WITH BEING A SELF-CONFESSED FORGER AND BLACKMAILER Colonel Felder Says He Met Colyar Two and a Half Years Ago. During His Controversy With Governor Blease, and That Colyar Palmed Off Forged Affidavits Read More ...

Dorsey Puts Own Sleuths Onto Phagan Slaying Case Atlanta GeorgianFriday, May 2nd, 1913 200 Witnesses To Be Called When Inquest Into Slaying of Factory Girl Is Resumed Next Monday—Detectives Are Busy. Coroner Declares Inquiry Will Not Be Made Hastily—Every Clew To Be Probed Thoroughly. Lee and Frank Are in Tower. Grand Jury Meets, but Considers Only Routine Matters—Was No Truth in Report That Militia Had Been Ordered to Mobilize. Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey this afternoon engaged private detectives to run down clews which have not as yet been fully developed by the men already working on the Phagan case. Read More ...

How Frank Spent Day of Tragedy Atlanta GeorgianTuesday, May 6th, 1913 Factory Superintendent Explains Every Hour of the Saturday Phagan Girl Was Slain. Here is told how Frank passed the whole day of the Saturday when Mary Phagan was killed. The following is taken from Frank's testimony: 7 o'clock a. m.—Arose, and dressed at home. 8—Left home for factory. 8:20—Arrived at factory. 8:50 or 9—M. D. Darley and others entered there. 10—Went over to office of Sig Montag, factory manager, on Nelson Street. 11—Went back to the factory office. 12—Stenographer and office boy left him alone in office. 12:10 p. Read More ...

"Boots" Rogers, former county policeman who drove the police to the Pencil Factory when the first news of the Phagan slaying reached headquarters. "Boots" Rogers Tells How Body Was Found Atlanta GeorgianThursday, May 8th, 1913 W. W. Rogers was the first witness. He lives at 104 McDonough Road, and operates an automobile for himself. He said he took a party of officers to the National Pencil plant at five minutes past 3 o'clock Sunday morning, April 27. He corroborated statements of officers regarding the finding of Mary Phagan's body and the notes beside it, and of the body being face Read More ...

Solicitor Dorsey Orders Body Exhumed in the Hope of Getting New Evidence Atlanta GeorgianWednesday, May 7th, 1913 Inquest, To Be Resumed Thursday, Will Bring Out Important Facts Not Yet Made Public—Medical Experts To Be Called by Coroner. New mystery was added to the Mary Phagan case on Wednesday, when the authorities for some reason not yet disclosed, did not follow out the order given by Solicitor Dorsey for the exhumation of the remains. It was said by Solicitor Dorsey that he had given this order in the hope that new clews might be discovered. A difference of opinion as to Read More ...

Detective Chief Fired for Arresting Bowen as a Phagan Suspect Atlanta ConstitutionWednesday, May 7th, 1913 Former Atlantan, Who Was Taken Into Custody in Houston, Texas, Early on Monday Night, Released After an Investigation by Chief of Police Department, Who Says He Is Convinced of His Innocence. BOWEN WAS IN CHINERO ON DAY OF THE MURDER HE TELLS DETECTIVES His Father, Cal Bowen, of Newnan, Georgia, Received a Message Last Night From His Son, Declaring That He Had Been Fired — Bowen Is Well Connected in Georgia and His Friends Are Indignant Over His Arrest. Paul P. Bowen, former Atlantan, who Read More ...

Frank Will Take Stand at Inquest Atlanta ConstitutionThursday, May 8th, 1913 Mrs. Mattie White Tells Detectives That on Afternoon of Killing She Saw Negro in Factory. Leo M. Frank will probably be the first witness to take the stand in the Mary Phagan murder inquest to be resumed this morning at 9:30 o'clock in police headquarters. He will be examined thoroughly along lines which neither the chief of detectives, coroner nor solicitor general will disclose. He was resting comfortably at midnight, and, according to reports from the Tower in which he is imprisoned, he is in fit condition to undergo Read More ...

Two New Witnesses in Phagan Mystery to Testify Thursday Atlanta JournalWednesday, May 7th, 1913 Detectives Said to Attach Much Importance to Testimony That Two Girls Will Give When Inquest Resumes INQUEST WILL BE ENDED THURSDAY, SAYS DONEHOO Paul P. Bowen Has Been Released by Houston Officials—Chief Detective and 14 Policemen Are Discharged Two new witnesses, whom the detectives have recently located, are expected to give testimony of importance at the final session of the Phagan inquest Thursday. One of the witnesses is Miss Grace Hix, of 100 McDonough road, daughter of James E. Hix. Miss Hix worked at the same Read More ...