A. S. Colyar
Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.
Atlanta Constitution
Sunday, May 25th, 1913
Four sworn statements concerning the career of A. S. Colyar, and declaring him a criminal and unworthy of belief, have been furnished The Constitution by Colonel Thomas B. Felder. They are as follows:
Record in Nashville.
State of Georgia, County of Fulton—Personally appeared before the undersigned, an officer authorized by law to administer oaths, C. R. Atchison, who, first being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he was born and reared in the city of Nashville, Tenn., and lived there until January 1, 1913, when he removed to the city of Atlanta, state and county aforesaid, and since that date has been a citizen thereof.
Deponent further says that he resides at the Georgian Terrace, in said city, and is vice president of the Massengale Advertising agency, with offices in the Candler building, said city, county and state.
Deponent further says, on oath, he has known A. S. Colyar, Jr., from boyhood, and that he is thoroughly well acquainted with his reputation and character for truth and veracity.
Deponent further says, on oath, that he is in a general way familiar with the criminal record of Colyar, covering a period of approximately twenty-five (25) years. Deponent knows that he has been arrested during this period in several states of the union for the offenses of forgery, perjury and impersonating others to obtain money; that he has been incarcerated in the jails of several states; that he is a moral degenerate, pervert, and a chronic crook and black leg, and deponent does not hesitate to say that from a knowledge of his character and reputation he would not believe him on oath.
C. R. ATCHISON,
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24th day of May, 1913.
BENEDICT KOBAK,
Notary Public, Fulton County, Ga.
Says Colyar Is Crook.
Georgia, Fulton County—Personally appeared before the undersigned, an officer authorized by law to administer oaths, E. W. McNeal, who, first being duly and legally sworn, deposes and says: That he was a citizen of the city of Nashville, Tenn., from 1887 to 1894; deponent is now a citizen of Atlanta with office and place of business at 92 South Forsyth street.
Deponent says, on oath, that he is familiar with the character and reputation of A. S. Colyar, Jr. Deponent says, on oath, that the said Colyar is known as a professional crook, black-leg and adventurer; that he has been charged from time to time with offenses of forgery, perjury, conspiracy, blackmail, etc.; that from time to time he has been incarcerated in the jails from the city of New York to New Orleans.
Deponent firmly believes that there is not a crime in the catalogue that he would willingly and quickly commit for money. On account of his father, deponent makes this affidavit with great reluctance, but nevertheless is compelled to make this affidavit because of the charges made by the said A. S. Colyar, Jr., against one of our best and most reputable citizens of the city of Atlanta. From a knowledge of the character of the said Colyar, deponent says, without hesitation, that he would not believe him on his oath.
E. W. M’NEAL,
Sworn to and subscribed before me this, the 24th day of May, 1913.
BENEDICT KOBAK.
Notary Public, Fulton County, Ga.
Arrested Many Times.
State of Georgia, County of Fulton—Personally appeared before the undersigned officer, authorized by law to administer oaths, W. D. Rhea, who first being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he was formerly a resident in the city of Nashvill[e], and lived there until 1897, and subsequently the deponent resided there from 1902 to 1910, when he removed to the city of Atlanta, where he has resided since at No. 308 Ponce de Leon avenue, and now at the Georgian Terrace.
Deponent further says, on oath, that he has known A. S. Colyar for thirty years, during a portion of this time he lived as next-door neighbor to him at Nashville, and that he is thoroughly well acquainted with this reputation, honesty, character and veracity. Deponent further says, on oath, that he is in a general way acquainted with the criminal record of this man Colyar, covering the period of his acquaintance with him; that he has, from time to time, been arrested for divers and sundry crimes, such as forgery, blackmail, fraud, and that he has operated in a number of states in the union, and has been incarcerated in the jails of many of them; that he is looked upon as a notorious crook wherever he is known, and dependent does not hesitate to say that from his knowledge of his character he would not believe him on his oath.
W. D. RHEA.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24th day of May, 1913.
BENEDICT KOBAK.
Notary Public, Fulton County, Ga.
His Life in Bartow.
Georgia, Fulton County—In person before the undersigned attesting officer, authorized under the laws of said state to administer oaths, appeared W. A. Milner, who, first being duly sworn, deposes and says:
That he is a practicing attorney in Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia, and that he knows A. S. Colyar and his general reputation, and that said Colyar’s reputation is known by the good people of Bartow county; that said Colyar’s criminal record is known by the people in Cartersville and Bartow county, and that said reputation is bad and that said Colyar is unworthy of belief; that scores of people in Bartow county will testify that they would not believe said Colyar on oath, nor would deponent believe said Colyar on oath.
Deponent further says that said Colyar arose in a religious meeting on one occasion and confessed that he was an ex-convict, so he has been informed, and that his record was criminal and that he wished to reform; deponent further says that said Colyar married a lady in Cartersville, and that he bears an unsavory reputation in Bartow county, and that said Colyar could not be believed on oath.
W. A. MILNER.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24th day of May, 1913.
BENEDICT KOBAK,
Notary Public, Fulton County, Ga.
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Atlanta Constitution, May 25th 1913, “Colyar Declared Criminal and Not Worthy of Belief in Four Sworn Statements,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)