Audio Book – The Leo Frank Case: The Lynching of a Guilty Man, part 6

by Philip St. Raymond for The American Mercury PARTISANS OF Leo Frank have often tried to discredit Jim Conley’s testimony by pointing out that his account of the visit of Corinthia Hall and Emma Clark to the pencil factory where the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan took place was off by more than an hour. But these Frank partisans fail to Continue Reading →

Seek Negro Who Says He Was Eye-Witness to Phagan Murder

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Sunday, July 13, 1913 Fugitive, Reported to Have Been Traced to Birmingham, Declares That He Witnessed the Attack on the Girl Slain in the Pencil Plant. LAYS CRIME TO BLACK WITH WHOM HE HAD GAMBLED Loser at Dice, He Declares, Planned to Continue Reading →

Affidavits to Back Mincey Story Found

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Sunday, July 13, 1913 Attorney Leavitt Declares Tale That Conley Admitted Killing Girl Will Stand Test. NEWT LEE STILL HELD IN JAIL Solicitor General Hugh Dorsey Promises to Present a Bill Against Him as Suspect. That several negro women overheard Jim Conley Continue Reading →

Audio Book – The Leo Frank Case: The Lynching of a Guilty Man, part 5

by Philip St. Raymond for The American Mercury JIM Conley’s testimony in the Leo Frank case riveted the attention of not only all those present in the courtroom, but the entire state of Georgia and beyond hung on his words as they were reported. Despite being a member of a disparaged minority, Conley’s word was given respectful attention — and ultimately Continue Reading →

Former Story True, Says Negro Sweeper

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Constitution Sunday, July 13, 1913 Jim Conley Declares Positively That He Has Made No New Admissions. Jim Conley, the negro sweeper, who was reached for a moment by newspaper reporters last night, reiterated his former story and declared positively that he had made Continue Reading →

Audio Book – The Leo Frank Case: The Lynching of a Guilty Man, part 4

by Philip St. Raymond for The American Mercury WHEN LEO FRANK was first arrested for the murder of Mary Phagan, his and his defense team’s major focus was placing the blame on Newt Lee, the Black night watchman who discovered the murdered girl’s body. They were so eager to avoid any attention being given to another Black man, Jim Conley, the Continue Reading →

Mincey’s Story Jolts Police to Activity

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Friday, July 11, 1913 *Editor’s Note: The following column ran in the final edition of the Georgian with the title “Georgian’s Story Stirs Officials to Action,” and contains the following bracketed text in lieu of the first two paragraphs and preceding sub-headline. Continue Reading →

Mary Phagan Pay Envelope Found

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Journal Wednesday, July 9, 1913 MYSTERY’S LOST LINK IS FOUND NEAR WHERE CONLEY SAYS HE SAT Finding of Portion of Salary Envelope Bearing Victim’s Name Expected to Strengthen Defense’s Contention CONTENTS OF ENVELOPE HAVE NEVER BEEN FOUND Find Was Made by Pinkertons Just Continue Reading →

New Evidence in Phagan Case Found

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Wednesday, July 9, 1913 iGrl [sic] Called to Tell of Negro She Saw in Pencil Factory—Lee Stays in Jail. A sensation in the Phagan murder mystery developed Wednesday afternoon when Solicitor Dorsey summoned Miss Mattie Smith under a special subpena to question Continue Reading →

Girl Springs Sensation in Phagan Case

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Wednesday, July 9, 1913 PART OF PAY ENVELOPE FOUND Discovered Shortly After Tragedy by Detectives, but Find Was Kept Secret. *Editor’s Note: The following headlines also appeared: (Night Edition): NEW PHAGAN EVIDENCE FOUND PART OF PAY ENVELOPE HELD BY POLICE (Extra Final Continue Reading →

State Sure Lee Will Not Be Released

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, July 8, 1913 Dorsey Confident That Move, Which May Confront Frank With Conley, Is Futile. Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey said Tuesday he was confident the State would be able to defeat any attempt to get Newt Lee out of the Continue Reading →

Grants Right to Demand Lee’s Freedom

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, July 8, 1913 Negro’s Counsel Secures Chance to Argue for Habeas Corpus Writ Wednesday. Reuben R. Arnold, of counsel for Leo M. Frank, communicated with Sheriff Mangum Tuesday afternoon directing him under no circumstances to permit the removal of Frank to Continue Reading →

Lee’s Attorney is Ready for Writ Fight

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Monday, July 7, 1913 Habeas Corpus Move to Free Negro in Phagan Case Due to Start Monday. Habeas corpus proceedings in behalf of Newt Lee, negro night watchman at the National Pencil Factory, were promised Monday by the negro’s attorney, Bernard L. Continue Reading →

New Move in Phagan Case by Solicitor

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Sunday, July 6, 1913 Dorsey Will Endeavor to Force Defense to Disclose Their Documentary Evidence. ACT IS COUNTERSTROKE Frank’s Attorneys Said to Have Affidavits Exonerating Frank and Indicating Conley’s Guilt. A sensational turn in the Phagan murder mystery, according to one of Continue Reading →

Application to Release Lee is Ready to File

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Sunday, July 6, 1913 Negro’s Lawyer Says He Will Offer Habeas Corpus When Solicitor Dorsey Returns. On account of the absence from the city of Prosecuting Attorney Hugh M. Dosey [sic], Bernard L. Chappell, attorney for Newt Lee, announced Saturday that he Continue Reading →

New Audio Book: The American Mercury on Leo Frank – Dorsey’s Closing Arguments, part 6

THIS WEEK we present the sixth and last audio book installment of prosecutor Hugh Dorsey’s closing arguments in the 1913 trial of Leo M. Frank (pictured) for the strangling and sex murder of his 13-year-old sweatshop employee Mary Phagan. In this dramatic conclusion, you hear the words that the jury heard, the words that would lead them, a short time Continue Reading →

New Audio Book: The American Mercury on Leo Frank – Dorsey’s Closing Arguments, part 5

THIS WEEK we present the fifth and next-to-last audio book installment of prosecutor Hugh Dorsey’s closing arguments in the 1913 trial of Leo M. Frank for the strangling and sex murder of his 13-year-old sweatshop employee Mary Phagan. Even more than 100 years later, we are still feeling the repercussions of this case — which led to the founding of Continue Reading →

Liberty for Newt Lee Sought

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Saturday, July 5, 1913 Writ to Free Watchman From the Tower Will Be Filed—State to Oppose Liberation. The prosecution will fight an entirely new angle in the Phagan case Saturday morning when Barnard [sic] L. Chappell, attorney for Newt Lee, the negro Continue Reading →

New Audio Book: The American Mercury on Leo Frank – Dorsey’s Closing Arguments, part 4

VANESSA NEUBAUER’S audio book reading from the 1913 Leo Frank case this week is the fourth part of prosecutor Hugh Dorsey’s closing arguments. Leo Max Frank (pictured with his wife Lucille in happier times) was ultimately convicted of murdering his 13-year-old pencil factory employee, Mary Phagan, in a case which set the stage for Jewish-Gentile distrust and recriminations for a Continue Reading →

Application for Lee’s Release Delayed

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case. The Atlanta Georgian Saturday, July 5, 1913 Watchman’s Lawyer Says He Will Await Return of Dorsey Before Filing Habeas Corpus. On account of the absence form the city of Prosecuting Attorney Hugh M. Dorsey, Bernard L. Chappell, attorney for Newt Lee, announced Saturday that he Continue Reading →