Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.

The Atlanta Georgian

Tuesday, July 1, 1913

Grand Jury Develops Sensational Sequel to Famous Dictograph Scandal.

A. S. Colyar, Jr., dictographer of Colonel Thomas B. Felder, Mayor Woodward and C. C. Jones, was indicted by the Grand Jury on the charge of criminal libel Tuesday forenoon.

Colyar is the man who sought to trap Colonel Felder by means of the dictograph into offering a bribe of $1,000 for certain affidavits in the Phagan case in the possession of the police. The dictograph records as furnished an afternoon newspaper by Colyar contained the offer.

Colonel Felder swore the records were padded. Largely on Colonel Felder’s representations, the indictment was procured. John Pascal, of The Journal, was the only witness called by the Grand Jury in considering Colyar’s case.

Chief of Detectives Lanford and Colonel Felder, indicted last week by the Grand Jury, obtained their freedom by making a $500 bond. It was expected that the same bond would be imposed upon Colyar.

Much of the time Tuesday was occupied by members of the Grand Jury in probing into police affairs. Without calling any witnesses, the scandal which has shaken the department was given serious consideration for nearly two hours. The result of the discussion was not made public.

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The Atlanta Georgian, July 1st 1913, “Colyar Indicted as Libeler of Col. Felder,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.

The Atlanta Georgian

Tuesday, July 1, 1913

The Fulton County Grand Jury returned no bill against A. S. Colyar, Jr., Tuesday forenoon on the charge of criminal libel.  Colyar came into prominence a few weeks ago by dictographing Colonel Thomas B. Felder, Mayor Woodward and C. C. Jones in Williams House No. 2.

Colyar is the man who sought to trap Colonel Felder by means of the dictograph into offering a bribe of $1,000 for certain affidavits in the Phagan case in the possession of the police. The dictograph records as furnished an afternoon newspaper by Colyar contained the offer.

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The Atlanta Georgian, July 1st 1913, “Colyar Not Indicted On Charge of Libel,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.

Atlanta Journal

Thursday, June 5^th, 1913

Jury Adjourned Until Next Tuesday Without Drawing Any Bills—Inquiry Not Likely to Be Resumed, It Is Said

LANFORD TELLS JURY OF COL. FELDER’S ENMITY

Declares It Dates Back to Case He Made Against Charlie Jones and Was Accentuated by Dictograph Episode

The most interesting testimony given to the Fulton county grand jury Thursday was that of Detective Chief N. A. Lanford, who a few minutes before he was called to the stand had engaged in a near-fight with Colonel Thomas B. Felder.

Chief Lanford is himself authority for what transpired in the grand jury room, where he remained in the neighborhood of a half hour.

“I was questioned principally about vice conditions,” he said, “although a number of questions were asked me concerning the dictographing of Felder and others.”

“Some of the grand jurymen inquired why Felder seemed so bitter toward me. I told them that as far as I knew his feeling toward me dated back several years ago when I made a case against Charlie C. Jones for operating a disorderly house on Jenkins street. Felder was Jones’ attorney in that case.

“I also expressed the opinion that his bitterness had perhaps increased since I made public the dictograph records and certain affidavits showing that he was not duly employed in the Phagan case, and that he was no doubt further embittered by reason of the fact that these publications put a stop to his collection of public subscriptions with which to employ Burns detectives.

QUOTES CHARLIE JONES.

“I was asked if vice conditions in Atlanta were better or worse since the segregated district had been wiped out, and I replied that in my opinion conditions were much better. I declared that if the utterance of Charlie C. Jones were to be credited there had been a great improvement, for immediately after the closing up of the district he had published an interview in which he charged that more than 185 places were being operated in various sections of the city. I contrasted this statement with the more recent charges of Hutcheson and Felder which were to the effect that only about thirty places were now in operation.

“I informed the grand jury that both the police and detective departments were doing everything possible to enforce the law and keep down vice, and that it was not a matter of surprise that now and then surreptitious houses would be discovered.

DICTOGRAPH EPISODE.

“Referring to the dictographed conversations the grand jurymen asked me how long I had known A. S. Colyar. I replied that I had first become acquainted with him a few days before the dictograph episode, when he came to me and informed me that Felder was seeking to obtain affidavits from the department which he (Felder) declared were framed up by me and my men.

“It was then, I told the grand jury, that the plan to trap Felder was devised. In accordance with this plan I instructed Colyar and G. C. Febuary, my secretary, to open up negotiations with Felder. After these negotiations had proceeded for a few days and Colyar and Febuary had made affidavits to the effect that Felder had offered to pay them a large sum of money for the affidavits and other papers in the Phagan case I arranged through Colyar and Febuary to install the dictograph.

“I explained to the grand jury that I was never present at any of the negotiations and that I had never been to the room in Williams House No. 2, where the dictograph was installed. I also informed the grand jury that the first I had ever seen of the affidavits and dictograph records was when they were presented to me duly sworn to and attested by notaries public.”

NO BILLS DRAWN.

At 1:50 o’clock the grand jury adjourned. Solicitor Dorsey stated that no bills of any sort had been drawn.

Foreman L. H. Beck stated that no further meeting of the grand jury will be held until next Tuesday, when it will convene again to take up an accumulation of routine matters in the solicitor’s office, he said. Probably it will be busy with those for two days.

The investigation that had been in progress Thursday, and previously, said he, was concluded—unless some member of the grand jury sought its reopening or continuance. The grand jury, said he, merely was following the charge given by Judge Ellis, to investigate vice conditions.

The grand jury took up no matter, said he, except the vice probe.

When Chief Lanford emerged from the grand jury room Colonel Felder was sitting in the ante-room. The detective chief stopped and stood looking at the lawyer for a couple of moments, the lawyer returning his look. Colonel Felder kept his seat, and the chief turned and walked away. Neither spoke.

Colonel Felder was called into the grand jury room then.

It was said that Chief Lanford had been asked by the grand jurors about the vice situation, and had viewed the matter from the same standpoint as Chief Beavers, declaring that the town is better now than it ever has been before in that regard.

NO WEAPON FOUND.

Several bystanders stated that when Chief Lanford and Colonel Felder were on the verge of their difficulty they saw the attorney reach toward his hip pocket.

Chief Lanford demanded that Mr. Felder be arrested for carrying concealed weapons. Deputy Sheriff Plennie Minor stated to a Journal reporter that, upon that demand, he searched Colonel Felder in another room, and found no weapon upon him.

Chief of Police Beavers appeared at the court house for a short time, and replied that it is his belief that the grand jury is doing no less and no more than it ought to do—that is, it is showing a determination to get to the bottom truth of the reports and testimony before it that the abolition of the vice districts in Atlanta has proved to be a failure and that the segregation policy should be re-established.

“These enemies who are attacking vice conditions here now will find me standing by every act I’ve done,” said the chief. “I haven’t a thing to undo, and if they attack me myself they’ll find me loaded for bear. I’m not going to stand on any ceremony with any of them.”

Colonel Felder declared, on leaving the grand jury room, that he had absolutely nothing to say for publication.

COLYAR BEFORE JURY.

A. S. Colyar, who became conspicuous locally when the dictograph sensation was sprung recently, was called in next by the grand jury. He was in the jury room only a few minutes. The jury called for Solicitor H. M. Dorsey, who reappeared at the door shortly afterward to announce that the grand jury wanted to examine G. C. Febuary, secretary of the city detective department, and N. A. Lanford, chief of that department, and that all other witnesses were excused until further notice. Mr. Febuary was summoned from police headquarters, and Chief Lanford was readmitted to the jury room.

Chief Lanford left the grand jury room about 1 o’clock, after having been inside for about half an hour.

At 1:30 o’clock Secretary G. C. Febuary, of the detective department, left the grand jury room. All that he would say was that the grand jury had asked him about vice conditions and he could tell them nothing.

Solicitor Dorsey remained in conference with the jury.

TILT WITH COLYAR.

It was reported, after the grand jury adjourned, that a tilt had occurred between Solicitor Dorsey and A. S. Colyar while the latter was being examined in the grand jury room.

After Colyar had answered several questions by the solicitor, the witness turned to the solicitor and demanded:

“Who are you?”

“Hugh M. Dorsey, solicitor general of the Fulton superior court, criminal division,” answered Mr. Dorsey, with a smile.

“From your questions, I thought you were Felder’s attorney,” remarked Colyar.

WILL EXPOSE DICTOGRAPH.

While at the court house, waiting to be called before the grand jury Thursday morning, Colonel Felder announced that on Saturday afternoon he would give out for publication a statement “exposing all the ins and outs and ups and downs” of the recent alleged dictograph episode.

“I’ve got all the facts. I know the whole affair, latitudinally, longitudinally and horizontally,” declared he. “I am going to furnish to the Associated Press and all the newspapers for publication on Sunday morning the real inside of that miserable affair.”

Colonel Felder intimated that he expected to show that A. S. Colyar obtained $500 for the part he played in the dictograph incident, and that the alleged dictograph records were doctored and forged.

GRAND JURY MEETS.

The Fulton county grand jury commenced the third session of its probe into vice conditions at 10 o’clock Thursday morning.

While the vice probe was far from complete when the session of the grand jury commenced, witnesses in the famous dictograph controversy were in attendance in the corridor of the grand jury room, and it was expected that this matter would be reached during the day.

The witnesses subpened in the dictograph controversy were Colonel T. B. Felder, who was dictographed; A. S. Colyar, G. C. Febuary, secretary to Chief Lanford, and two representatives of The Journal, which published exclusively the first the first dictograph record and the story of the controversy between Mr. Felder and the police department.

Among the witnesses summoned by the grand jury Thursday in connection with its vice investigation was Eva Clark, the woman Chief Beavers declares Mayor Woodward asked him to permit to move back to her old home, 95 Jenkins street. The Clark woman did not appear, however. She sent a physician’s certificate to the effect that she was ill and unable to answer the summons Thursday.

The grand jury has not as yet entered into the investigation of alleged liquor traffic, either to the ordinary blind tigers, or to the disorderly houses. In fact no systematic investigation of the enforcement of the prohibition law is expected by the present grand jury. J. E. Skags, agent of the Southern Express county, denies emphatically that he was before the grand jury to tell of liquor shipments or anything else in connection with his company’s business.

Mr. Skags was simply a witness to an occurrence, which the grand jury was investigating in connection with its probe of vice conditions and police affairs.

The whereabouts of George W. Gentry, the young stenographer, who took the dictograph records of the alleged conversation of Colonel Felder, Mayor James G. Woodward and Charles C. Jones, is a matter of interest since other witnesses in the dictograph affair have been summoned. Young Gentry disappeared more than a week ago, and while some members of his family admit that they are in communication with him, they refuse to tell either police or reporters where he is. Colonel Felder, however, states that he has located young Gentry, and intimates that the young man has made a sensational affidavit to the effect that much not really said was written, under instructions, into the dictograph record.

Colonel Felder will not say whether or not young Gentry will be produced before the grand jury.

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Atlanta Journal, June 5th 1913, “Grand Jury Probe of Vice Conditions Finished Thursday,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.

Atlanta Journal

Tuesday, June 3^rd, 1913

Carl Hutcheson Names 30 Places In His Testimony

He Declares He Obtained Information First-Hand by Visiting Places Mentioned and Registering

LENGTHY LIST GIVEN JURY BY COL. FELDER

He Declined to Make Public His Information—Grand Jury Begins Probe of Charges About Disorderly Houses

Decidedly the most sensational evidence submitted to the grand jury Tuesday in its investigation of vice conditions in Atlanta, which investigation is said to have grown out of the recent charges published by Colonel Thomas B. Felder and Attorney Carl Hutcheson, was the testimony of the latter.

After emerging from the grand jury room, where he remained for more than an hour, Mr. Hutcheson was charged by a battery of newspaper photographers to whom he waved his hands and gleefully exclaimed: “I gave ‘em the dope, boys!”

Later he stated that he had given the grand jury, “all told,” a list of thirty places—hotels and houses where vice is permitted to flourish. He declared that he had secured his information about the places first hand; that his evidence was not based on hearsy information.

Mr. Hutcheson said he had registered at a number of the hotels where he had arranged to have women sent to his rooms. He declared he had furnished the grand jury the names under which he had registered and that his own personal evidence was sufficient to justify many indictments.

To the grand jury Mr. Hutcheson exhibited a hotel kye [sic] which he stated he had forgotten to return. He declared that he had detailed his night visits to various places which are openly violating the law.

TOLD HIS OWN STORY.

“I was allowed to tell my story in my own way,” said Mr. Hutcheson, “and was interrupted by but few questions from the grand jurymen, who manifested much satisfaction over the facts which I furnished them. Frequently the jurymen gave vent to satisfied exclamations.

“I have not charged graft in the police department and was, of course, not questioned along this line. I did charge that disorderly houses were being protected if their presence was known to the police and I insisted that if the police did not have such knowledge they were incompetent.

“I cited to the grand jury instances where the police had been notified that women of bad character had moved into respectable neighborhoods and not withstanding such notification the police had not ejected them.

“I delivered the goods, and it is now up to the grand jury.”

Colonel Thomas B. Felder, who was called earlier in the day, and spent about fifteen minutes in the grand jury room, was afterwards closeted for an hour with Solicitor Dorsey. Just before leaving the court house he exhibited a typewritten list of about twelve or fourteen pages which he said contained the names and addresses of persons who conducted disorderly places. Opposite each name was said to be a note of evidence.

GRAND JURY GIVEN LIST.

Colonel Felder declared the grand jury was in possession of his list and that he did not think it would be proper for him to make it public. He was excused with the understanding that he would be at his office and would return to the grand jury room upon a telephone call. Colonel Felder said he would probably have some additional names for the grand jury by Wednesday.

Mayor Woodward and Charlie C. Jones, proprietor of the Rex saloon, were also before the grand jury during the morning. The mayor is understood to have submitted considerable hearsay evidence. Jones states that he was asked what he knew about vice conditions and replied that he did not know anything, after which he was excused.

The grand jury remained in session for some time after Mr. Hutcheson, the last witness of the day, was dismissed. It is presumed the members discussed the testimony of Mr. Hutcheson and mapped out a plan for its further investigation, which it is understood will be resumed Wednesday morning.

FOREMAN TALKS.

Shortly after 1 o’clock the grand jury adjourned, following which Foreman Lewis H. Beck was closeted for some time with Solicitor Dorsey. He explained to the newspaper men that the grand jury was working as a committee of the whole to investigate vice conditions in the city, and intimated that no indictments would be brought against persons alleged to be operating disorderly houses.

It was inferred from Mr. Beck’s remarks that the grand jury proposes to gather all the information it can and submit same in a report to the court, leaving the state and city authorities to take such action as they may deem proper upon the facts revealed.

DICTOGRAPH NOT MENTIONED.

Every witness who appeared before the grand jury declared positively that no mention of the alleged dictograph conversations was made before the grand jury or by the jurors.

Foreman Beck at the close of the session declared that the dictograph incident and the charges of alleged graft in the police department had not come up for consideration, the jury dealing solely with a broad investigation of vice conditions in the city.

While the foreman says he does not know what the investigation of the grand jury will develop, he gives no intimation that it will take up anything except the vice condition.

OFFICIALS EXCHANGE VIEWS.

An interesting, and at times amusing, three-cornered conversation occurred Tuesday morning between Colonel Thomas B. Felder, Mayor James G. Woodward and Police Chief James L. Beavers, while they were in the ante–room of the solicitor general’s office at the court house awaiting to be called before the grand jury to testify concerning the charges of Colonel Felder and Attorney Hutcheson to the effect that disorderly houses were being operated in Atlanta without police interference.

This conversation related in the main to the alleged dictographed records of conversations which are said to have occurred something over a week ago between Colonel Felder, Mayor Woodward, C. C. Jones, E. O. Miles, G. C. Febuary and A. S. Colyar.

Jones was present in the ante-room, as were several newspaper men and a number of court house attaches. The three principals were talking over the “situation” in a courteous but constrained manner. They appeared to be indulging in a bit of serious pleasantry, and frequently the audience, which was at times convulsed with merriment, applauded vigorously.

WOULD CATCH EACH OTHER.

Mayor Woodward started the show when addressing Chief Beavers, he said: “I didn’t mention either yours or Lanford’s name in that alleged dictographed conversation. If I had done so I would do it now, and I want to say to you that if I could catch you grafting, I would do so just as quick as I would catch any other official.”

“And I would catch you, too, if I could,” replied the chief.

Turning to Colonel Felder, Chief Beavers inquired: “Did you say that I visit some woman on Garnett street?”

“No, I didn’t,” answered Colonel Felder, “but I will tell some time who did. And I want to say to you right now, in the presence of the mayor and Jones, that I am not the attorney for any vice gang or any ring which is trying put vice back in Atlanta. Furthermore, I will stand upon a dry goods box at Five Points and repeat anything I have said.”

Beavers: “Didn’t you say you would drive me naked through the streets of Atlanta?”

Such a loud volley of laughter followed this question that Colonel Felder’s reply was lost.

Mayor Woodward, addressing Chief Beavers: “Don’t you think you used some pretty sorry men in that alleged dictograph, oh?”

Beavers: “I don’t know anything about the others, but I do know Febuary to be a straightforward young man.”

Mayor Woodward: “Whenever he says he has a paper that will show graft in your department—He said it to me and can’t deny it—it looks like he’s a pretty sorrow fellow and that you wouldn’t want him in your department.”

Colonel Felder interjected a question at this point. He said: “Does your department know where Gentry is?”

Chief Beavers indicated that it did not.

HAS LOCATED GENTRY.

Felder: “Well, I do. I located him yesterday and I know who ran him out of town.”

Beavers: “We ought to get that man. By the way, Mr. Felder, what kind of an instrument is a dictograph?”

Felder: “In the hands of honest people it is an accurate and effective instrument.”

Beavers: “It told the truth in South Carolina, did it not?”

Felder: “Yes; nobody stood over the man there and directed him what to write into the record. I don’t mean to say you did it here, but it was done.”

Beavers: “Well, I didn’t see the record when it was being transcribed.”

Felder: “I know you didn’t. You will be horrified, chief, when you know the facts.”

Beavers: “Well, whatever the facts are I want to know them.”

Felder: “It didn’t appear to the people who employed Colyar that he would sell out to one side as quick as he other.”

Beavers: “I didn’t know Colyar before he came here.”

Felder: “You didn’t know him, but others who have nursed him along since he has been here did know him.”

Beavers: “Well, if he is a crook, as you say, I suppose he will sell out to one side as quick as to another.”

Attorney Hutcheson, at this juncture of the conversation, remarked to Chief Beavers that he wished he would go with him to some of the places he knew about and which he had incorporated in a list which he was preparing.

Chief Beavers was called out of the room and after he left Mayor Woodward spoke to Colonel Felder, saying: “I don’t know what I am wanted here for.”

To which Colonel Felder replied: “The fact that you were dictographed was crime enough to bring you before any grand jury.”

COLONEL FELDER CALLED.

The conversation then lagged until Colonel Felder was summoned before the grand jury. At his request he was the rat witness called. Just as he was leaving the ante-room he declared to the newspaper men present that he would make some astounding revelations, but refused to indicate what his disclosures would be. He pointed to an armful of papers which he carried and remarked that these were a part of his proof.

Colonel Felder remained in the grand jury room less than 15 minutes. It is understood that after outlining his testimony he was excused temporarily, with the understanding that he would again be called. He remained in the ante-room.

ASKED DICTOGRAPH PROBE.

Although Colonel Felder declined to discuss what he said to the grand jury during his preliminary examination or what was said to him then by the members of the grand jury, it is understood that he specifically requested that probe be made of the alleged dictograph conversations in which he is said to have figured and which with certain affidavits resulted in the city detectives preferring charges against him.

It is understood that Colonel Felder was advised by the grand jury that at present it had nothing whatever to do with the dictograph episode, but that it was just now chiefly concerned in ascertaining the facts concerning the alleged existence of vice in the city of Atlanta.

The grand jury, it is said, reminded Colonel Felder that in his charge to it on Monday, May 5, Judge W. D. Ellis referred indirectly to the recent vice crusade and the possible effect it would have in stimulating the opening of disorderly houses in dark and secret places after they had been removed from a certain known location.

MAYOR EXAMINED.

Mayor Woodward followed Colonel Felder before the grand jury and was questioned for about three-quarters of an hour. After he was excused he stated that the investigation appeared to be in the nature of a “John Doe” proceeding. He said he was questioned concerning the alleged existence in Atlanta of disorderly houses, and that all he told the grand jury was based upon hearsay information.

The mayor would not admit, nor would he deny that he had been interrogated concerning the allegation that graft existed in the police department. He said positively that nothing was said to him about the alleged dictographed conversations, and he could not recall that Colonel Felder’s name had been mentioned in the interview.

Mayor Woodward said it was evident from the questions they asked him that the jury is going very thoroughly into the vice situation in Atlanta.

“They asked me if it is true that the town is full of women of bad character,” said he. “I told them I couldn’t say from my own personal knowledge, but that from information and belief. I could tell them that the town certainly is full of them. I remarked that I reckoned they knew as much as I did, whereupon they smiled, and gave me the impression that their information and belief coincided pretty nearly with mine. They asked me particularly what I knew about the hotels, and I gave them my opinion. Also, I told them I thought one thing that ought to be done—and done first—is to clean up the streets, so that ladies can walk downtown without being insulted. And I am pretty certain they agreed with me on that point.”

WITNESSES SUBPENAED.

The witnesses subpenaed by the grand jury were: Colonel Thomas B. Felder, Attorney Carl Hutcheson, Mayor Woodward, C. C. Jones, Police Chief Beavers, Detective Chief N. A. Lanford and Detective John Black.

A subpena was also issued for Mrs. Nina Formby, the woman who made an affidavit to the detectives in which she admitted having conducted a rooming house, and in which she also swore that on the night of the murder of Mary Phagan Leo M. Frank, the pencil factory superintendent, repeatedly telephoned her in an effort to obtain a room to which she alleges he declared he wished to bring a girl.

Anticipating that the grand jury would take up the dictograph charges against Colonel Felder, Mayor Woodward and others. Detective Chief Lanford appeared at the solicitor’s office Tuesday morning with a list of witnesses which he requested to be subpenaed. Among them were G. C. Febuary, A. S. Colyar, George M. Gentry, J. M. Hewitt and Detective R. S. Ozburn.

SOLICITOR’S STATEMENT.

Solicitor Dorsey made it plain Tuesday morning that the investigation was being put in motion by Foreman Beck. He said he had no knowledge of its objects and all that he knew was that Mr. Beck brought a list of witnesses to the assistant solicitor and requested that they be subpenaed.

Shortly before the grand jury convened at 10 o’clock Colonel Felder appeared at the solicitor’s office with an armful of papers. To a Journal reporter he intimated that he might summon a number of witnesses. He declared that he would be able to substantiate every charge he had made. Colonel Felder, when asked for a list of his probable witnesses, replied that he did not think it would be advisable at this time to give them out.

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Atlanta Journal, June 3rd 1913, “Grand Jury Told of Vice Conditions,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.

Atlanta Constitution

Tuesday, June 3^rd, 1913

Subpoenas Served Monday Night on the Principals in Dictagraph Case and in Charges of Corruption.

GRAND JURY TO HOLD INVESTIGATION TODAY

Mayor Woodward, Col. Felder, Chief Beavers, Chief Lanford, Carl Hutcheson and Jno. Black Subpoenaed

That the Fulton county grand jury will undertake today an investigation of both sides of the Beavers-Felder controversy was made apparent by the formal summons issued last night to all the principals in the affair.

An added element of mystery to the investigation comes in the attempt made to summon Mrs. Mima [sic] Formby, the woman who made affidavit that Leo M. Frank, now indicted for the murder of Mary Phagan, attempted to rent a room from her for himself and a girl on the night of the murder.

Many Subpoenas Issued.

Mayor Woodward, Chief Beavers, Colonel Felder, Chief Lanford, Charlie Jones, proprietor of the “Rex” saloon; Attorney Carl Hutcheson, City Detective, John Black and Mrs. Formby were the principals upon whom Foreman Beck ordered subpoenas served Monday night.

Charlie Jones was served in person with a summons to attend the grand jury this morning in the case of “The State versus John Doe,” the orders, with the exception of Mrs. Formby, who is said to have left the city, were notified by telephone that their presence was required Tuesday morning before the grand jury.

The charges made by Chief Lanford and other detectives in his force that Colonel Felder had offered a bribe of $1,000 for an affidavit made by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Coleman, parents of the murdered Phagan girl, and also for other affidavits in the case, and the ensuing charges hurled at the police department by Col. Felder and Attorney Hutcheson, in which the department was charged with graft and corruption stirred Atlanta.

Beavers Asks Probe.

Chief Beavers immediately asked that the grand jury take the matter up and go to the bottom of the charges against himself and the men under him, and Colonel Felder declared that he was ready at any time for the charges against him to be investigated.

That the grand jury would take up the matter at an early date and probe, it has been the general belief of Atlantans who read of the various charges, and when it was announced last week by Solicitor Dorsey that the grand jury would meet on Tuesday morning it immediately became the general belief that the special session would be for this purpose.

This was denied in statements by both the solicitor and the foreman, who declared that the purpose of the meeting was to appoint the committees for routine work, as is done by each grand jury, and which had been delayed by this jury on account of its investigation and indictment of Leo Frank.

Secrecy Shrouds Summons.

Every effort on the part of the officials to keep quiet the real intentions of the meeting was made, and not until late Monday evening did it become known that the formal summons to the characters in the recent sensation had been ordered.

The fact that A. S. Colyar and G. C. Febuary, who, working for the detectives, arranged the meetings through which the dictagraph records were made, and that George Gentry, the young stenographer, who took the evidence in shorthand, have not been summoned appears to indicate that the grand jury will go into the matter from the statements of the men principally involved in it.

Detective Black has hitherto not appeared in the dictagraph case, either against Mayor Woodward or Attorney Felder, but his name was included among those for whom summons were issued.

Mrs. Formby Wanted.

Mrs. Formby, of whose whereabouts city detectives deny knowledge, is wanted by the grand jury, but for what purpose has not been disclosed.

What will be the action of the grand jury in the case is problematical. It is believed from the fact that summons have been issued to principals on both sides of the case that the intention is to investigate with a view to determining if a formal investigation of the charges hurled by each side is worth the time of the body.

Several of the men upon whom summons were served Monday night admitted, when faced with the direct question, that they had been ordered to appear. Among them were Chief Lanford, Jones and Attorney Hutcheson. Others refused to talk.

When questioned in regard to the matter Monday night, Solicitor Dorsey issued the following statement:

“I know nothing at all of the summons; as far as I am aware, the grand jury has been called to meet Tuesday by Mr. Beck, the foreman, for the purpose of undertaking the routine business of appointing the usual committees. If they are to take up any other business, I do not know of it.

“However,” he added, “they are at liberty to take up anything they see fit, and that without advising me until they actually need my services.”

Purpose of Meeting.

“I will tell you, as I have told every other reporter in the city, that the meeting Tuesday is for the purpose of appointi[n]g the committees which the press of criminal business has delayed,” said Foreman Beck, when questioned as to the summons.

“I’m ready at any time they want to take the matter up,” commented Attorney Felder, “and if they want me they can get me and they are well aware of that.”

“Solicitor Dorsey told me last week that he would take the matter up some time this week,” stated Chief Beavers when asked in regard to the business to be taken up today, “Whether or not they are really going to take it up, I can’t say.”

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Atlanta Constitution, June 3rd 1913, “Grand Jury Calls for Thos. Felder and Police Heads,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.

Atlanta Georgian

Tuesday, May 27^th, 1913

Attorney Carl Hutcheson Accuse Beavers of Permitting Unlawful Houses to Operate.

GAMBLER’S PLOT, SAYS LANFORD IN HOT REPLY

Detective Head Declares “Ring” Is Trying to Fix Charge of Bribery Against Him.

Ignoring the fresh volley of charges made by Carl Hutcheson, an attorney, who offers to cite resorts which are allowed to operate by the city police. Chief Beavers Tuesday morning reiterated his declaration that the entire matter would be laid bare before the Grand Jury for decision.

Detective Chief Lanford revealed another angle of the warfare when he declared that the fight being made against him was backed by the gambling ring of Atlanta. C. C. Jones was named as the leader of the opposition in this fight.

Beavers in commenting upon Hutcheson’s charges, declared that they were inspired by Thomas B. Felder, with whose office Hutcheson is connected, and that the attack was not therefore that of Hutcheson, but of Felder and his “gang.”

Hutcheson, a young lawyer connected with the firm Felder, Anderson, Whitman & Dillon, wrote an open letter to Chief of Police Beavers, charging him with permitting unlawful houses to operate uncertain city streets and promising to give addresses if the Chief asks personally for them within three days.

Beavers to Ignore Attack.

Characterizing Carl Hutcheson as of too little importance to warrant an answer to his charges made against the police force. Chief Beavers declared that he would ignore him altogether.

“I don’t care to answer Hutcheson’s attack,” said the police official. “Hutcheson is too small a fry to even take notice of. An answer to him would give him too much dignity. This young man is in Felder’s office and is merely being used as a tool of Felder and his gang. Felder prompted him to make the statement that he did, and so I will pay no attention to Hutcheson.

“This matter is going before the Grand Jury, and not Carl Hutcheson.”

Regarded as Reply.

On Monday morning Chief Beavers declared Attorney Thomas B. Felder had no evidence of police cognizance of immoral resorts; that he never had had any, and that he was only bluffing when he said he had. Requested to reply, Colonel Felder announced he would make no more statements except in writing, and that he had nothing to say then.

A few hours later Mr. Hutcheson, a member of Colonel Felder’s firm, issued the letter, which is regarded as a semi-official reply from Colonel Felder.

Mr. Hutcheson formerly was a newspaper man. Shortly after taking up the practice of law he achieved State-wide renown by conducting the campaign of William Schley Howard, who defeated Representative Leonidae Livingston and is now serving his second term in Congress.

Following is Mr. Hutcheson’s open letter to Chief J. L. Beavers:

Scores Vice Crusade.

J. L. Beavers, Chief of Police, Atlanta:

Newport Lanford, Chief of Detectives, Atlanta:

In your great crusade against Sodom and Gomorrah with your immaculate robes of Puritanism.

I accuse you in all your glory with allowing certain houses on Ivy Street, the business of which is to barter in immoral and indecent practices, to continue in flagrant operation. AND YOU KNOW IT. If you do not, every sensible citizen of this city, who knows anything of the world, does. If you do not know these things as is your duty to know, and you should be discharged from your high pedestals for dereliction.

I accuse you of allowing similar houses to operate on certain parts of Spring Street. AND YOU KNOW IT. If you do not, you should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.

I accuse you of allowing similar houses to operate in a certain section of Pryor Street. AND YOU KNOW IT. If you do not, you should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.

I accuse you of allowing similar houses to operate on a certain section of Central Avenue. AND YOU KNOW IT. If you do not, you should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.

I accuse you of failing to take cognizance of a certain house in Ivy Street, to which I called your attention several weeks ago, where young men were inveigled to gamble away their money, the mistress thereof being the banker and the recipient of these ill-gotten gains. AND YOU KNOW IT, and should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.

I accuse you and numbers of your forces with being cognizant of these facts, and yet you, the great crusade leaders, stand idly by and fold your lordly hands.

I accuse you with allowing, even yet, low class hotels in this city to exist and practices their nefarious games of lowly gain, AND YOU KNOW IT, and should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.

If you can not “turn up” these places, there are hundreds of people who can. I can use infantile detective work and turn up dozens of them within a few days. AND YOU KNOW THIS CAN BE DONE. And, if you fail to get busy and continue to parade your great genius (?) you should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.

Charges Police Protection.

I accuse you with protecting these places because of your lax methods in keeping “the houses within our midst” closed, AND YOU KNOW IT, and should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.

I accuse you of closing Manhattan Avenue and converting our entire municipality into a “red light” district. AND YOU KNOW IT, and unless you change conditions at once you should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.

I accuse you of retaining on your forces men unfit to protect the “decent” citizens of Atlanta. AND YOU KNOW IT, and should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.

I accuse you of knowing where numbers of houses which exist by immoral practices are located. AND YOU KNOW IT, and you should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.

Do you think that the public will hoodwinked forever? Do you think that the public is so gullible as to believe all of this “bush-wah” about the great work that you are continuing? Yes, you closed Manhattan Avenue, but what did you do for the remainder of the city?

You and your bunch are very sore because you were unable to ferret out the Phagan murder, AND YOU KNOW IT. When the Solicitor General called in outside aid, numbers of your hirelings were very much perturbed and became insanely jealous. That is why all of this patched-up and hatched-up bunch of lies and slanders have been issued against Thomas B. Felder, whose shoes you unworthy to untie, AND YOU KNOW IT.

I accuse you of retaining a large number of leather-heads for detectives. Detectives? That is a joke, isn’t it? AND YOU KNOW IT, and you should be removed from office for allowing such an army of incompetents to work with your departments. You know, and I know, that these fellows secure their offices through political pull and not through efficiency. They are Sherlock Holmeses when it comes to arresting blind tigers and negro crap-players, but beyond that they would now know a clew if they saw it tagged.

In the Phagan case, the newspaper men are the ones who turned up the first clews of any merit, AND YOU KNOW IT, and should be ashamed of that crowd down there to allow the members of the Fourth Estate to put one over on you; but you know newspaper men have brains, and brains are required to make detectives.

Now, volley forth again your promulgation of purity and tell the people of this great city what large men you are and how you protect the citizenry of this great Commonwealth.

If you haven’t the addresses of the houses to which I refer, call at my office within three days and I will give you a bunch of them.

Friends of mine have advised me against printing this card. Some have feared for my life—but afraid of you and your crowd? Never. I am not afraid of anything that lays down its firearms and comes at me like a man in fair play. Now, “lay on, MacDuff, and damn’d be him who first cries, ‘Hold! Enough!!”

CARL HUTCHESON.

Atlanta, Ga., May 27, 1913.

Gambler’s Plot, Declares Lanford.

Chief of Detectives Newport A. Lanford gave out a sensational statement Tuesday morning in which he charged that the efforts to fix accusations of bribery and malfeasance upon him were inspired by a “gambling ring,” of which C. C. Jones was the head.

The cause of the fight against Lanford had been something of a mystery. Beavers readily explained the efforts to dispossess him from the office of Chief of Police by his war on vice in the city of Atlanta. Lanford’s explanation reveals another angle of the crusade against a wide-open town.

“The gambling ring has been after me ever since I was made head of the detective department ten years ago,” said Chief Lanford. “No more had I declared relentless warfare upon all forms of gambling in the city than I was notified that the gambling interests were out to ‘get’ me. Several times it was reported to me that I had been marked for an attack, and once the gamblers succeeded in carrying out their threats.

“That was five years ago. I was reduced from sergeant, which was the designation of the head of the department then, to service in the ranks. The gamblers were responsible for it. They gloated for nine months. Then I was raised to my former position again, with the title of chief. Since then I have continued my campaign against them.

“They have been very bitter. They have threatened me time and again. Now they have brought these charges against me.”

Col. Felder Still Probing In the Phagan Case.

In the news columns of The Georgian yesterday it was said that Colonel Felder had been eliminated from the Phagan case. Colonel Felder says this is not true, that he is as deeply interested in solving the mystery as ever, and that he is lending every energy in that direction. The further statement in The Georgian that Colonel Felder was believed at one time to be interested in the defense of Frank was not intended to reflect in any way upon the lawyer. It was simply the gossip of the street, given for what it was worth. Colonel Felder’s own statement that he is working solely for the public good makes his position perfectly clear, and everybody in the city will hope that he will continue actively in the case until the great mystery is disposed of.

* * *

Atlanta Georgian, May 27th 1913, “Felder Aide Offers Vice List to Chief,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.

Atlanta Journal

Sunday, May 25^th, 1913

“This is the First Gun in a Fight to Oust Me From Office,” Says the Chief in an Interview Given Out Saturday Afternoon — “This Issue Is Between the Decent People and the Allies of Vice Who Have Controlled the City Politically for Years”

MAYOR WOODWARD SAYS HE’S AGAINST BEAVERS, BUT NOT IN ANY CONSPIRACY TO REMOVE HIM FROM OFFICE

Says He Differs With the Chief on Policy, Not Personally. The Mayor Says Recent Dictograph Episode Has Destroyed His Belief in the Efficacy of That Ingenious Instrument — Charles C. Jones Denies Any Part in Fight to Remove Chief

As one of the many outgrowths of the alleged dictographed conversations of Colonel Thomas B. Felder, Mayor Woodward, Charlie C. Jones and E. O. Miles, in which they are quoted as seeking evidence to impeach Police Chief James L. Beavers and Detective Chief N. A. Lanford, Chief Beavers late Saturday afternoon gave out a red-hot statement in which he charged that the vice gangsters were conspiring to oust him from office because of his activity in closing up Atlanta’s restricted district.

The chief declared that Colonel Felder was the mouthpiece and agent of the gang which seeks his scalp. He said this gang was endeavoring to get him in a corner and that the fight now on and that it would be a fight to the finish.

According to Chief Beavers he has been informed that checks aggregating $1,500 have been deposited to be given over to any woman who could get him into a room with her.

“The houses have been closed eight months and they will remain closed as long as I am chief,” he says. “Those fighting me will resort to any political trick to bring my undoing. I am fully advised as to what they are doing and all I ask is that the decent people of this city continue to give me their support.”

CHIEF BEAVERS’ STATEMENT.

Following is the statement issued by Chief Beavers:

“It’s a fight to the finish. The battle is on. I am going to force the vice gangsters into the open. This is the first gun in an attempt to get me out of office. I have shot into their hole so hot that they’ve got to come out.

“Felder was hit first and it was so warm for the others that they had to show their hand. The issue is now between the decent people of the city and the allies of vice, who have controlled the city politically for years.

“I know that the majority of the people of Atlanta are with me in the fight, and all I want is their continued support.

“This has outgrown a personal issue and any issue which may have developed in connection with the Phagan case, and has assumed the proportions of the hottest fight in the political history of Atlanta.

“I will fight them to a finish if I die in my tracks. They are trying to back me in a corner, and I fight when they try that. Even a rat will to back me in a corner, and I fight when they try that. I do not propose to wait until I am forced too far back into a corner before defending myself.

“MOUTHPIECE OF THE GANGSTERS.”

“Felder is the mouthpiece of the gang and an agent to get me out of office. The vice gangsters are losing money because of the closing of the restricted district and, while I do not believe they will do anyone bodily harm, I am satisfied they will not hesitate at political trickery.

“I have heard it rumored that three $500 cheeks [sic] have been deposited by three different men interested in houses in the former restricted district for any woman who could get me into a room with her.

“The Atlanta Constitution has never been in sympathy with me in my efforts to eliminate vice. It has done much to hinder and hamper my work. This paper seems to have made a personal fight on me, never losing an opportunity to embarrass my efforts.

“Shortly after the houses were closed I had a talk with Mr. Clark Howell, editor of the Constitution, in his office. During the conversation the question of suppressing vice came up and Mr. Howell remarked that there was no doubt that the houses were then closed, but asked whether I would be able to keep them closed. I replied that they will remain closed as long as I am in office.

“Mr. Howell never commended nor condemned my reply, but ever since that time the Constitution has indirectly used its influence against me.”

WOODWARD HOOTS AT THE IDEA OF “PLOT” TO OUST BEAVERS

Mayor Woodward last night was interviewed by a Journal reporter in regard to Chief Beavers statement.

Among other things, they mayor said:

“I haven’t read the chief’s statement; but if he charges or intimates that I am connected with or in sympathy with any conspiracy to throw him out of his job, then he is simply mistaken.

“I have not been a supporter of Chief Beavers since I became mayor, but everybody’s known that. There’s been no secret about it so far as I was concerned. I’ve got nothing personal against him. I simply differ with his policy in reference to the vice question. And I must say that neither he nor Chief Lanford have elevated the standard of the police department in the way they have handled the situation.

“Now, understand me. I don’t want to get into any controversy with Chief Beavers. As I said, I’ve got nothing against him personally at all. And I have not hampered him or interfered with him in his management of the police department, and don’t intend to.

“As for the conspiracy which you say he speaks of, there is no such thing so far as I know. I think about all the conspiracy that exists, is what Lanford and his detectives have tried to create.

“It looks like the detectives fixed up what they thought was a nice little trap, and then went to work to catch everybody they had it in for—myself included.

“Of course if I had it to do over again I probably wouldn’t go to the Williams House. I shouldn’t have gone when I did, I reckon, but should have made them see me in my office if they had anything in the way of graft evidence. But I went, and there was absolutely nothing said by me that I am ashamed of or want to conceal from the public.

“DICTOGRAPHS NO GOOD”

“This much I will say, though, and that is if the dictograph record purporting to show what was said is a fair sample of the dictograph, then it is one of the biggest fakes that ever came down the pike. I used to think it was fine thing in detecting criminals and such like, but I think now that it must be used by very honest, high-toned men or else it becomes an instrument of crookedness and blackamil [sic].

“Ed Miles simply came to me and said he thought he had found some evidence of graft in the police department and asked me if I would mind going with him over to the Williams House. I couldn’t go right then, but went over later.

“My motive was simply this, and no more: If there was evidence of graft in the police department—real evidence—I wanted it. Certainly I did. A man would be a poor mayor if he wouldn’t want to unearth graft, if such existed. I told them if they had anything that would be of value, that is, something that could convince, I thought they needn’t be uneasy about Febuary losing his job, or about being paid for their trouble. And by that I didn’t mean they’d be paid in a way that was improper. That was all there was to it. They promised to deliver the goods, but I never heard from them any more.”

“I’M IN NO CONSPIRACY TO OVERTHROW CHIEF,” SAYS JONES

Further than to deny that he is involved in a fifght [sic] against Chief of Police Beavers or harbors any enmity against that official. Charlie C. Jones, proprietor of the Rex near-beer saloon and a participant in one of the alleged conversations overheard by the police with the dictograph, refused to make any statement Saturday night.

“I have no statement to make,” he said.

“They only thing I want to say,” he added, “is that I am not in any conspiracy to overthrow Chief Beavers.

“I went to the room in the Williams house No. 2, as calimed [sic]. I was invited there by Miles, but I wasn’t in the place more than five minutes.”

Jones also asserts that the record of the dictograph is faulty. He declares that certain parts of his conversation which would explain most of the apparently embarrassing remarks accredited to him have been left out.

* * *

Atlanta Journal, May 25th 1913, “‘Felder is the Mouthpiece of the Vice Gang,’ Declares Chief of Police Jas. L. Beavers,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.

Atlanta Georgian

Sunday, May 25^th, 1913

Declares He Will Die Fighting ‘Foes of Reform’

Felder Denies Bribe Charges and Scores Police

Chief Sees Conspiracy to Overthrow His Rule and Calls Felder Leader in the Plot

Chief of Police James L. Beavers Saturday night gave to The Sunday American a sensational statement in reply to Colonel T. B. Felder’s accusations against him and the police department, and declared that he would go before the Grand Jury, and seek to indict Felder and all others implicated in the “conspiracy” against him. He made it very plain that if there were men “higher up” he would go after them, too.

While the Chief mentioned no names but that of Felder, it is known that the dictograph evidence in the hands of the police involves the names of Mayor Woodward, Charles C. Jones and Edward O. Miles.

The Chief said he would present his evidence to the Grand Jury at its next session. He said further that he does not depend solely on the evidence furnished by A. S. Colyar, Jr.

Has Proof of Plot, He Says.

“I have the testimony of other reputable witnesses that will show up this plot against me,” asserted the Chief.

The Chief declared that the alleged attempt to bribe Detective Secretary G. C. February [sic] to steal the evidence in the Phagan case was but an effort to discredit him and is “the fight of a gang of vice promoters and defenders.” He asserted that the fight is now open and on to the finish, and that he will “fight to the end, even if he dies in his tracks.”

The Chief mentioned the name of Councilman W. G. Humphrey, of the Eighth Ward as having declared to him shortly after the segregated district was closed by the Chief that “these houses will be open again within eight months—you can not keep them closed,” and sought to discourage his move. The Chief characterized Felder as the “agent and mouthpiece of these gangsters,” and referred to Charles C. Jones “as the main backer of Felder.”

Says Enemy is Cornered.

Chief Beavers’ peppery statement follows:

“I dislike very much to become involved in an affair like this, and to have to defend myself in this manner, but the time has come when I can rest quietly no longer. I have been shooting into the hole until my enemies must now come out and fight in the open. I’ve got them cornered and they must show their colors. It’s a fight in the open and to the finish. This thing must come to a showdown.

“This gang of vice promoters and defenders set out to get me when I first closed the restricted district and they’ve been after me ever since, relentlessly. But they’ve been fighting under cover and have sought to stab me in the back. But I’ve run them from cover now and I’ll fight to a finish, even if I die in my tracks. Consequences will not be considered—I’ll regard nothing but the principle in the fight. It’s a battle between decency and indecency, and I’m satisfied that right will prevail and decency triumph.

“This is the gang that has run Atlanta for years, but it is now losing its grip. Its reign is doomed.

Calls Felder Agent of Gang.

“Thomas B. Felder is the agent and mouthpiece of these gangsters, and this activities are in their behalf. He is the legal representative of these forces of evil. Charlie Jones, who is losing thousands of dollars of revenue since the restricted district was closed, is Felder’s employer. But he is not the only one who is losing this kind of money, and he’s not the only one interested in this fight to get me. There are others.

“All of these people who have been making money off the shame of women and who are interested in keeping the houses of vice open have been fighting me. Their sole motive is to oust me from the office of Chief of Police in the hope that they can again open these places. They have seized on this Phagan case as an instrument in their underhand fight. It was their purpose to embarrass me in this case in a way that might aid their fight. They grabbed at this as a last chance to make a stand. But the light has been turned on they’ll be shown up.

“Always Tried to Block Me.”

“Every effort I have put forth to make Atlanta a cleaner and better city has been met with obstacles. Attempts have been made to block me at every turn. This gang has been on the alert every minute.

“But there’s one thing certain now—they’ve got to fight a real battle in which no quarter will be asked. I won’t be frightened off by any alleged plot to assassinate, nor any other threat.

“I have received reports of numerous dirty methods that have been used against me. One of these reports came to me about Christmas. I was informed that certain persons had offered three $500 checks to anyone who would get me in a room with a woman. I’m satisfied, from my information, that traps have been set for me, but they failed to work.

Hurls Defy at His Foes.

“I have heard discouraging remarks on all hands, but none of them has shaken me in my efforts to make Atlanta a clean city.

“I was in the office of Councilman W. G. Humphrey a few days after the houses were closed, and he laughed and joked me about my closing order. He told me I could not keep the houses closed, and said they would be open again in eight months. I told him they would never open again.

“I have remained firm in my position in this matter, because I know I’m right. I intend to do my full duty in the future, and warn this gang here and now that it can not shake me from my purpose. Atlanta will never be blackened with recognized vice so long as I am Chief of Police.”

“Shortly after the houses were closed I had a talk with Mr. Clark Howell, editor of The Constitution, in his office. During the conversation the question of suppressing vice came up and Mr. Howell remarked that there was no doubt that the houses were then closed, but asked whether I would be able to keep them closed. I replied that they will remain closed as long as I am in office.

“Mr. Howell never commended nor condemned my reply, but ever since that time The Constitution has fought me personally and by the most unfair methods.”

* * *

Atlanta Georgian, May 25th 1913, “I’ll Indict Gang, Says Beavers,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.

Atlanta Georgian

Saturday, May 24^th, 1913

“Gang of Vice Promoters Have Been After Me,” Declares Police Chief.

Chief of Police J. L. Beavers, in answering the turmoil of accusations of graft and frame-ups which have been cast at himself and Detective Chief Lanford, declared the whole to be the result of a plot of gangsters which has been working against him ever since he closed up the Tenderloin section of Atlanta.

“This whole proposition is a fight against me by a gang of vice promoters,” declared Chief Beavers. “Tom Felder is the leader of it and C. C. Jones is his chief lieutenant.

“They have made repeated attempts to attack me. Only last Christmas I learned that they had offered $300 to a man if he would get me into a room with a woman of ill fame.

“Their action now is the result of the constant prodding I have been giving them. They have had to come out into the open and fight. This is going to be a fight to the finish, too.

“I am going to carry this matter before the Grand Jury. It is going to be a fight to the finish, even though I get killed in the meantime.”

* * *

Atlanta Georgian, May 24th 1913, “Beavers Says He Will Seek Indictments,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

George M. Gentry, stenographer who heard dictograph conversation in adjoining room and took it down in shorthand.

Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.

Atlanta Journal

Saturday, May 24^th, 1913

Proprietor of “Rex” Near-Beer Saloon and Private Sleuth Are Quoted as Having Negotiated With Febuary for Papers in Phagan Case—Jones Was Very Cautious in His Utterances

MILES WAS QUITE POSITIVE MAYOR WOODWARD WOULD SEE TO IT THAT FEBUARY WAS PROTECTED

Following the alleged dictographed conversations of Colonel Thomas B. Felder and Mayor Woodward Wednesday afternoon an engagement was made by A. S. Colyar for Charles C. Jones, proprietor of the “Rex” near-beer saloon, and E. O. Miles, a private detective, to meet G. C. Febuary, secretary to Chief of Detectives N. A. Lanford, in room No. 31 of Williams House No.2, to further discuss the subject of extracting certain papers from the safe of the chief of detectives.

This alleged discussion was also dictographed, and from the dictograph record it appears that Jones was too foxy for the ingenious machine. He was apparently very guarded in his utterances, although he took occasion to attack Police Chief Beavers and Marion Jackson, of the Men and Religious Forward Movement, for their part in closing up the restricted district.

Miles was more frank in his conversation. The dictograph record quotes him as agreeing to meet Colyar and Febuary outside Fulton county for the transfer of the papers and assuring the latter that he would be protected by Mayor Woodward.

THE DICTOGRAPH RECORD.

Following is the dictograph record on the Miles-Jones-Febuary-Colyar conversation:

The following conversation occurred in room No. 31 at Williams House, No. 2, 34-36 N. Forsyth street, Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday evening between eight and nine o’clock, between C. C. Jones, E. O. Miles and A. S. Colyar:

Colyar: It has been very warm today, hasn’t it?

Miles: Yes, it has. I asked Mr. Felder if you mentioned Mr. Jones’ name to him and he said no.

Colyar: He told me Monday night that Mr. Jones was a friend of his and he thought it an outrage the way they had done him.

Miles: You know I asked you this afternoon why you wanted to see Mr. Jones.

Colyar: If you don’t want to talk, that’s all right.

Jones: In what way.

Colyar: Tom told me they did you pretty dirty down here at the station house.

Jones: Yes. They closed up the houses I had. I had a lot of property.

Colyar: He told me they framed up on you.

Jones: There is no doubt but what it was a frame-up.

Colyar: Tom told me he would to see the gang put out the business.

Jones: The record now is (voice very indistinct just then). They never grafted me. Wouldn’t be any use for me to give them any money.

Miles: You told me you wanted to see Jones. It is not a question of lack of confidence, as what I told you was true as far as I know, but if he knows anything at all about it, I don’t know just what it is.

Jones: I don’t know anything. I just told them to go ahead and build them houses and move them across the street. Even some of them went over there and picked out the spot. I built the houses, put the money in and paid for them. Three or four days before they closed the houses the chief of the city of Atlanta —— —— —— that it would never do to close this district and I was surprised one morning by a telephone message from someone at No. 18 that the chief had given five or six days’ notice to get out, I don’t remember which, and I never even went to the trouble to go to this man to ask him what he meant, as I could not figure it out to save my life what he meant. That is all that I know of. I found out what he was doing. I understand that Jackson was holding conversations with him anywhere from one to three times a day.

Colyar: Who is Jackson?

WHAT JONES IS QUOTED AS SAYING CONCERNING MARION JACKSON

Jones: Jackson is the man that owns the biggest house in Atlanta now —— and the chief was there and wanted to know what he had done about the license of the hotel, and the chief ——, —— The people owe him $500 a month each. I understand he opened.

Colyar: Who is John Eagan?

Jones: He is one of them Jackson crowd.

Colyar: They certainly must have some kind of a pull.

Jones: They got something. I don’t know what it is.

Colyar: What does Jackson do?

Jones: Jackson runs them religious bulletins. I know them to be the fact, for he owns this place and on one occasion after he told him that he had better close his own mouth. To be exact, he owns the Empire hotel. The man that was running the hotel had an engagement to introduce me to this man. John Dawson told me that he had just had the hotel for three or four months and that he had cleaned the hotel out, and I looked at him and said “Yes, you cleaned it out, no doubt of that, but you run it different from what other people run it. The man went to one room and the woman to the other, with a door opening between it.” So I will be frank with you, if I had anything that would convict Mr. Beavers, I would tell it on the public streets. I think he is everything in the world but a man, I will be frank with you about that. If he takes my dollar and then goes to the other fellow and takes his dollar, he would tell me to go to hell, but, of course, I need to be a gambler, I run the Rex, and everybody knows it. I wouldn’t trust Beavers as far as I could throw ——.

Colyar: I want to talk to you about ——.

Jones: I am going to handle ——. I don’t know whether ——

Colyar: Well we can make it. I will show you something.

Jones: I don’t think it is going to ——. As far as my own knowledge is concerned, I have never been able to, well I haven’t tried to. Well, as I haven’t slept much lately, I think I will go. Well, I will see you tomorrow.

Miles: Well, I am much obliged to you for coming in.

Jones: I will try and get here between ten and eleven. Will that suit you? I am glad to have met you. Good night.

Colyar: Have you seen Felder since you saw me?

Miles: Yes.

Colyar: What did he say about going out of town?

Miles: Will he go.

Colyar: Well, we will get the papers.

Miles: I told him that was reasonable.

Colyar: Then I will get the papers at 2:30 tomorrow. What time will you get it in the morning?

Miles: I will get in at 8:30 tomorrow, and I have an appointment.

Colyar: I think it is best to go out there.

Miles: I have no doubt; it can’t possibly muss our side.

Colyar: Call me up at 2401 Atlanta phone at the hotel, at 1 o’clock. I won’t have anything to do with the transfer of them in Fulton county. As long as he ——

SAYS FELDER “BULLED” MORSE OUT OF FEDERAL PENITENTIARY

Miles: Yes, it makes a great deal more ——. He can bull a Morse out. I think he owes him most of it.

Colyar: What was his fee?

Miles: A hundred thousand dollars.

Colyar: How much did he get?

Miles: Oh! Absolutely ——

Colyar: How long have you known Felder?

Miles: I have known him twenty-five years personally.

Colyar: (Question incoherent.)

Miles: Did you not hear him commit himself.

Colyar: (Answer incoherent.) Now listen here, this boy needs protection. Will you do all in your power to see that he gets protection? Will you promise not to use it in any way as to jeopardize his position in any way?

Miles: —— and I believe he would, because I have seen him tried. I have been through all his campaigns with him, and I have never known him to go back on his word. I can’t convince my mind that the young man won’t balk. He is liable to lose his nerve. He seems nervous and afraid.

Colyar: No he won’t balk, he is just timid.

Miles: In dealing with a rattlesnake I never think about (dictaphone [sic] not clear.) Do you?

Colyar: No.

Miles: I presume every man has his own code of honor, and mine is if the right is figured in the wrong, that the right needn’t hurt you. I don’t mean to call him a rattlesnake, as I don’t know anything against him. By that respect I had in mind the general corruption in that department down there.

Colyar: He goes down there and gets the papers and brings them out there and they are the papers that you and Felder want and they would know that nobody could get them but Lanford and him and Lanford would say he didn’t get them and they would know Febuary got them and would fire him right away. Now, how is the mayor going to put him back.

Miles: If they are the documents of the nature he understands they are, there will be another chief in his office. They would put him back for the very reason it would insure a straight administration of the next chief.

Colyar: Will you call me in the morning at ten o’clock?

Miles: I will call you at ten o’clock.

Colyar: We will make Tom spend his money now?

Miles: Yes. You don’t want to give the mayor any list of these things?

Colyar: I thought you wanted the papers.

Miles: I don’t want them.

Colyar: Tom does. He can tell about the papers whether they are what he wants.

Miles:— We agree with the mayor that we get this list.

Colyar: Tom said that the papers ——

Miles: Between you and Tom we have nothing to do with it. If you are going to sell them to him we will drop out of it. You say you will see the mayor?

Colyar: I will see him tomorrow.

Miles: Good night.

Colyar: Good night.

* * *

Atlanta Journal, May 24th 1913, “Charlie C. Jones Shown by Dictograph to Have Been Foxy; Detective Miles Talks Freely,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)