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

The Atlanta Georgian

Wednesday, July 2, 1913

No Indication Given of Results of Investigation of Reports of Disorderly Houses.

The result of the Grand Jury’s sensational vice probe of a few weeks ago will be made known Wednesday when the presentments are returned to Superior Judge W. D. Ellis, who two months ago charged that an extensive investigation be made.

Save when an indictment was returned against Police Commissioner W. P. Fain, which charged him with keeping a disorderly house and beating one of the women inmates, no inkling of the general trend of the probe got beyond the closed doors of the jury room.

When the probe first started the jury expected it to be completed in a day. It took a sensational turn when Colonel Thomas B. Felder charged Chief of Detectives Newport Lanford and his detectives with openly protecting vice, and the attorney stated he could submit to the jury a “vice list” that would “stand Atlanta on its head.”

List Given to Jury.

Colonel Felder and Attorney Carl Hutcheson, a young man in his office, prepared a list for the jury which was said to have contained more than 50 names.

Chief of Police J. L. Beavers, denied the existence of the places named in Colonel Felder’s list, and told the Grand Jury vice conditions were better in Atlanta than in any city in the United States, and better than they had ever been in this city.

It was understood that the jury had declined to probe the charges of police corruption and had given the department a clean bill of record.

Whether the recent scandal at police headquarters made it necessary for the jury to change its presentments Tuesday could not be learned, but that a material revision was made was admitted by E. V. Kriegshaber, chairman of the presentment committee. He would not state, however, whether it had to deal with the recent police expose.

Several times since the vice probe began Foreman L. H. Beck has been swamped with signed and anonymous communications furnishing the names of alleged disorderly houses, and some of the writers agreed to testify before the jury under oath.

Dismiss Body Wednesday.

Practically none of the witnesses whose names were furnished the jury were called, and it was generally understood the body declined to deal with specific places, or names, but would only deal with the question in a general way, and recommended to the court any specific action that might be deemed necessary.

The body will meet at 10 o’clock Wednesday morning for a short session to consider any bills the Solicitor might have pending, after which it will be discharged by Judge Ellis.

If the reported action against Jim Conley, the negro who figures in the Phagan case, is to be taken by this Grand Jury it will have to be taken to-day before the jury is discharged. In the event of the body not taking up an indictment against the negro, it can recommend that the succeeding Grand Jury, which meets next Monday, take it up, or the next jury may take it up of its own accord.

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The Atlanta Georgian, July 2nd 1913, “Findings in Probe are Guarded,” 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

Wednesday, June 4^th, 1913

Witnesses Summoned in Dictograph Controversy, Although Foreman Says Vice Probe Is Not Complete

BEAVERS AND FELDER ASK INVESTIGATION

Felder’s Charges Against Lanford to Be Heard With Dictograph Case—Felder Says the Records Are Forged

Four witnesses were called Wednesday morning by the Fulton county grand jury to testify in regard to the existence of vice in Atlanta. They were Colonel Thomas B. Felder, who was on the stand but a few minutes Tuesday; A. J. Young, a real estate man; J. E. Skaggs, agent of the Southern Express company, and Police Chief James L. Beavers.

Neither of these witnesses would indicate along what lines he was questioned by the grand jury. It is understood, however, that Colonel Felder submitted a supplementary list to the list of alleged disorderly houses furnished Tuesday by Attorney Carl Hutcheson and that he also turned over to the grand jury a number of affidavits relative to houses which are operating in the city without police interference.

Colonel Felder is said to have supplied evidence attacking the official integrity and moral character of Detective Chief Newport A. Lanford.

Chief Beavers, it is understood, was questioned at length concerning his vice crusades and the general moral condition of the city as he observes it. He was also asked, it is said, about Attorney Hutcheson’s charge that he had failed to make raids upon disorderly houses which had been reported to him.

Upon leaving the grand jury room Chief Beavers stated that he could not discuss what had transpired there as he had been requested not to do so, but he admitted that he had been asked whether he thought his recent crusade against vice had bettered conditions in the city and that he had replied that it was his opinion that conditions were much better today than they had ever been before.

The chief says he admitted that it was probable that some disorderly houses were operating surreptitiously and that he assured the grand jury that he was diligently endeavoring to obtain evidence against such places and that as fast as he got thme [sic] evidence he made cases against the proprietors and inmates.

Messrs. Young and Skaggs are reported to have been interrogated relative to disorderly houses which may have come under their observation or which they may have information about.

A number of persons alleged in Attorney Hutcheson’s testimony to be proprietors, managers and frequenters of disorderly houses, were summoned by the grand jury Wednesday, but were not called. At 1:45 p. m. the grand jury adjourned and excused all witnesses until 10 o’clock Thursday morning.

TO PROBE DICTOGRAPH EPISODE.

It is expected that on Thursday or Friday the grand jury will begin a probe into the alleged dictograph conversations, in which Colonel Felder, Mayor Woodward, C. C. Jones, E. O. Miles, G. C. Febuary, and A. S. Colyar figure. Subpenas have been issued for a number of witnesses to testify in such an investigation.

The grand jury has, it is said, yielded to the demands of Colonel Felder and Chief Beavers to make a thorough investigation of the dictograph episode. Colonel Felder charges that the dictograph records were forged and promises to make sensational disclosures when the investigation is begun. He says that attorneys and court officials agree with him that even if the records were true, he had violated no law, and would not be subject to indictment on any count.

The city detectives expect the dictograph records to prove that Colonel Felder sought to bribe G. C. Febuary, a clerk in the detective department, to furnish him with affidavits and other papers relating to the Phagan murder case.

Foreman Lewis H. Beck states that the vice probe will hardly be completed before Thursday afternoon, and for this reason he said he did not anticipate that the investigation of the dictograph incident could be started on Thursday. This would indicate that the latter investigation will be begun Friday morning.

“We’ve Started a General Housecleaing,” Says Felder

“Well, if we’ve done nothing else we have caused a general house cleaning in Atlanta,” remarked Colonel Thomas B. Felder when he walked into the ante–room of the grand jury chamber Wednesday morning.

“Six places closed up last night and now claim to be as white as snow.” A general exodus seems to have begun.” Turning to City Detective John Black Colonel Felder said: “I had men out with your men all of last night, and the indications are that a mighty hurried clean-up is in progress.”

“You didn’t have any men with me,” replied Detective Black, “for I was home in bed.”

“I had them out with the city detectives, all right,” responded Colonel Felder.

Police Chief James L. Beavers and Detective N. A. Lanford were walking from the ante-room when Colonel Felder arrived, they having been excused until noon by Foreman Lewish H. Beck, of the grand jury.

Colonel Felder called to Chief Beavers and began a conversation with him in the presence of a number of newspaper men and court house attaches.

“You can publish what I say, if you wish,” announced Colonel Felder.

“You are the man doing the publishing, I am not,” answered Chief Beavers.

Then spoke Colonel Felder: “Chief, I have never made any statement attacking your personal character or your official integrity. I am not responsible for that so-called dictograph record. At a later date I will show you that I am not.”

Beavers: Does that mean that you’ve never charged me with being corrupt?”

NEVER CHARGED CORRUPTION.

Felder: “No, sir; I certainly have not.”

Beavers: “Has anybody else in your presence charged me with being corrupt?”

Felder: “Yes, someone else has, and I will tell you about it sometime. I don’t want to go into that now.”

Beavers: “Well, I would like to know who it was.”

Felder: “It will come out at the proper time.”

Beavers: “Well, I want to say whoever did make such a charge told a malicious falsehood.”

Felder: “Some time ago I had a long conference with Mr. Marion Jackson, of the Men and Religion Forward Movement, and I told him that I had not charged you with any official corruption and also that I had not attacked your moral character. I did charge it to the chief of the other department (presumably referring to Detective Chief N. A. Lanford), and I will furnish good and abundant proof to establish that charge.”

This closed the conversation and a moment later Chief Beavers left the room.

Colonel Felder announced to those about him that some time later he would prove that Chief Lanford is corrupt. “I will also show that those alleged dictograph records were forged,” he said.

“I am not going to allow Lanford to hide behind the skirts of Febuary and Colyar.”

Colonel Felder referred to Stenographer George M. Gentry’s affidavit attesting the accuracy of the dictograph records and intimated that he had obtained an affidavit from Gentry which contained startling disclosures.

Colonel Felder declares that attorneys and court officials have assured him that, even if everything contained in the alleged dictographed records was true and proven, he has violated no law and would not be subject to indictment on any count.

Detective Chief Lanford made a statement Wednesday afternoon replying to Colonel Felder’s charge that his department was corruptly administered. He declared that if there was anything wrong in his department he wanted it shown up. Concerning Colonel Felder’s intimation, that A. S. Colyar had sold out Chief Lanford, declared he didn’t know anything about it; that he was not involved and not interested in whether Colyar sold out or not.

While before the grand jury Tuesday Colonel Felder says he urged the grand jury to investigate the alleged dictograph episode, and Wednesday morning he stated that he would continue to urge such an investigation. He intimated that if such an inquiry was instituted he would make sensational allegations against the chief of detectives and possibly several others.

Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey was before the grand jury for about an hour Wednesday morning, during which it is understood he discussed the vice investigation with the members and also the advisability of a probe into the alleged dictograph incident.

FELDER FIRST WITNESS.

Colonel Felder, who was before the grand jury for about fifteen minutes Tuesday, was the first witness called Wednesday morning. He was sent for immediately following the conference with the solicitor.

The central figure of the vice crusade, Police Chief James L. Beavers, was among the several witnesses who were about the court house when the session opened.

Chief Beavers, who, since the board of police commissioners again has given him full authority, has put his famous vice squad of twenty-two plain clothes men back in harness, declared that he could not understand the attitude of some of the witnesses who have appeared before the probers.

“Some of those men who now tell of the terrible vice conditions in Atlanta,” the police official said, “were the very people who raised the loudest voices against me when my men were particularly active in their fight against vice.”

“My position,” continued the chief, “has never changed. I will make arrests whenever I can secure sufficient evidence to warrant a raid.”

Chief Beavers declared that he is now particularly anxious to get Attorney Carl Hutcheson’s promised list of thirty houses with evidence against the owners.

Mr. Hutcheson stated on leaving the grand jury room Tuesday that he had furnished the probers with the names of about thirty places, hotels and small houses where vice flourishes, he says, and that in many instances he gave the grand jury sufficient evidence to warrant indictments.

WHAT WILL JURY DO?

There is much speculation over the probable action of the grand jury in the matter.

The question is, Will the grand jury return indictments on the testimony given before it, or will the grand jury simply formulate a report on vice conditions to be embodied in is presentments to the superior court, when it is discharged during the first week in July?

Owing to a remark made to reporters by Foreman Lewis H. Beck soon after the vice probe was inaugurated, it is inferred that the latter course is probable.

Mr. Beck stated that the jury was making a general, not specific, investigation into vice conditions in Atlanta and in making this probe he declared that the jury was sitting like a committee of the whole.

The jury especially was charged by Judge W. D. Ellis to make an investigation of vice conditions, and this adds weight to the theory that the jury will render simply a report of its findings to the court and then leave the matter in the hands of the authorities.

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Atlanta Journal, June 4th 1913, “Felder Exonerates Beavers, But Says Lanford is Corrupt,” 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

Wednesday, June 4^th, 1913

Head of Police Department Invites Carl Hutcheson to Furnish Him With List of Houses.

MORE WITNESSES WILL GIVE TESTIMONY TODAY

Grand Jury Determined to Go to Bottom of Vice Allegations, But Will Not Touch Bribery Charge at Present.

Renewed activities on the part of the police “vice squad” have come with the taking up vice probe by the grand jury, which was started yesterday morning, when a number of principals in the Felder-Beavers controversy were summoned to tell what they know of alleged operation of vicious houses and hotels in Atlanta.

The grand jury will probe deeply into the charges hurled at the police by Attorneys Thomas B. Felder and Carl Hutcheson, following the dictagraphing of Colonel Felder and Mayor James G. Woodward by city detectives, and the charges that Colonel Felder had attempted to bribe G. C. Febuary, clerk to Police Chief James L. Beavers. This was made apparent Tuesday by orders issued for the summoning of additional witnesses for the hearing today.

It was charged by Attorneys Felder and Hutcheson that numbers of vicious houses were in operation, and that the police were either unaware of them and were incompetent, or that the police were in league with the proprietors.

Beavers Asks For List.

“If Mr. Hutcheson will give me a list of houses where he has proof that illegal practices are carried on, I will arrest the persons responsible,” declared Chief Beavers. “We have been making every effort to apprehend such places and would be glad to have evidence given by any one.”

At present there are twenty-two men on the “vice squad,” and they go on duty each evening with instructions to arrest proprietors or inmates of any houses or hotels where they can find proof of immoral practices. Already several arrests have been made in raids.

Gives List of Houses.

When summoned before the grand jury, Attorney Hutcheson produced a list of thirty houses and hotels, of which he has personal knowledge, according to his statement. Attorney Hutcheson remained before the body for nearly an hour and before leaving gave the foreman, L. H. Beck, a list of witnesses to be summoned to back up his allegations.

“I have certainly handed them the dope on this thing and now it’s up to the grand jury to act,” he smilingly remarked as he left the jury room.

Colonel Felder, Mayor James G. Woodward, Police Chief James L. Beavers and Charlie Jones were others who appeared in secret conference with the grand jury.

As announced by the foreman at the adjournment of the first day’s session, the grand jury has resolved itself into a committee of the whole to find out the truth of the charges hurled as a result of the Beavers-Felder feud. It is believed that the number of witnesses called for Wednesday’s session will make it necessary for the grand jury to continue for at least another day and probably longer before making a finding.

What Will Jury Do.

Whether it will then return indictments against proprietors of the various resorts or against any member of the “vice squad,” or will merely submit its report at the end of its term and allow the city and state authorities to take a hand, has not yet been indicated by its present movements.

Following the efforts of Foreman Beck and Solicitor Hugh Dorsey to keep the forthcoming probe a secret up to the day upon which it was undertaken, the same officials have attempted to keep everything about it under cover. Even the names of several important witnesses who have been summoned to appear today are keep secret and officials in the solicitor’s office refuse to admit that they have actually summoned witnesses for a continuation of the hearing.

That only the charges of open vice which were a part of the accusations hurled by Colonel Felder at the police after the dictagraph sensation will be undertaken at present was the statement made Tuesday afternoon by the foreman.

Colonel Felder was the first witness to be called at the morning session, and he came from the room a few minutes later. He refused to talk of his testimony except to declare that he had carried out what he had declared publicity he would do and that he had given the jury enough facts to return indictments.

Woodward is Questioned.

Mayor Woodward was questioned closely about what he knew of vice conditions here. He stated that he had told the grand jury that his knowledge was only hearsay but that it was his opinion that the city was full of vicious houses and hotels.

Charlie Jones, a saloon keeper, who has been open in his views against the closing up of the tenderloin district was also summoned before the body. He is said to have told the grand jury that he knew nothing of any vice conditions and got his release without further questioning.

Newport Lanford, chief of detectives and John Black, a city detective, had also been served with summons but were not called before the body. Mrs. Mima [sic] Formby, a woman who gave the detectives an affidavit that Leo M. Frank, indicted for the murder of Mary Phagan, had telephoned and asked to bring a girl to her house on the night of the murder was one of the those for whom the grand jury asked a subpoena. The woman was not reached by the bailiff and it is said that she is out of the city.

Only Vice Charges Probed.

Anticipating that the grand jury would take up the bribery and graft which resulted from the dictagraph being used upon Mayor Woodward and Colonel Felder, Chief Lanford submitted the names of several principals whom he wished summoned. They were G. C. Febuary, A. I [sic]. Colyar, Jr., George M. Gentry, J. M. Hewitt and Detective R. S. Ozburn.

It was made apparent that these men were not summoned and that the intention was not to take up this phase of the case but to stick to the vice probe.

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Atlanta Constitution, June 4th 1913, “Vice List Wanted by Chief Beavers; Promises Probe,” 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, June 3^rd, 1913

Attorney Ready to Go Before Grand Jury, but Has Not Been Called; Hutcheson Summoned in the Airing of the Dictograph Controversy.

[Investigation of Reports That Disorderly Houses Again Are in Operation Begun—Foreman’s Move Surprise. Dictograph Row Not Taken Up.

A broad and exhaustive probe into vice conditions in Atlanta was the unexpected turn taken by the Fulton County Grand Jury when it convened Tuesday morning supposedly to take up the Felder-Beavers-Lanford dictograph controversy with the attending charges of corruption and bribery of police officials. Foreman Beck himself conducted the inquisition.

Witnesses who gave testimony at the morning session were asked for evidence pertaining to the existence of vice only. That the Grand Jury will conduct a sweeping investigation of new red light districts which are reported to have sprung up, despite the persistent warfare against such resorts by Chief of Police Beavers, is almost certain.

Mayor James G. Woodward, Colonel Thomas B. Felder and Carl Hutcheson, the lawyer who says he has a list of disorderly houses of holding forth by reason of police protection, were the men called to testify in the morning.

The Mayor was questioned closely as to his knowledge of existing vice conditions. He is said to have informed the grand jurors that his information was only hearsay. However, he gave out what he had heard in full. The Mayor also pointed out the jurymen possibilities for the existence of such practices. The examination of Mr. Woodward continued for more than an hour.

Colonel Felder was before the Grand Jury for ten minutes. The attorney was not subpoenaed to appear at the hearing, but presented himself voluntarily. He is said to have outlined his own position in reference to the bribery charges and also the wholesale charges of corruption which have been made against the police.

Felder Offers Evidence.

In connection with the latter accusations, Mr. Felder declared to the investigating body that he would submit documentary evidence showing the existence of vice in Atlanta to prove his previous assertions.

It is believed that Carl Hutcheson, the young attorney in Felder’s office, is counted upon to supply this evidence. Mr. Hutcheson was called before the Grand Jury shortly before noon. While he did not carry in with him the list of resorts said to be operating now in this city, which he has compiled, he declared that if this document were asked for by the jurymen he would hand it over to them.

That the Grand Jury was in possession of sufficient information to indict the keepers and proprietors of at least 30 houses of disreputable character was the announcement made by Mr. Hutcheson when he emerged from the session chamber after he had been before the jurors for more than an hour.

Says He Furnished Proof.

He said that he had furnished positive evidence that these resorts and houses of assignation existed and that the policemmen [sic] on the beats knew of their existence.

“But did you give them positive information that Chief Beavers and Chief Lanford knew of their existence?” he was asked.

“I told them enough so that they must draw the conclusion that Beavers and Lanford could hardly help but know,” he replied. “The heads of departments always are responsible for the workings of the men under them.” — Added from the “Evening Edition” of the same paper — Ed.]

Colonel Thomas B. Felder appeared before the Grand Jury Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock, prepared, he said, to substantiate every charge he had made against the police department and its heads, and promising to open the eyes of the city to a condition of affairs that was startling in the extreme.

“I have not been served with a subpena to go before the Grand Jury,” Colonel Felder said, “but Mr. Hutcheson has been, and I will be there in case I am called upon. The people of Atlanta have no idea how far-reaching this thing will be. I will show the conditions as they are, and the men higher up will not escape. If the grand jury takes up this thing fully it will be the most sensational probe that has ever been made into affairs in Atlanta.”

The announcement that the Grand Jury would take up the Felder-Beavers-Lanford dictograph controversy with the attending charges of corruption and bribery was made late Monday afternoon when Foreman L. H. Beck had the assistant solicitor general serve a number of subpenas to those concerned.

Mayor Woodward, Chief of Police Beavers, Chief Lanford, Charlie Jones, proprietor of the Rex saloon; Carl Hutcheson, City Detective John Black and Mrs. Mina Formby were the persons summoned.

Mrs. Fo[r]mby in City.

The fact that Mrs. Fo[r]mby, a witness in the Phagan case, has been summoned, gave the meeting an air of mystery. It was stated on reliable information, however, that her testimony would have nothing to do with the Phagan case. It is understood that her name was one on the list that was to be furnished the police department by Carl Hutcheson, in which the attorney alleged she was receiving police protection. It was also said that the woman was not out of the city, as hinted a few days ago, but had merely changed her address and given the new location to the Solicitor.

Whether the jury would take up charges of Chief Beavers and Chief Lanford that Attorney Felder offered a bribe of $1,000 to Lanford’s stenographer Febuary, or the counter charges on the part of Colonel Felder and Attorney Hutcheson, would not be discussed by the foreman.

Chief Beavers, Chief Lanford and G. C. Febuary, Lanford’s secretary, were served Tuesday morning. Febuary’s subpena demanded that he bring the dictograph and documentary evidence he had taken in the affair. A. S. Colyar, Jr., had not been served, but Deputy Plennie Minor stated he would locate him during the morning.

Before going into the Grand Jury room Chief Beavers made the following statement:

“I want the truth of this whole affair to be known. If there is rottenness in the department I certainly want to find out about it and get it out. I want the jury to hew close to the line and let the chips fall where they may.”

Can’t Locate Gentry.

The dictograph stenographer, George Gentry, could not be located and it was reported he had left the city. Colonel Felder said he knew of the young man’s movements, however, and there was some probability of his being brought into the case in a new capacity.

Foreman Beck would not discuss the Grand Jury meeting at all. He denied on several occasions that it was his intention to take up the matter until it was presented by the Solicitor. The Solicitor, however, knew absolutely nothing of the nature of the meeting until informed by his assistant late Monday afternoon. He said then that he did not know positively the Grand Jury would take the matter up, but intimated if it did it would conduct its own investigation until such a time as it called upon him for advice.

It is not probable the jury will be enabled to examine all the witnesses or the testimony in the case Tuesday, and it is likely several days will be taken before some decision can be arrived at.

Attorney Hutcheson and Colonel Felder have the names of several witnesses that they probably will ask the Grand Jury to summon before the investigation is concluded.

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Atlanta Georgian, June 3rd 1913, “Felder Says He Will Lay Bare ‘Startling Police Graft Plans,'” 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 Journal

Thursday, May 29^th, 1913

Lawyer Not Ready Yet, Is Answer—Beavers Says He Is Disappointed

Chief of Police James L. Beavers called Attorney Carl Hutcheson over the telephone Thursday morning and asked if the list of “protected disorderly houses,” which Mr. Hutcheson promised in a card several days ago was ready.

Mr. Hutcheson is said to have replied that the list is not yet ready and that he will telephone the police official when it is completed.

Chief Beavers in the telephone conversation is said to have reminded Mr. Hutcheson that Thursday is the third day since the publication of Mr. Hutcheson’s card stating that the list could be furnished in three days.

Chief Beavers is said to have declared in the telephone conversation that he had hoped to receive the list of disorderly houses in his morning mail, and was very much disappointed in not finding it.

The chief told Mr. Hutcheson that if the latter had the list in his office that he (Beavers) would be glad to send a call officer for it, as he is very anxious to get the information.

Mr. Hutcheson told the police official, it is said, that he would telephone him when the list is complete.

In the course of the conversation Chief Beavers said that he wanted the list in tangible shape; names of persons operating the houses, street numbers, etc., and he asked Mr. Hutcheson to sign the list.

Mr. Hutcheson answered that he didn’t propose to have any one dictate to him as to how or when he should get up the list, and that he intended to use his own judgment in making it up and submitting it.

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Atlanta Journal, May 29th 1913, “Chief Asks Hutcheson for ‘Protected List,'” 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

Wednesday, May 28^th, 1913

Declares That He Will “Clean Out” Disorderly Places When Hutcheson Furnishes List.

Renewed crusades to clean out vice in Atlanta have been precipitated by the publication Tuesday of an open letter to Chief of Police Beavers by Carl Hutcheson, an Atlanta attorney.

Chief Beavers called up Hutcheson with a demand for his information, asking names, addresses and character of occupants, and declared Wednesday that he would proceed to clean up if the requested information was furnished.

Hutcheson is now preparing a list of the places which he declared are immoral and told the chief he would place the list in Beavers’ hands three days hence. Hutcheson was asked by the chief to swear to the character of the inmates of each house he names and to sign his name to his affidavit, and will be called as a witness in prosecuting the landlords.

“We will have some clean-up sure,” said Chief Beavers Wednesday. “When I get Hutcheson’s information I will prove that I am giving no protection to anybody. I would be glad to have every one report to me any resort that they might know of. It will help in the crusade. I will take speedy action against them all.”

Dorsey to Confer With Felder.

Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey declared Wednesday that he would confer with Colonel T. B. Felder relative to the proposed Grand Jury probe of his corruption charges against police officials and the counter charges of bribery made against him by the police.

Colonel Felder would not comment on the affair at all, other than to say he was not yet ready to issue his statement substantiating his sensational charges.

Detective Chief Lanford issued a signed statement proposing to send Colyar handcuffed to Knoxville and Colonel Felder in charge of a detective in Columbia, S. C.

Lanford’s Contribution.

“I will make this proposition to Colonel Felder,” he said. “I will handcuff A. S. Colyar and send him back to Knoxville, Tenn., without requisition papers, if he (Colonel Felder) will accompany one of my men to Columbia, S. C., waiving requisition papers. Thereby I will get rid of two nuisances.”

Colonel Felder issued the following statement relative to the proposed Grand Jury investigation:

“No investigation would be too exhaustive. I would be pleased to go before any committee, organization or tribunal. I have done nothing wrong. There is nothing win my whole professional career of which I am ashamed. I wish an investigator would be started.”

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Atlanta Georgian, May 28th 1913, “Chief Beavers to Renew His Vice War,” 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

Wednesday, May 28^th, 1913

Calls Rim [sic] “a Contemptible Liar” and a “Pig Head.” Chief Asks for That List

Attorney Carl Hutcheson renewed his attack on Police Chief Beavers Wednesday when he gave out an open letter referring to the chief as a “malicious and contemptible liar,” a “pig head,” and asserting that he didn’t have “enough brains in his head to rattle in a gourd after the water was turned off.”

Mr. Hutcheson objects to the chief’s reference to him as “small fry” and “only a cog in the gang machine.”

The first open letter written by Mr. Hutcheson appeared in The Journal Tuesday afternoon. It was addressed to both Police Chief Beavers and Detective Chief Lanford. Mr. Hutcheson declared in this letter that the chiefs should be removed from office because, as he alleged, immoral houses were being operated on Spring, Ivy, Pryor and other streets, without police interference.

Mr. Hutcheson, in his first letter, announced that he had the addresses in his possession which he would furnish to the chiefs if called upon to do so within three days.

Late Tuesday afternoon Mr. Hutcheson called up Chief Beavers and inquired if the statements published in the newspapers in which he (the chief) was quoted as referring to him (Mr. Hutcheson) as “small fry” and intimating that his (Mr. Hutcheson’s) attack had been inspired by Colonel Thomas B. Felder was correct.

The chief says he informed Mr. Hutcheson that he did not care to discuss the matter with him over the telephone, but that what he really wanted was for Mr. Hutcheson to furnish him with that list of disorderly houses; that he wanted the names and addresses of the women who conduct them; that he wanted Mr. Hutcheson to definitely state whether these women were of lewd character and that he wanted Mr. Hutcheson’s signature to the list.

According to the chief, Mr. Hutcheson replied by stating, “That will come later all right.” This, said Chief Beavers, ended his telephone conversation with Mr. Hutcheson.

MR. HUTCHESON’S LETTER

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

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

Of course I am “small fry,” but if you had enough brains to rattle in a gourd after the water was “turned off,” you would know that “great things come in small packages.”

I presume that a certain judge-elect of a certain superior court district thought I was a “small fry” when I said in an interview that I had the “goods” on him to invalidate his election, but he is out Mr. Chief. I don’t care a tinker’s damn, whether you remain in office or not, but I intend to show up you and your hypocrisy the public believes that I am correct.

You refer to me as one of the cogs in the “gang.” You, dear chief, are a malicious and contemptible liar.

As to your reference to the Henderson hotel charges against certain of your officers:

You went to the proprietor of that hotel, acknowledged the mistake of your men, you apologized vociferously to the proprietor for the error, and you know that you did. Not only that, but you issued orders to the various watches of your force to be very careful in future before they made raids.

The hotel was vindicated and your officers made asses of themselves and your office.

This will do for you, you pig head, for the present.

CARL HUTCHESON.

Atlanta, Ga., May 28, 1913

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Atlanta Journal, May 28th 1913, “Carl Hutcheson Again Attacks Chief 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

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.

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