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

The Atlanta Constitution

June 13, 1913

Felder Says He Will Be Produced at the Proper Time. Notary Declares Affidavit Is Genuine.

Miss Jeannette Henning, the notary public whose official seal was attached to the affidavit made recently by George Gentry, has informed The Constitution that she took the document from him last Monday, and that although it is genuine, she does not know its contents. She states that she had never met Gentry prior to the time he made the affidavit.

Chief Beavers, who has for the past several days been attending the convention of national police chiefs in Washington, is conducting a search of that city for the young stenographer. He is assisted by a number of detectives put at his command by Major Sylvester, head of the Washington police department.

Beavers was requested by Detective Chief Lanford to find Gentry, and to ascertain positively whether or not the youth had attested to the startling affidavit. Thursday noon, Lanford received a message from the chief saying that he was unable to locate his man, but that the search would continue as long as Beavers remained in Washington.

Squad of Sleuths at Work.

Lanford is apparently worried over his inability to locate the stenographer. While Beavers is scouring Washington, the detective head has detailed a squad of detectives to try and find Gentry through some local source. While this search is being promoted, Colonel Felder and others concerned in Gentry’s repudiation of the dictagraph reports, said Thursday that Gentry could be brought back to Atlanta at any time they desired.

He will remain in Washington for ten more days, it is said. He was given a position as stenographer with a business firm which would last for 30 days, after which he intended returning to Atlanta and resume his connection with the General Fire Extinguisher company, with whom he has been employed for considerable time.

His residence in Washington, it is stated, is obscure. He is passing under an assumed name so as to avoid newspaper reporters and notoriety. He is seen but very little on the streets, detectives aver who have talked with him, and each afternoon upon leaving his place of work, he walks hurriedly to his boarding place, remaining therein throughout the night.

Located by Burns.

Before he was located in Washington, every agency of the Burns detective agency on the continent was flooded with descriptions of him in the effort to apprehend him and verify the statement that the dictagraph reports were “padded.” Less than two weeks ago a Burns operative of the Washington office, who had studied the missing stenographer’s picture, saw and recognized young Gentry as he walked home on the way from work.

He was shadowed to his address. The operative wired Atlanta. Detective Miles, who is at the head of the Miles Investigating Bureau, an Atlanta concern, was sent immediately to Washington, with the result that he found Gentry at the boarding place, managed an interview with the youth, and obtained the affidavit which created a city-wide sensation following its exclusive publication Wednesday morning in The Constitution.

Unusual interest is being centered in arrangements being made by the Fulton grand jury to investigate the affidavit and charges “frames-up” from both sides—the detective department and the men who claim they were victimized by the dictagraph plot. Immediate action is assured by officials promoting the investigation as is the assurance that the probe will be deep and thorough.

Beavers Doubts Affidavit.

“Even without evidence of the records made with aid of the dictagraph,” Chief Beavers told a Constitution reporter in Washington Thursday afternoon, “we have the testimony of Secretary Febuary, who was in the same room with the men during the famous conversations.”

The chief appeared to doubt the affidavit’s genuineness. He declined to express any opinion about it’s [sic] authenticity, or whether or not Gentry bad signed it. Also, he seemed in doubt that the “George M. Gentry,” whose name was signed to the document, was the young stenographer who noted the dictagraph incident.

A humorous incident relative to the chief’s connection with the dictagraph episode, occurred Thursday afternoon, when the chief, in company with The Constitution’s reporter, walked past the Raleigh hotel, in which the national chiefs are holding their annual convention. The chief was with a genial party of friends. As they hove into view of the hotel, one of the group chanced to remark:

“You’re considerably in the limelight this day and time, chief,—won a centipede race, disrupted a tenderlion and became the south’s chief promoter of civic morals. This little instrument also contributed much to your fame, didn’t it?”

With which the chief’s companion laughingly pointed to a sign conspicuously displayed in a window of the fashionable hotel:

“Be sure to see the dictagraph test within.”

Miss Henning, who took Gentry’s affidavit, when seen by the Constitution’s Washington representative Thursday, explained her connection with the sensational document. She told of having been called over the telephone Monday and being asked to come to room 802 Westery building, which is occupied by the Louisville and Nashville railway offices. She was wanted to witness a legal paper.

“I met two men in room 802,” she said, “and, after going through the usual formalities, attached my seal to the document a Mr. Gentry signed in my presence. I accepted the usual fee of 25 cents, although the men wanted to give me fifty.

“I did not know the man, Mr. Gentry. Neither did I know the contents of the affidavit. I did not have time to read it. Immediately after affixing my seal I left the party in room 802. They seemed pretty well acquainted all round. Had I known at the time that the paper was as important as it has proved to be, I would have taken time to read it thoroughly.”

Miss Henning is a law clerk.

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The Atlanta Constitution, June 13th 1913, “Beavers Trying to Find Gentry,” 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

June 11, 1913

Attorney Explains Disposition of Money Subscribed to Secure Burns’ Services.

Colonel Thomas B. Felder Wednesday issued an itemized statement of the funds subscribed by Atlanta citizens, to secure the employment of the Burns Detective Agency to investigate the Phagan mystery, to show that these funds had been returned to the donors.

According to Mr. Felder’s statement, but $102 was actually subscribed. This amount was placed in the hands of Curtis N. Anderson, a member and treasurer of the law firm of Felder, Anderson, Dillon & Whitman. In a letetr [sic] to Colonel Felder, dated June 9, Mr. Anderson gives the following disposition of the fund:

“I have received from contributions to the Burns fund $102. Several of the contributions were anonymously made; in the majority of other cases contributors requested that their names be withheld, and in some cases the addresses of the parties making the donations are unknown to me. Under your direction, I am returning to the contributors the several amounts sent in by them, where the names and addresses of the contributors are known, and I am directed by you to return the balance upon their request.

Felder Pays Extra Expense.

“I also desire to say that you have directed me to charge whatever disbursements have been made, which, by the way, are several times over larger than the contributions that have come in, to your personal account. This I have done.”

The following amounts in chronological order were received by Mr. Anderson, according to his report:

May 15—Check, Joseph Hirsch $25
May 15—Check, Anonymous $30
May 16—Check, Anonymous $5
May 16—Check, Anonymous $1
May 17—Check, not authorized to give name $1
May 17—Check, not authorized to give name $1
May 17—Check, not authorized to give name $25
May 17—Check, not authorized to give name $5
May 23—Check, not authorized to give name $1
May 26—Check, not authorized to give name $5
May 26—Check, not authorized to give name $3

Along with Mr. Anderson’s itemized account of the funds, Mr. Felder makes the following statement, which he addresses to the public:

“Mr. Charles I. Ryan, who was designated as custodian of the fund without his knowledge or consent, informs me that he has already returned to the contributors whatever money was paid in to him.”

“The Atlanta Journal, The Atlanta Constitution and The Atlanta Georgian subscribed $100 each, and I am informed that certain subscriptions were made to them. They have not been paid in and are not expected, and the three newspapers are hereby requested to return to the contributors any sums that they have received.”

“In addition to the above and foregoing, permit me to say in conclusion that additional sums aggregating several hundred dollars were subscribed by the public, but were not paid, and payment has not been and will not be requested.”

Mr. Felder further stated that he would ask the Bar Association to pass upon the regularity of his employment in the Phagan case and make a report upon it. He also declared his connection with the controversy as ended.

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The Atlanta Georgian, June 11th, 1913, “Felder Returns Phagan Fund to Givers,” 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 Journal

June 11, 1913

 Says Only $102 Was Paid Into Fund to Employ Burns Detectives

Attorney Thomas B. Felder Wednesday morning issued a card to the public in which he accounts for the funds subscribed to employ the Burns detectives to work upon the Phagan murder case. He reports that but $102 was collected.

Mr. Felder announces that all subscriptions paid in have been returned to the subscribers and that those who have subscribed but have not yet paid are not expected to do […] submits a letter and detailed statement from C. N. Anderson, the treasurer of his law firm, in which it is stated that the expenses incident to the employment of the Burns detectives have been charged to Mr. Felder’s personal account.

In conclusion Mr. Felder says that his connection with the controversy is ended and that he will in due season ask a committee from the bar association to pass upon the regularity of his employment in the Phagan case.

MR. FELDER’S CARD.

Following is Mr. Felder’s card:

“To the Public:

“I beg to submit a statement of receipts and disbursements in connection with your contributions to the fund that it was proposed to raise for the employment of the Burns agency to investigate the murder of Mary Phagan:

“First. I submit a letter addressed to me by Mr. C. N. Anderson.

“Second. A statement prepared by Mr. Anderson, showing all moneys resolved by my law firm.

“Third. Mr. Charles I. Ryan, who was designated as custodian of the fund without his knowledge or consent, informs me that he has already returned to the contributors whatever money was paid in to him.

“Fourth. The Atlanta Journal subscribed $100, and I am informed that certain subscriptions were made to it. This subscription has not been paid in and is not expected, and The Journal is hereby requested to return to the contributors any sums that it has received.

“Fifth. The Atlanta Constitution subscribed $100, and I am informed that certain subscriptions were made to it. This subscription has not been paid in and is not expected, and the Constitution is hereby requested to return to the contributors any sums that it has received.

“Sixth. The Atlanta Georgian subscribed $100, and I am informed that certain subscriptions were made to it. This subscription has not been paid in and is not expected, and the Georgian is hereby requested to return to the contributors any sums that it has received.

HUNDREDS OF DOLLARE (sic) RECEIVED.

“In addition to the above and foregoing, permit me to say in conclusion that additional sums aggregating several hundred dollars were subscribed by the public, but were not paid, and payment has not been and will not be requested.

“With the above and foregoing statement, I pledge the public not to trespass further upon their time and patience, as my connection with the controversy is ended. I will in due season as a committee from the Bar association to pass upon the regularity of my employment in the Phagan case, and make its report, in accordance with the evidence.

“I request the newspapers in the city of Atlanta in the future to refrain from publishing any statement that can be by the public construed as a reflection upon me either as a lawyer or an individual.

“THOMAS B. FELDER.”

MR. ANDERSON’S LETTER.

Mr. Anderson’s letter to Mr. Felder, regarding the subscriptions, follows:

“Atlanta, Ga., June 9, 1913.

“Mr. T. B. Felder.

“Felder, Anderson, Dillon & Whitman, City.

“Dear Sir:

“In connection with the business of the above stated firm, of which I am a member, I occupy the position of treasurer. All letters addressed to the firm are placed upon my desk and are distributed by me, all moneys and checks paid in are turned over to me for appropriate disposition.

“I have received from contributions to the Burns fund $102. Several of the contributions were anonymously made; in the majority of other cases contributors requested that their names be withheld, and in some cases the addresses of the parties making the donations are unknown to me. Under your direction, I am returning to the contributors the several amounts sent in by them, where the names and addresses of the contributors are known, and I am directed by you to return the balance upon their request.

“I also desire to say that you have directed me to charge whatever disbursements have been made, which, by the way, are several times over larger than the contributions that have come in, to your personal account. This I have done.

“I beg to remain,

“Very truly yours,

(Signed)

“C. N. ANDERSON.”

DETAILED STATEMENT.

The detailed statement of funds paid in, as prepared by Mr. Anderson, follows.

May 15—Check, Joseph Hirsch $25
May 15—Check, Anonymous $30
May 16—Check, Anonymous $5
May 16—Check, Anonymous $1
May 17—Check, not authorized to give name $1
May 17—Check, not authorized to give name $1
May 17—Check, not authorized to give name $25
May 17—Check, not authorized to give name $5
May 23—Check, not authorized to give name $1
May 26—Check, not authorized to give name $5
May 26—Check, not authorized to give name $3

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The Atlanta Journal, June 11th 1913, “T. B. Felder Accounts for Subscriptions Received,” 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

Thursday, June 5^th, 1913

Attorney Reiterates Graft Accusations Following Lanford’s Defiance—Offers More Proof.

Newport A. Lanford, Chief of Detectives, issued a statement Thursday morning defying Colonel Thomas B. Felder, or anyone, to substantiate the charge of graft made against him and his department in the Grand Jury’s probe of vice conditions and alleged corruption in the detective and police departments.

“I defy Felder, or anyone, to prove to the Grand Jury that a penny of graft has ever gone into the detective department, and I defy him to substantiate one of his blackmailing utterances against me. He can’t do it, and he knows he can’t.”

Colonel Felder, in turn, reiterated Thursday morning every charge of corruption he has made against Chief Lanford and his detectives. He said he had presented a great amount of evidence along this line to the Grand Jury and was in readiness to present more when that body called him at its session to-day.

“Opens Grand Jury’s Eyes.”

“I have given the Grand Jury a great number of facts in this matter and I think they are beginning to see things about like a great many people in Atlanta see them.”

“In next Sunday’s issues of the Atlanta papers I will issue a statement setting forth in full the foundation for every statement I have made and showing the people how corrupt their Chief of Detectives really is. I will not comment here on how great a failure he is as a detective. When William J. Burns reads of some of his marvelous deductions in the Phagan case, the great detective will bow his head in shame and pronounce himself a timid amateur.

“My statement will substantiate every charge I have made beyond any shadow of a doubt.”

Colonel Felder, Chief Lanford, A. S. Colyar, Jr., G. C. Febuary, Chief Beavers and the witnesses in the dictograph controversy, with the exception of George Gentry, the stenographer, were in the witness room of the Grand Jury when that body convened Thursday morning.

May Not Reach Dictograph.

Although witnesses were before the Grand Jury Thursday morning to testify in the dictograph controversy, Foreman L. H. Beck intimated that it was doubtful if this phase of the probe could be reached during the day.

Sensational disclosures of alleged vice conditions existing in sections of East Harris and Ivy Streets, the foreman intimated, had determined the jury to make a more exhaustive investigation along this line before anything else would be taken up. Some of the witnesses, he said, would be quiz[z]ed on vice conditions and held under subpoena until such time as the dictograph controversy could be looked into.

Colonel Felder will go before the Grand Jury again during the day, but it will be in connection with his charges of corruption in the police department and the evidence he has submitted of houses of ill fame.

Gentry Not To Be Found.

A. D. [sic] Colyar, Jr., and G. C. Febuary were summoned at the request of Chief Newport A. Lanford, who was also in the Grand Jury witness room when the body went into executive session. Gentry, the dictograph stenographer, could not be located, but the deputy expected to find him during the day. Colonel Felder stated the young man had been run out of town by the alleged dictograph conspirators, but Chief Lanford said he knew where the young man was and would produce him at the proper time.

It developed that J. E. Skaggs, agent for the Southern Express Company, was not questioned about shipments of whisky into Atlanta, as was stated by one of the deputies Wednesday. It developed that Mr. Skaggs accused a Police Commissioner.

Allen Young, real estate agent, was [Remainder of article not available – Ed.]

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Atlanta Georgian, June 5th 1913, “Challenges Felder to Prove His Charge,” 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

Thursday, May 29^th, 1913

All Evidence Gathered by His Operatives Sent to the Noted Detective.

James Conley, the negro sweeper at the National Pencil Factory who has turned suspicion on himself with a maze of contradictory statements, was put through a gruelling third degree examination at police headquarters this afternoon. Pinkerton Detective Harry Scott said as the grilling began before Chief Beavers and Chief Lanford that he expected to glean important information. Scott had interviewed factory employees and was convinced that there were many things to be cleared up before the negro’s second affidavit, on which the police rely so much, could be accepted.

With the maze of contradictory statements sweeping an avalanche of suspicion upon the head of James Conley, the negro sweeper, the potent information was unearthed Thursday that Detective William J. Burns personally will take charge of the investigation into the Mary Phagan murder case which his operatives have been conducting.

Despite the published report that Burns operatives had withdrawn from the case, and despite the procedure of the State in prosecuting its case against Leo M. Frank, the pencil factory superintendent, the Burns investigation will continue and from now on be under the famous detective’s direction.

This information came from Detective C. W. Tobie, William J. Burns’ lieutenant, Thursday morning. It tends to show that Tobie, who has had charge of his agency’s investigation here, does not consider the case as closed.

Mr. Tobie went so far as to deny emphatically the published interview with him, in which he was quoted as declaring Frank to be the guilty man.

Takes Evidence to Burns.

“From the evidence so far developed in the Phagan case, guilt is directed at Frank,” the detective said with emphasis. “That was my statement. However, I was quoted as saying outright that Frank committed the murder. That was not true.”

Mr. Tobie left Atlanta Thursday afternoon. He carried with him the evidence which he has gathered during his two weeks’ probe of the case. He is going to New York. He will meet Burns there and place his material into the noted detective’s hands. From then on Detective Burns will direct his operatives as to further investigations to be outlined by him.

This information but proves another link in the chain of circumstances which The Georgian has consistently pointed out in serious incrimination of Conley.

Negro Deeper in Suspicion.

With each cross-examination of the negro by the police in their attempts to secure more evidence against Frank, Conley has only insnared himself in guilt. His admitted falsehoods in former affidavits tending to throw the blame to Frank in connection with the “murder” notes have been accentuated as incriminating by the unqualified declarations of employees at the pencil factory that Conley is the guilty man.

Three responsible officials of the plant have outlined plausible theories as to how the negro could have committed the crime. These men, Herbert G. Schiff, who is assistant superintendent; E. F. Holloway, timekeeper, and N. V. Darley, general foreman, are acquainted with Conley. Upon their knowledge of him and the opportunity offered for accomplishing the murder they base their statements that he is guilty. They have proven beyond a doubt that Conley was in the factory for several hours on the day of the murder, and connecting with this the negro’s contradictory statements as to his whereabouts they have compiled a most laudable explanation of how he killed the Phagan girl.

The detective still held firmly to their theory that the negro was the most important witness against Leo M. Frank, in the face of the contradictory stories and lies in which he had been trapped.

They were strongly disposed to give full credence to Conley’s second affidavit, although the negro’s sudden anxiety to talk after three weeks of silence and the maze of falsehood in which he was at once involved served suddenly to shift responsibility for Mary Phagan’s death from Leo Frank to the sullen black man, in the judgment of many who have been following the evidence closely.

Chief Lanford and Detective Harry Scott, of the Pinkertons, announced Thursday morning, however, that they regarded the second affidavit of Conley as the final and conclusive piece of evidence needed in preparing a case against Frank.

Rejected First Affidavit.

Others who have weighed the evidence carefully declare there are many more significant indications that Conley was the slayer than there are reasons to believe that Frank is guilty.

The detectives rejected the first affidavit of Conley, in which he said Frank dictated Friday the notes that were found by the body of the slain girl Sunday morning on the ground that it was absurd and unbelievable to hold the theory that the murder was premeditated.

Yet they accept the second affidavit, which indicates identically the same thing, in that Frank met Conley at Nelson and Forsyth Streets before 11 o’clock Saturday morning, April 26, before the crime was committed, and told the negro to wait for him, later taking Conley to the factory with him, where Conley says that he wrote the notes at Frank’s direction.

The negro in his second affidavit suggests no other motive that could have impelled Frank to ask him to come to the factory shortly before noon on Saturday. Conley says that Frank told him to wait secreted on the first floor until he heard a whistle. When he heard the whistle he says he went upstairs and Frank dictated the notes.

Why Many Suspect Conley.

All of this is inescapably suggestive of premeditation on the part of Frank, if Conley’s story is to be believed, but the theory of premeditation has been scoffed at by everyone, including Chief Lanford and Harry Scott.

In fact, it never seriously was considered by anyone, say those who are inclined to believe the evidence against Conley greatly outweighs that against Frank. The assertion is freely made that it would be far easier to convict Conley, if the police were so disposed, than it will be to convict Frank. Here are a few reasons advanced:

When the factory superintendent was permitted to go before the Coroner’s jury by his attorney, he answered all the questions in a straight-forward, unwavering manner, never once being trapped in a lie or misstatement.

In marked contrast is the conduct of Conley ever since his arrest at the time of the inquest three weeks ago. When discovered at the factory, he was washing a shirt which he sought to hide from the person who had found him out.

He was taken into custody and gave his address as 92 Tattnall Street. Investigation disclosed that Conley was lying and that he had not lived on Tattnall Street for months, his actual residence being 172 Rhodes Street.

He was asked to write, and he told the officers he could not write a word. He refused to be inveigled into making an attempt at handwriting of any sort. He would not put a pencil to paper that the detectives might get a specimen of his penmanship. For a long time they believed he was so ignorant he could not write his own name. Then they found some leases he had signed for watches and knew that he had been lying again.

Just as the Grand Jury was about to sit and it appeared likely that Frank would be indicted, the negro broke his silence for the first time. He told the detectives that it was he who had written the notes, but that he had written them at Frank’s dictation on Friday, April 25. Frank had approached him in an aisle at the factory and had asked him to come into the office, he said. He remembered that it was four minutes before 1 o’clock.

That he had been at the factory Saturday he denied emphatically. Between 10 o’clock in the forenoon and 2 o’clock in the afternoon he had been on Peters Street, according to his story.

The detectives ridiculed his story and continued examining. Gradually he broke down under their questioning, and it was established that he had been lying again and that he actually had been in the factory Saturday, presumably at the very time the girl was murdered. This was the first time his presence in the factory on Saturday had been known.

He had kept it a most profound secret up to the time it was gouged out of him by the detectives. He weakened further and admitted that he had been hiding down on the first floor as persons went in and out.

He described practically every person that entered or left the factory between 12 and 1 o’clock. But he declared that he did not see Mary Phagan when she came in the building. Out of all who entered or left, the murdered girl and Lemmie Quinn appear to be the only ones he missed seeing, according to his story.

He explained this by saying that he must have fallen asleep for a little while. He saw Miss Corinthia Hall and Mrs. Freeman leave a few minutes before 1 o’clock, but did not see Mary Phagan enter about five minutes after the hour. Neither did he see Lemmie Quinn, who is said to have been at the factory about 12:15.

If the negro’s final affidavit is taken as nearer the probable truth than his first, those who are acquainted with Frank are of the opinion that there are still most important questions to be answered convincingly. They are these, assuming Frank is guilty:

“Why should a man of Frank’s intelligence—a man who is highly educated and who has won a position of responsibility—virtually make a confidant of another man, especially an ignorant negro, easily broken down by the third degree of the police station?”

“Why should a man of sense, if he wished to keep his crime undiscovered, proclaim it to the negro, in his office by the question: ‘Why should I hang?’”

“Why should he approach this negro more than an hour before this crime was committed?”

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Atlanta Georgian, May 29th 1913, “Burns Joins in Hunt for Phagan Slayer,” 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

Tennessee Authorities Failed to Forward Requisition Papers on Date Agreed

A. S. Colyar, the Tennessean, who figured conspicuously in the recent dictograph sensation involving bribery charges and countercharges of graft between Colonel Thomas B. Felder, Mayor Woodward and others, on the one hand and Chief of Police Beavers and Chief of Detectives aLnford [sic], on the other was released from his bond Thursday at 2 p. m. by Chief Beavers.

Colyar’s name jumped into the news when the dictograph matter became public and the following day there came a wire from the Knoxville police to the Atlanta police, asking that Colyar be arrested and held for them. They charged an indictment for forgery. Accordingly, Colyar was arrested. He said the charge was four years old and had never been prosecuted. He alleged a conspiracy.

A few hours later, Colyar was released on bond.

Thursday was the day set by the Tennessee police for the delivery of requisition papers and the extradition of Colyar to Tennessee.

No documents came, but instead Chief Beavers received a letter from the Knoxville chief of police requesting that Colyar be held until June 3.

Chief Beavers declined to accede to this. His reply to the Knoxville chief was quoted by him to be that immediate action would have to be taken on Thursday or he would order the release of Colyar and his bondsmen.

Grand Jury Subpena Is Served Upon A. S. Colyar

The [1 word illegible] Thursday morning of a grand jury subpena for A. S. Colyar to appear before the grand jury Friday morning led to the belief that the grand jury had decided to make an investigation of the charges which have been made [1 word illegible] A. S. Colyar and the city detectives against Colonel T. B. Felder and the counter charges which Colonel Felder has made against them.

An investigation developed the fact that the city detectives, anticipating that the grand jury would make such an investigation had the subpena issued so that A. S. Colyar would be on hand should his testimony be needed.

The grand jury has taken no action [1 word illegible] to an investigation and it does not meet until some time next week, the actual date not having been fixed.

A. S. Colyar was served with the subpena and stated that he would be available to the grand jury should it want to interrogate him.

Burns’ Detective, Tobie, Left Atlanta Thursday

C. W. Tobie, the Burns detective, who on Tuesday evening announced that he had discontinued his investigation into the murder of Mary Phagan left Thursday afternoon for Chicago.

Just prior to taking his train, Mr. Tobie denied that he had given out an interview to the effect that William Burns would himself come to Atlanta soon after his return to this country from Europe. “I have made no such statement, and I am not advised of any such intention on the part of Mr. Burns,” declared Mr. Tobie.

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Atlanta Journal, May 29th 1913, “A. S. Colyar Released From Bond on 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 Georgian

Tuesday, May 27^th, 1913

C. W. Tobie, chief criminal investigator for the Burns Detective Agency, formally withdrew from the Phagan investigation Tuesday morning. The calling off of the Burns forces was announced by Dan P. Lehon, superintendent of the Southern branch, after Tobie had stated explicitly that he would not withdraw from the case.

Colonel Thomas B. Felder, who brought the Burns detectives into the Phagan case, would make no statement relative to their withdrawal but announced that it did not mean the end of his investigation or connection with the case.

Tobie made up his mind last Friday to drop the Mary Phagan investigation so he said Tuesday—but deferred action until, Monday night, when he announced his intention to withdraw to Solicitor General Dorsey.

Disgusted With “Fuss.”

Acute disgust at the “four or five cornered fuss” raised by the Phagan investigation was assigned by Tobie as the cause. This disgust was superinduced by the direct charge and general impression that the Burns Agency was pretending to ferret out the Phagan case, when in reality its purpose in Atlanta was to investigate the police department.

Tobie said to-day that while he has quit and was going to leave Atlanta, still the withdrawal of the Burns Agency need not be permanent.

“If certain features of this case are not developed, then there will be one, and maybe two, Burns men back here. I will send them here, but they will work in secret. There will be no more public investigation.”

Tobie explained he believed Leo M. Frank was guilty of the Phagan murder and that the “certain features” meant additional clinching evidence not yet published that will make Frank’s conviction certain.

“How can any house have harmony,” said Tobie, “when the old man is fighting the old woman, and the old woman is fighting the children, and they are all fighting the hired girl? That’s the shape this affair has gotten into, only worse.

“We came here to investigate this Phagan case, and for no other purpose. But the charge was made that in reality we were investigating the police department. The way things were shaped up the police could not help believing that charge to be true. Colonel Felder’s attitude bore that out, so I decided last Friday to quit.”

“Do you mean, then, that you were dissatisfied at Colonel Felder’s attitude?” [he] was asked.

“We were dissatisfied with that part of it, yes,” was Tobie’s reply.

Tobie Himself Through;

Tobie reiterated he ended the investigation himself. “I called myself off,” he said. “Dan S. Lehon, our Southern superintendent, was close to Atlanta. It was as near for him to pass through here on his way back to New Orleans as it was for him to go any other way. I was in charge here, but, as you know, I do not belong to this territory. As a pure formality and a matter of courtesy, and because I knew he was coming here to visit his wife’s relatives, I sent him a message inviting him to confer with me. When he got here I told him as a courtesy that I had decided to quit the case. He approved it. Had I told him I would continue, he would have approved that, too.

This is the worst mix-up I ever saw anywhere, at any time. It’s awful. Everybody is fighting everybody else, and I am through with this four or five cornered fracas, except that if more Burns men are sent here I shall send them here and they will report to me.”

Bribery Charges Denied.

Rumored attempts to bribe witnesses were given strong denial in many circles, particularly by those whose names were connected by rumor with the alleged bribery attempts.

C. C. Sears, superintendent of the Atlanta branch of the Burns detective agency communicated to Chief of Detectives Lanford the announcement of the withdrawal of the Burns forces from the Phagan case.

Chief Lanford authorized the following statement on the departure of Tobie:

“Tobie, I believe, is straight and honest. He was victimized by Felder. I am convinced Mr. Tobie was working toward the interest of those seeing to clear the mystery.”

Praises Superintendent.

A girl employee of the pencil factory has written the following statement, which upholds the working conditions of the factory and champions the character of the imprisoned superintendent:

“Nothing has ever been said of the girls of the pencil factory until after the terrible murder, but since then there has been one continuous talk, just as if we were to blame. We are just as anxious to see the guilty punished as the rest of the public, and we all loved Mary Phagan just as much as we possibly could.

“If the public only would interest itself to look into other factories and stores they would find the girls in the pencil factory are just as good as any other working girls.

“It looks mighty hard that we have to work in this place where our little friend was so horribly murdered, but we are only poor working girls, trying to make an honest living, and we try not to think of the tragedy any more than possible; and we have the interest of the factory too much at heart to desert in times of trouble.

“We all hope and pray the guilty will be punished and the innocent given freedom, for we all think our superintendent has a soul himself and that he would not think of such a thing, much less commit such a horrible crime.”

* * *

Atlanta Georgian, May 27th 1913, “Burns Man Quits Case; Declares He Is Opposed,” 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, May 27^th, 1913

Dan P. Lehon Holds Conference With Solicitor General Hugh Dorsey and Other Officials and Then Makes Announcement of Severance of Connection With Case.

FELDER TO CONTINUE PROBE, HE DECLARES; NO STATEMENT SOON

“One of the Girls” in the Pencil Factory Brings Statement to The Constitution Defending the Character of Employees — Bribery Attempts Are Denied.

As a startling climax to the sensational turn of affairs in the Mary Phagan murder investigation, it was announced yesterday by Dan P. Lehon, superintendent of the Burns southern offices, that his agency had retired from the investigation of the Atlanta mystery.

The announcement was made after a conference he held for several hours with Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey and other officials promoting the investigation. C. W. Tobie, chief of the Burns criminal department, who has been in command of the Burns men at work on the case, leaves for Chicago this morning.

Tobie Makes Statement.

Tobie was seen last night by a reporter for The Constitution in his apartments at the Piedmont hotel. He was preparing to leave the city, but spared time to give the newspaper man a statement regarding the departure of the Burns forces and their attitude in the Mary Phagan case. General Superintendent Lehon, he said, left Atlanta Monday afternoon.

“The connection of the William J. Burns agency with the Phagan case,” he told the reporter, “is now severed entirely. We have nothing whatever to do with the investigation. When these bribery charges were published I immediately notified Dan Lehon, general superintendent of the southern branches of our organization.

“He came to Atlanta Monday morning. After he and I had conferred and he had talked with the solicitor general and other officials interested in the case, his decision was to drop operations and return to Chicago. I will probably leave tomorrow or the following day—just as soon as matters can be satisfactorily arranged.”

“What is the principal reason for your severance of connection?” he was asked.

“Primarily, because, in the face of open opposition and efforts to frustrate our work, we cannot successfully operate,” he said. “We cannot render service proportionate to the money we are being paid. It is being insinuated by certain forces that we are striving to shield Frank.

Frank Guilty, I Believe.

“That is absurd. From what I developed in my investigation I am convinced that Frank is the guilty man. We were working on the theory that he was the murderer. We were employed to find the slayer. We would have done it, too, and pinned the guilty beyond a doubt, had we remained longer on the ground.”

Tobie said the bribery charges of Chief Lanford and the counter charges were unfortunate, in that they create a situation which deplorably hampers the investigation of the murder.

“Solicitor Dorsey told Lehon,” Tobie said, “that he possessed evidence to convict Frank, and that the investigation had been so thorough and successful that really, the Burns men would not be greatly needed any longer. He praised us for the work we did in the short time we were on the case, and said we had developed new phases which would prove invaluable to his case.”

Confidence in Felder.

The Burns agent also declared his belief in Colonel Felder’s sincere and honest attitude in the Phagan case. He said the attorney had employed his agency only to apprehend the slayer, and that upon his arrival in Atlanta, he had been told by Felder that, from all appearances, Frank was guilty.

He stated, too, that he had never exerted a single effort toward investigating alleged corruption in the police or detective department, and that he had never anticipated doing so.

Colonel T. B. Felder, foremost figure in the bribery charges and counter charges of police corruption, would make no statement to reporters Monday. He would not commit himself on Lehon’s statement that the Burns men had detached themselves from the Phagan investigation.

Mr. Felder says, however, that his individual investigation would continue as in the past, and that he had no intention whatever of ending his efforts. Not until he deems it seasonable, he declares, will he issue additional statements to the newspapers.

Lehon Reaches Atlanta.

Lehon came from New Orleans Monday in answer to instructions given, it is said, from his New York office, sending him to investigate the Atlanta situation. He immediately conferred with the solicitor general and others.

The indictment of Leo Frank has not served to lessen in the slightest the energy of the police headquarters detectives, the Pinkerton men and the solicitor general’s staff. Chief Lanford and Harry Scott, of the Pinkertons, both say that they each unearthed evidence sufficient to convict the suspected superintendent. No new developments arose Monday.

Frank maintains his attitude of silence, refusing to see anyone besides his friends and relatives. A stranger greeting him in his cell at the Tower gets only a fleeting glimpse of the prisoner.

Bribery Attempts Denied.

Strong denial is made, however, of rumored bribery attempts to pay witnesses for the prosecution to leave the city. These denials are made by attorneys representing the suspect. Another denial of a published report was made Monday by Colonel Felder, who declared that the rumor of this elimination from the Phagan case was false to the core, and that his efforts, instead of slacking, would continue with renewed vigor.

It was published that Mr. Felder is eliminated entirely from the case, and that, up until the time he had begun to “bombard” the public with statements of his belief of Frank’s guilt, it was generally believed he was in the suspect’s employ. Complete denial is made of this report.

The following unsigned statement has been personally submitted to The Constitution by a young girl employee of the National Pencil factory, who champions conditions in that plant and the character of their imprisoned superintendent:

“I wish to speak in behalf of our factory and the girls working there and would like for the public to know that we all thought just as much of little Mary Phagan as we possibly could, and are just as anxious to see the guilty punished as the rest of the public.

“Nothing was ever said about the girls of the National Pencil factory until after the terrible murder, but since, there has been one continual talk just as though we were to blame for the deed.

Good As Any Girls.

“If the public would only interest themselves enough to look into other factories and stores, they would soon find that the girls of the National Pencil factory are just as good as any other set of working girls in the city.

“Of course, it looks rather hard to the public for us to have to work in the building where one of our companions was so horribly murdered. But, even at that, we are all poor girls, trying to make an honest living and we try not to think of the grewsome tragedy any more than possible, and we have the interest of the company too much at heart to desert them in times of trouble.

“We try to look on the bright side of this trouble, and hope it will be only a few days until everything will be all right once more. We all hope and pray that the guilty will be duly punished and the innocent given their freedom, for we all feel that our superintendent was and still is a soul himself so much as to think of such a thing, much less commit such a horrible crime.

“Hoping the guilty man will soon be brought to justice, and that the public will soon be satisfied, I am

“A girl of the National Pencil factory.”

Confers With Police.

C. C. Sears, superintendent of the Atlanta branch of the Burns detective agency, communicated with Chief Beavers and Chief Lanford Monday afternoon, telling them of the severance of connection with the Phagan investigation, and notifying them that he would mail letters of explanation to the police department some time today.

According to Chief Lanford, Superintendent Sears gave as the reason for the Burns action the desire to get out of an unfortunate situation. Tobie, he said, would return immediately to Chicago to resume his duties as chief of the criminal department.

Regarding the Burns’ agent, Chief Lanford has said:

“Tobie, I believe, is straight and honest. He was victimized by Felder. The Burns man, I am convinced, was working toward the interest of those seeking to clear the mystery. He just boarded the wrong boat, that was all—like the old dog Tray, got mixed in the wrong company.”

* * *

Atlanta Constitution, May 27th 1913, “Burns Agency Quits the Phagan Case; Tobie Leaves Today,” Leo Frank case newspaper series (Original PDF)

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

Atlanta Journal

Monday, May 26^th, 1913

That the past career and record of C. W. Tobie, the Burns investigator who came to Atlanta to probe the Phagan mystery for Colonel Thomas B. Felder, is being investigated by the local police is shown by a telegram received by Chief of Police J. L. Beavers Monday morning.

The telegram was from the chief of police of Topeka, Kan., and reads as follows:

“Tobie tried to kidnap incubator baby at Sedan, Kan., but failed, being employed by Detective Tillotson. Subsequently Tillotson kidnaped the child at Topeka and was convicted, but Tobie was not connected with Topeka kidnaping.

“J. W. F. HNGHES [sic],

“Chief of Police, Topeka, Kan.”

Efforts were made to reach Tobie by The Journal Monday, but the detective was not at his hotel.

* * *

Atlanta Journal, May 26th 1913, “Tobie Tried to Kidnap Incubator Baby, Says Topeka Police Official,” 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

Sunday, May 25^th, 1913

Thomas B. Felder, the Atlanta lawyer who is accused of having offered a bribe for an affidavit of J. W. Coleman, stepfather of Mary Phagan, now in the possession of the police, yesterday issued the following statement: To the People of Atlanta:

The publication of the sensational “story” in The Atlanta Journal on yesterday afternoon relating to myself and my connection with the Phagan case is but the symptom or manifestation of one of the most diabolical conspiracies ever hatched by a venal and corrupt “system” to protect crime in a civilized community.

To be more specific, this conspiracy was formed just after the arrest of Newt Lee and Leo Frank, charged with the murder of Mary Phagan. The controlling genius of it is Newport Lanford, chief of the city detectives; its object is to shield and protect the murderers of this innocent child, and in its wicked ramifications it marks our distinguished (?) chief of detectives as the Lieutenant Becker of our “system,” and renders his co-conspirators as dangerous to the lives, liberty and property and reputation of our citizens as the bloody and deadly Society of the Mafia.

Part Played By Papers.

Pity it is that the press of the city has been and is being made the innocent, if effective, instrument in their hands to further and effectuate the object of this wicked conspiracy by prostituting their potential columns in the exploitation of the mass of forgeries and perjuries which has been given to the public through their columns, for be it known that these papers have tacitly sanctioned the utterances of Colyar by reproducing his affidavits in the face of the fact that the editors and proprietors of all would without hesitation swear that they would not believe him on oath if called upon to do so. Strangely enough, a portion of the criminal record of this man Colyar is reproduced, showing him to be a man steeped in crime and infamy, while in the parallel column is published his defamatory utterances against me.

I would have the good people of this community know that from the day and hour of the arrest of Lee and Frank, charged with the murder of little Mary Phagan, Newport Lanford and his co-conspirators have left “no stone unturned” in their efforts to shield and protect these suspects, and I shall demonstrate later the truth of this statement with so much clearness that “he who runs may read.”

Winked At Forgeries.

In furthering and effectuating this conspiracy they have suborned perjury, winked at forgeries and, in short, employed every agency that low and groveling criminal instincts could contrive and conjure up. In their frantic efforts to shield the murderers of this girl “Lieutenant Becker” Lanford secured the services of A. S. Colyar, Jr., whose criminal record was known to the “lieutenant,” but whose services he willingly availed himself of.

Having promised this much, I shall now address myself to the task of disposing of “Lieutenant” Lanford’s “Man Friday,” A. S. Colyar.

About two and one-half years ago, while I was engaged in a controversy with the criminal and vagabond governor of the state of South Carolina, a prominent citizen of Atlanta, a client and friend of mine, whose name I withhold because he is not now in the city and I have been unable to reach him over the phone, but whose name will be given later, called at my office, and, discussing this controversy, said that he knew a man by the name of A. S. Colyar, Jr., sometimes lawyer, detective, newspaper man, etc., who had spent some time in the state of South Carolina, and who was in possession of valuable information touching that situation.

Brought Colyar To My Office.

He afterwards brought this man Colyar to my office, and after discussing the matter with him at length, I reached the conclusion that he was thoroughly undependable, and the interview closed. Afterwards, he was sent to the state of South Carolina, to obtain the information, and forwarded to me three affidavits which seemed to establish conclusively that the governor of that state had been engaged in criminal practices. Upon a careful examination of these affidavits, I discovered that the jurats attached to the three affidavits were all upon separate sheets, attached to what purported to be the genuine affidavits. This aroused my suspicions, and I sent a trusted clerk from my office to the state of South Carolina to personally interview the affiants, with the result that he was informed by them that this man Colyar had represented to them that they were heirs at law to a considerable estate in Tennessee, and that if they would make an affidavit stating who they were, he would be able to secure for them their respective inheritances without cost, indeed, that he was sent to them for that purpose, whereupon the affidavits were prepared and signed; that afterwards Colyar detached the jurats attached to the genuine affidavits and attached them to the spurious affidavits which he furnished. These affidavits are now in my files and are subject to the inspection of anyone who may be interested. It is needless for me to add that they were never made public in connection with the charges of criminal conduct lodged against the vagabond governor of South Carolina.

Met Colyar in Chattanooga.

Afterwards I met this man Colyar accidentally in the city of Chattanooga, and when I confronted him with the fact that he had forged these affidavits, he freely confessed the forgery to me, and stated that he had been reduced financially to dire extremities, and that he had forged the affidavits in order to get money from the gentleman who had introduced him to me. I respectfully submit that after this experience with this man it does not seem reasonable that I would entertain respect for him, much less repose confidence in him.

On Sunday afternoon, while engaged in a conference at my home with parties interested in the Phagan case I received a telephone message, and was informed that the party speaking was A. S. Colyar, Jr. He stated to me that it was important for him to have an interview with me during the afternoon or evening of Sunday. I made an appointment to meet him at my office at 8:15 o’clock. I met him by appointment. Knowing the man’s character, I telephoned Mr. Tobie, of the William, Mr. E. O. Miles, my friend and client, to come to my office.

Sleuths Suppress Evidence.

In my conversation with Colyar, he stated to me that the city detective force was engaged in suppressing evidence in the Phagan case; that they were in a conspiracy with the Pinkertons, who had been employed to investigate this case by Frank, one of the suspects, and that they had entered into a conspiracy to thwart the efforts of the Burns agency and myself in the investigations in progress; that he overheard a conference between Lanford and the Pinkerton agent who was employed in the case by Frank to the effect that it was important to circumvent the efforts of the Burns agency and myself in establishing the guilt of the murderer or murderers; that on the morning of the Sunday evening Lanford had caused an affidavit to be prepared and dated back, and had forced Mr. and Mrs. Coleman to sign it under threats and duress, repudiating my employment; that Lanford had arrested a negro by the name of Connelly [sic], as I remember, and had held him at the police station for two or three weeks, and had forged a confession of the negro to the effect that he himself had killed Mary Phagan, and that Newt Lee and Frank were neither participants in the murder or had knowledge thereof; that in order to discredit the Burns agent, the solicitor’s office and myself, they had framed up affidavits charging the solicitor general, the Burns agent and myself with corruption, and that at the opportune time these would be given to the public through hand bills.

Would Not Accept Statement.

I stated to Colyar that I would not accept his statements even under oath, and that if he had any documentary evidence establishing the fact that these parties were engaged in a conspiracy to suppress evidence, I would like to see it, whereupon he handed me the original Coleman affidavit, what purported to be a copy of the confession of the negro, Connelly, what purported to be an original affidavit in relation to the solicitor general, and also what purported to be an original affidavit that one of the leading newspapers of the city had been bribed by suspects or their friends.

In this conversation he told me that he had original affidavits establishing the immorality of the chief of police and the chief of detectives, and that they were guilty of acts involving moral turpitude, and he specified the acts. It is not necessary to give these to the public at [t]his time, but they will be published later.

Relation to Phagan Case.

I stated to him that I was not interested in the moral and official derelictions of the chief of police and chief of detectives, except in so far as they might relate to the suppression of evidence in the Phagan case. He thereupon asked me if the mayor of the city was interested in obtaining this evidence. I told him that I was not in the confidence of the mayor; that I had not spoken with him for months, but that if he was interested in the exposure of official rottenness in the various city departments, he would be a strange and unnatural official, and that I would bring the matter to his attention, which I afterwards did.

On the following day Colyar called me over the phone and asked me if I would meet him and some friend of his who had knowledge of the facts heretofore adverted to in conference. I stated to him that I was coming into the city on Monday evening, and would meet them at my office. I met Colyar and a young man by the name of Febuary at my office, according to appointment. The interview of Monday evening developed in substance and effect what was developed on Sunday evening, together with the additional fact that young Febuary stated that he had been used so much by the chief of police and chief of detectives in carrying out their projects of corruption that he was sick and tired of the job and would like very much for me to assist him in getting other employment; that if I would assist him he would willingly turn over to me all documents, files, etc., going to show that these parties were engaged in suppressing evidence in the Phagan case, and that while they were ostensibly working for the city and for the interest of the people, that they were really working in conspiracy with the Pinkertons—the employees of Frank—to shield and protect Frank.

Showed Me Affidavits.

He also exhibited to me numerous affidavits, documents, etc., purporting to be evidence of the official corruption of the two chiefs. Among other documents submitted were two lists which he claimed that he prepared for Chief of Police Beavers and Chief of City Detectives Lanford, purporting to contain a list of blind tigers and immoral houses which were under the protection of these departments, and from whom they received monthly payments for this alleged protection. I made it plain to both of these parties that I had no interest whatever in any of these documents except such as might tend to establish the fact that they were suppressing evidence in the Phagan case.

They asked me if Mayor Woodward and other gentlemen in the city, naming them, would be interested in obtaining this evidence.

I stated to them that I thought that not only Mayor Woodward, but every other prominent citizen in the city of Atlanta, such as Mr. Sam Inman, Captain English, Mr. Grant, Mr. Maddox and scores of others would be entirely willing to raise a fund to drive these people from the high places, if they were guilty of the acts of moral turpitude alleged against them.

They asked me if in my judgment they could be indicted and punished if they turned over this evidence to the mayor or his agents. I gave it as my judgment that they could not, and that even if they could they would not be; that I had too much confidence in the mayor of the city of the Atlanta, in the prosecuting attorney of the circuit, of the criminal court and of the governor, as a last resort, to believe that any of these officials would suffer them to be punished if they made of themselves instrumental means of exposing the colossal corruption which they represented existed in the various departments of the city government.

This conference lasted one hour and fifteen minutes. Just before it drew to a close Colyar asked me if I would be willing to pay to him and Febuary $1,000 for this documentary evidence.

Not Willing to Play.

I told him emphatically that I would not. He then asked me if I thought the mayor of the city would be willing to pay to him and Febuary $1,000 for this evidence, and to provide Febuary with as good a position as the one he now held, upon the delivery of the evidence to them. I told him that I entertained no doubt that if they could furnish the mayor with the evidence conclusively establishing the guilt of Beavers and Lanford, the mayor, through the public-spirited citizens of the town, would be willing to raise this sum of money and pay it over to them for the documentary evidence. This ended my interview upon this occasion.

On the following morning I received a telephonic communication from this man Colyar asking me if I would come to his room at the Williams house at 1 o’clock. I told him that I had an engagement. He asked me when it would be convenient for me to meet him. I stated at 3:30, so at the appointed time I called upon him at his room at the Williams hotel. While there I met Febuary. My conference with them lasted perhaps ten minutes, as I was back in my office before 4 o’clock to meet an appointment, having stopped en route for at least ten minutes to receive a treatment from my throat specialist.

I shall demonstrate in an affidavit attached to this card, and made a part thereof, that the alleged dictagraph stuff is manufactured.

In my brief interview with these parties at the Williams house, I stated to them that I would not pay them a cent for the documents that they had in their possession establishing the moral turpitude of the chief of police and Chief Lanford; that I had no interest in this branch of the controversy, and that I had declined employment in this branch of the controversy; but I stated to them that I had talked with the mayor and that I had made an appointment with Mr. Miles, and that I would meet Mr. Miles, who was making some investigations for the mayor, at my office at 4 o’clock, and that I would send him over to them.

When I arrived at my office at 4 o’clock, Mr. Miles and Mr. Tobie, of the Burns National Detective agency, were awaiting me, and I gave Mr. Miles a note of introduction to this man, Colyar, which, I am informed, was presented. On the day after Mr. Miles asked me if I would object to accompanying him to Lakewood for a conference with Colyar and Febuary. I stated to him that I most emphatically declined, and would advise him to do likewise, and he acted upon my advice. I stated to him further that if they had any business with me, they could conduct it at my office, but, as I understood the situation, I had no business with them.

If I had consented to pay money for this evidence I could have paid it either on Sunday or Monday night, and all of the documents would have been turned over to me.

Statement is Absurd.

The statement contained in the affidavits of this man Colyar and of Febuary that I offered them $1,000 for the Coleman affidavit is too absurd to justify a denial. Why would I pay $1,000 for this affidavit when it was within the power of the conspirators to obtain another affidavit within five minutes after the surrender of this affidavit to me? In this connection I desire to state that in my career at the bar, covering a quarter of a century, I have never, directly or indirectly, sought employment in any case—civil or criminal. I have never found it necessary to resort to barratry to keep busy in my profession. It is inconceivable that I, or any other reputable lawyer, would seek employment to prosecute a man for murder.

I was employed in the Phagan case by a committee of citizens residing in the vicinity of the family of the Phagan girl. My contract of employment is in writing, and duly signed by my employers. I do not give in this connection a copy of the contract and the name of the signers, for the very obvious reason that with their names in possession of “Lieutenant Becker” Lanford and his co-conspirators, my clients would immediately become the objects of attack at the hands of the “system.”

The contract above referred to was made with my law firm, Felder, Anderson, Dillon & Whitman, and is in our files and open to the inspection of any decent citizen at any time.

How Felder Was Employed.

In addition to this employment, we were employed by a committee of prominent and distinguished ladies in the city of Atlanta to aid in this investigation. The names of these ladies are withheld from publication for obvious reasons. I have never said, and I do not now say, that I was ever employed either by Mr. or Mrs. Coleman, but I do say that on Friday afternoon—the date I do not remember—but it being the day upon which the coroner’s inquest was to be held at the police barracks, I was called over the phone by one of the gentlemen who employed me in the case and asked to come down to the barracks. I immediately repaired to the barracks and stated to my client that I felt a delicacy in appearing at the coroner’s inquest unless my employment was approved by the parents of the deceased girl. I was thereupon introduced to Mr. Coleman, and explained to him my feelings in the matter. He stated to me that he had no money to employ counsel: that he appreciated the unselfish act of his neighbors in their effort to assist in the prosecution, and so far as he was concerned, my employment met with his approval; but being the stepfather of the young lady, he would prefer not to ratify my employment at that time, but would ask his wife to come to my office on the following day to the end that she would ratify the same. On the following day I left for the city of New York without seeing the mother of Mary Phagan, and was absent from the city for ten days.

I entertain the same feeling now that I did then, namely, I feel a delicacy in participating in the case without the approval of the parents of the deceased girl, although I am urgent to do so by my clients and many of the best people in the city of Atlanta. In this connection, I desire to submit for the consideration of the graft-ridden people of this city, the statement that my employment in this case was never brought into question until the criminal investigator of Mr. Burns appeared upon the scene.

On Sunday following his appearance “Lieutenant Becker” Lanford dictated an affidavit to his secretary, Mr. Febuary, not in the presence of either Mr. or Mrs. Coleman, and without knowing what they would be willing to say in relation to the matter, and hurriedly repairing to the home of the Colemans coerced them into signing the same, as I am informed, by threats that if they or either of them ratified the connection of Mr. Burns or myself with the case, they would take no further interest in the matter.

Burns Well Indorsed.

The character of William J. Burns for honesty and courage is too well established in the American union to need indorsement at my hands. The insinuation emanating from the city detective department that he could be hired to betray a trust, and industriously circulated by them, needs no contradiction or refutation at my hands. A sufficient answer to this vile insinuation is that there was no time during the McNamara investigation, if Burns was purchasable, that he could not have received to call off the case a million dollars flat. This fact is known to all men who are familiar with the current events appertaining to that investigation. Moreover, I deem it the work of supererogation to enter a denial in my own behalf to the base insinuation that I have been employed in conjunction with Burns by the Jews of the city to assist in shielding Frank from prosecution. I have never conferred with any Jew upon this subject, and in behalf of the Jews, who constitute a large and most respectable element of our population, I desire to brand the insinuation as a vile, baseless slander, promulgated by the city detectives as a part of the conspiracy to defeat the ends of justice in this case.

The statement that Tobie had an appointment at my office for a conference with Messrs. Hirsch, Meyers and Greenstein is a figment of the disordered and distempered imagination of “Lieutenant Becker” Lanford and his “Man Friday,” A. S. Colyar, Jr.

Mr. Joseph Hirsch needs no defense at my hands from this vile and baseless insinuation. He has lived a long and honored life in this community, and I gravely doubt if there is a man, woman or child in it who would believe any man who stated on oath that Joseph Hirsch would do a dishonorable thing to shield either Jew or Gentile, much less to enter into a conspiracy to bribe and corrupt lawyers and detectives who are engaged in an honest effort to establish the guilt of a murderer. Let me put this question frankly to the people of Atlanta:

Is it not passing strange that the city detective department, whose wages are paid by the taxpayers of this city, should “hob-nob” daily with the Pinkerton Detective Agency, an agency confessedly employed in this investigation to work in behalf of Leo Frank; that they would take this agency into their daily and hourly conference and repose it in their confidence, and co-operate with it in every way possible, and withhold their co-operation from W. J. Burns and his able assistants, who are engaged by the public and for the public in ferreting out this crime.

What Is The Purpose?

What is the purpose of the city detective department in violently assailing me and the Burns agency, if it is not to protect the real criminal in this case? What motives inspired them in their almost superhuman efforts to hinder, circumvent and defeat the efforts of this great agency in locating the criminal or criminals in this case? From the moment that Leo Frank and Newt Lee were placed under arrest the city detectives, or a majority of them (I am advised and believe that there are several good and honest men in the department) have been engaged in a systematic effort to destroy all tangible evidence against the suspect. When they got possession of the note that was found by the body of the dead girl, and which constitutes, or should, the “Rock of Gibraltar” of the evidence in this case, and which should have been promptly placed for safe-keeping in a safety deposit vault, was turned over to a reporter of one of the papers who had the custody of this note for several days, and when it was demanded by the able solicitor general of the circuit, it was only forthcoming after a diligent search.

I was informed by Messrs. Colyar and Febuary that shortly after the murder the city detectives arrested a negro by the name of Connelly and kept him in close confinement for several weeks, and that they extorted from him a written confession that he, and not Frank, was the perpetrator of this crime, and the further confession that the negro had been procured to write the note that was found by the body of the deceased, thereby destroying the effect of any evidence that might be introduced in this case to show that Frank was the author of the note so found.

Thereafter, on the day the grand jury was convened for the purpose of investigating the charges against Frank and Lee, “Lieutenant Becker” Lanford furnished the press of the city an affidavit which he had secured from a woman of questionable veracity and character, containing the recital that between the hours of 6 and 10:30 on the fatal evening Frank called her over the phone several times, importuning her to permit him to bring this girl to her lodging house.

The object and purpose of this affidavit are so obvious that it is needless for me to do more than avert to it, and are as follows: To destroy the state’s theory presented by the medical experts and Mr. Tobie of the Burns agency, that this girl came to her death between the hours of twelve and one on Saturday, and further to establish the fact that the girl was in life between the hours of 6:30 and 10:30 p. m. by positive and conclusive proof an alibi.

Hour by hour, day by day and step by step, has this man Lanford bended all of this energies and efforts to the single purpose of diverting suspicion from the accused in this case and throwing about them the cloak of his protection. I have neither the time or the disposition to discuss at length the affidavits reproduced in the press of the city made by Colyar and Febuary. As to these, I deem it only necessary to say that they are false from beginning to end.

As to the so-called dictagraph, I wish to say that I shall demonstrate that this is either manufactured and fabricated or was so greatly revised and changed by the stenographer who took the notes, if a dictagraph was in fact used, which I doubt, as to greatly impair, if not totally destroy the meaning of what was said on the occasion referred to. To begin with, it is impossible for the conversation imputed to me to have occurred and been transcribed in less than an hour. As I have stated heretofore in this article, I was in the room at the Williams house not more than five or ten minutes, arriving there at 3:30 and reaching my office at 4 p. m., stopping en route to have my throat treated by a throat specialist, which consumed from twelve to fifteen minutes.

I mention this fact as illustrating the impossibility that the so-called dictagraph report could be genuine. The dictagraph is an instrument that records conversations with exactitude and any expert can instantly detect the genuine from the spurious. While this purported conversation is permeated with evidences of its being a frame-up, I think it will be sufficient to call the attention of the public to only two extracts therefrom to illustrate what I have stated.

Colyar is quoted in the alleged dictagraph report as follows: “But I said this young man does not want to lose his position.” I am quoted as answering, “Well, he says, tell him for me that I will give him a position today just as good as the one he has.” It will be observed that my answer, instead of being in the first person, singular number, is in the second person, singular number, thereby clearly establishing that it is a frame-up.

The next illustration: Felder: “Well, you understand I do not want the papers unless they are evidence enough to put Lanford and Beavers out of business.” Colyar made the answer as follows: “Now, Colyar says, you say that you have got the papers that will put them out.” This alleged colloquy, reported from the dictagraph between Colyar and myself, clearly demonstrates that it is a frame-up.

In conclusion, permit me to say that I have written the above and foregoing pages under great difficulties. I have been constantly interrupted during the day by diligent newspaper reporters and by friends throughout the city and state assuring me that they are ready to aid in exposing the conspirators in their efforts to prejudice Burns and myself and to protect the murderer or murderers of Mary Phagan. Owing to the interruptions, I have only been able to cover some features of the case. In a later communication which I will furnish the press for publication, I expect to go into details in respect of the alleged corrupt practice of the heads of the several departments at the police station. Their many acts of moral turpitude are well known to numerous citizens of the city of Atlanta, and to them my recital will be no news.

I pledge the good people of Atlanta to address myself at an early date assiduously to the task of not only fully exposing all of the conspirators, but to bring about their impeachment upon proceedings that I expect to institute looking to this end, and if I am successful in “scourging them from the high places,” I shall regard it as not only a great service rendered to a graft-ridden people, but the greatest achievement of my professional career.

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Atlanta Constitution, May 25th 1913, “Thomas Felder Brands the Charges of Bribery Diabolical Conspiracy,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)