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

The Atlanta Journal

Sunday, June 15, 1913

“Upon Reading My Notes Before the Court It Will Be Proven That There Is Enough of It There to Justify What Was Written and Sworn to be Me as Being Practically the Gist of What Was Said,” Says Young Stenographer of Dictograph Records Transcribed by Him

“I WAS ALLOWED TO READ PROOF OF WHAT WAS PUBLISHED ABOUT FELDER CONFERENCE,” HE SAYS

“As Far as What The Journal Published, Will Say, as Far as I Can Remember, What They Printed Were the Facts In a General Way, and the Changes Were Immaterial.” Located by The Jounaal’s [sic] Washington Correspondent, Gentry Talks Freely.

By Ralph Smith

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 14.—Living under an assumed name and holding a lucrative position as an expert stenographer, George M. Gentry, of Atlanta, who made the famous dictograph notes, was located in Washington today by the Journal correspondent. He has been here since May 27. He left Atlanta via the Southern railway on the evening of May 26, following the Felder exposure. He claims to have seen no one from Atlanta other than E. O. Miles, and The Journal correspondent, though he is in communication with the members of his immediate family.

Gentry’s real identity is unknown to his employers, and at his request his present address and the place of his employment are withheld by the correspondent. Their publication, he believes, might cause him unnecessary annoyance.

“I left Atlanta because I feared that I might be arrested for perjury,” he said.

Gentry today voluntarily made an affidavit, elaborating and elucidating the statements contained in the affidavit he recently gave to E. O. Miles. This affidavit, made today, was sworn to and subscribed before Isaac Heidenheimer, of 1226 Pennsylvania avenue, notary public, for the District of Columbia. It was witnessed by Senator William Hughes, of New Jersey and Congressman Frank Doremus, of Michigan.

The original and a carbon copy are in the possession of The Journal correspondent, and Gentry himself has a copy. The affidavit was written by Gentry, without suggestion or dictation from anyone.

“Unfortunately I did not go into enough detail in my previous affidavit, hence the necessity of making a further one,” swore Gentry today.

Continuing the affidavit says, “I neglected to mention in same (the Miles affidavit) that I was allowed to read a proof of what The Journal published, in connection with the Felder conference. This conference was transcribed first and printed in Friday’s issue of the Journal. The other conferences, all of which were held Wednesday afternoon and evening, preceding the date of publication, were not published until after the Felder conference was published. I made one or two changes in the proof of the Felder conference, this being the only proof I was allowed to see. As I remember in one instance, I had written the word “intrude” any my notes contained the word “intruding.”

“Further than this I do not remember of any change that I made in same, with the exception of ordinary corrections, such as marking misspelled words, adding periods and commas, and striking them out.”

Gentry swore today that he received absolutely nothing for writing his previous affidavit and that he did not receive one penny for writing the affidavit today.

WHY HE GOT FRIGHTENED.

“I allowed myself to become so frightened because I thought that according to law, if one change was made by me, from what I had in my notes, I had committed perjury and was liable, and as I had myself made several changes during the transcribing of the notes. I felt rather guilty. However, Mr. Febuary assured me that I was writing what had been said as so I accordingly swore that what I had written was what I had heard. I discovered later that I had sworn that what I had written was a true and correct transcription of my notes. I did not realize at the time of signing the affidavit that I had sworn any such thing or I would have not signed the affidavit. The affidavit that I signed in connection with the transcription of my notes, was dictated to me and I signed it before a notary public without reading same in detail. I simply glanced over same to ascertain as to the correctness of the typewriting.

THE JOURNAL’S STORY CORRECT.

“As far as what The Journal published not being correct, will say with the exception cited, as far as I can remember, what they printed were the facts in a general way, and the changes were immaterial with the exception of how they might be considered in law, about which I know very little.

“I have already stated under oath that I did not hear the names of Chief Beavers or Chief Lanford mentioned in the Woodward conference. I desire to modify this to the extent that I did not hear their names mentioned by Mayor Woodward. They may have been mentioned by other parties in the room. In fact, as I remember it, they were:

“In conclusion will say upon the reading of my notes before the court it will be proven that there is enough of it there to justify what was written and sworn to by me as being practically the gist of what was said.

“The Journal’s position in the matter as far as I know is fair, and I believe, although I do not make the positive assertion, that what they published was given to them by Colyar, Febuary and myself.

Gentry declared in his affidavit that when it was found necessary or advisable for him to return to Atlanta he will return, and will read his original notes before the court. He says that they will not be read before any private individuals, and he desires that what he reads shall be taken down and compared with what he wrote.

TELLS WHERE HE HAS BEEN.

In reference to leaving Atlanta, Gentry says in his affidavit:

“I will start by giving an account of my actions since the memorable dictograph affairs. I have already set fourth [sic] my reason for leaving Atlanta, in my affidavit published on June 11, 1913, as aforesaid. My original intention was to go to Baltimore, but upon my arrival at Washington, I did not go any farther, feeling that this city was large enough to get lost in. The day after my arrival here, Wednesday, I went to work as a stenographer, but not under the name of Gentry. My reason for assuming another name was to avoid the attendant annoyance that would follow the knowledge that I was in Washington. I can be reached through Mr. Ralph Smith, The Journal’s correspondent here, whenever it is necessary, who knows my place of employment, and who has further agreed not to divulge it, at my earnest request. Mr. E. O. Miles is also acquainted with both my business and residence address.”

While Gentry makes no reference to the matter in his affidavit, the original note book is now in the possession of a well known Atlanta attorney, whose name is known to The Journal correspondent.

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The Atlanta Journal, June 15th 1913, “Gentry, Found by Journal, Says Notes Will Show Enough to Justify What Was Sworn To,” 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 12, 1913

He Wires Chief Lanford That Young Stenographer Can’t Be Found

All efforts on the part of Detective Chief Lanford to locate George M. Gentry, the stenographer who wrote the famous dictograph records, have failed.

Following the publication Wednesday of an affidavit from Gentry made in Washington, D. C., in which the young stenographer charged that the dictograp [sic] records were padded after he had written them. Chief Lanford wired to Police Chief James L. Beavers, who is attending the police chief’s convention in that city, to locate Gentry.

Thursday afternoon, Chief Lanford received the following telegram from Chief Beavers:

“Washington, D. C.,
“June 12, 1913.

“N. A. Lanford,
“Chief Detectives.
“Atlanta, Ga.
“Have been unable to locate Gentry.

“JAMES L. BEAVERS.”

Chief Lanford takes for granted that Chief Beavers enlisted the aid of the Washington police and detectives in his search for Gentry and their future [sic] to find him indicates that he is not now in Washington.

Members of Gentry’s family state that they have no idea where he is, and E. O. Miles, the private detective, who brought back the Washington affidavit, refuses to divulge the young man’s address.

* * *

The Atlanta Journal, June 12th 1913, “Chief Beavers Unable to Locate Gentry,” 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 11th, 1913

Detective E. O. Miles Gives Out Affidavit From Young Stenographer Repudiating Transcript He Swore to

AFFIDAVIT OBTAINED IN WASHINGTON D. C.

G. C. Febuary Gives Out a Statement, Telling How Notes Were Transcribed and Affidavits Made

The accuracy of the now famous pictograph records of alleged conversations between Thomas B. Felder, Mayor Woodward, C. C. Jones, E. O. Miles, G. C. Febuary and A. S. Colyar is attacked in an affidavit which E. O. Miles has turned over to Mayor Woodward and which he says he obtained from George M. Gentry, the young stenographer who took down the dictograph conversations.

This affidavit was made in Washington D. C., where Miles, one of the dictographed parties, who is a private detective, says he found Gentry. According to this affidavit, Gentry swears that a number of changes were made in the pictograph records after they were transcribed by him. The only specific change set out in the affdavit, however, is that the names of Police Chief Beavers and Detective Chief N. A. Lanford were written into the record of Mayor Woodward’s conversation by some one other than the stenographer.

In this affidavit Gentry explains his disappearance from the city by declaring that when he compared the published records with his stenographic notes he realized that he had been duped and did not care to face the humiliation which he anticipated would follow.

These dictographed records, duly sworn to by young Gentry and others, were published in The Journal, which declined to print these documents unless they were attested before a notary public. These records and affidavits are still in the possession of The Journal, and this paper has no knowledge concerning the alleged changes.

GENTRY READ PROOFS.

Young Gentry was permitted to use one of The Journal’s typewriters to transcribe his pictograph notes. He and Febuary were left alone in the news department Wednesday night, May 21, to do this work. They left a copy of the records in a desk drawer for The Journal. Early on the morning of May 23 Gentry furnished The Journal with an affidavit attesting the correctness of the records. Later he came to The Journal office with his notebook and read the proofs which compared with this shorthand notes, and in one or two places he made minor changes, as he said, to better conform to the original notes.

He was advised to preserve his notes so that in the event any question was raised as to their accuracy, he would have the stenographic record from which to make answer.

The Journal does not undertake to say whether there are or are not discrepancies in the transcribed records compared to the shorthand notes. It has simply relied upon the sworn records and statements furnished by Gentry and others, which records and statements, as stated above, are still in the possession of The Journal and in exactly the same condition as they were when turned over to this paper by Gentry, February and others.

FEBUARY MAKES STAETMENT [sic].

G. C. Febuary, secretary to Detective Chief N. A. Lanford, who was a party to some of the dictographed conversations and who was with Gentry, the stenographer, when some of the pictograph notes were transcribed, has furnished The Journal with the following statement:

“The dictograph conversations between A. S. Colyar, T. B. Felder and myself were transcribed on a typewriter in the news department of The Atlanta Journal by George M. Gentry, the stenographer who took the conversations down in a shorthand as he heard them through a dictograph.

“John Paschall and Harllee Branch, of The Atlanta Journal, were present for about an hour and a half and A. S. Colyar was present for about half an hour. Gentry began transcribing the dictographed record about 10 p. m., Wednesday, May 21. When Mr. Paschall and Mr. Branch found Gentry would not be able to complete the work as soon as expected they left and directed that the copy intended for The Journal be left in a designated desk drawer. Colyar had been gone for about an hour when they left.

“The record was completed about 4 o’clock the next morning, and a copy was left in the desk drawer for The Journal. Neither Mr. Paschall nor Mr. Branch made any suggestions as to the contents of the record. They were only waiting for get a copy for The Journal.

“Both of these gentleman advised Gentry that if there was anything in his notes which he could not read he should indicate this fact in the record, and not to put anything in the record not contained in his notes. He was informde [sic] repeatedly that he would be expected to swear to the accuracy of the record.

HOW AFFIDAVIT WAS MADE.

“After leaving The Journal office Gentry and I spent the balance of the night together. We ate breakfast together, after which Gentry went to his work at the General Fire Extinguisher company, and later in the morning I went to The Journal office and got the copy of the record that had been left there. I took this copy down to Gentry and he went before Charles H. Tranaou, a notary public, and made an affidavit attesting the accuracy of the contents of the record, no one being present but Gentry, Mr. Transou and myself.

“A short time later I took the record and accompanied by A. S. Colyar went before W. W. Brown, a notary public. Both Colyar and myself made affidavit as to the correctness of the record.

“The record covering the conversations between Mayor James G. Woodward, E. O. Miles, A. S. Colyar and myself was transcribed by Gentry at his office and on his own typewriter. I was present but a part of the time while he was doing this work. This record, like that between T. B. Felder, A. S. Colyar and myself, was sworn to by Gentry before Charles S. Transou and Colyar and I attested it before W. W. Brown.

“To the best of my recollection and knowledge Gentry transcribed the record covering the conversation between C. C. Jones, E. O. Miles and A. S. Colyar on the day he transcribed the record of the conversation between Mayor Woodward, E. O. Miles, A. S. Colyar and myself.

“The records are published in The Atlanta Journal, so the best of my knowledge and beliefs were identical trans- of the records Gentry himself transcribed, swore to and turned over to me.”

GENTRY’S LATEST AFFIDAVIT.

Following is a copy of the Gentry affidavit furnished Mayor Woodward by E. O. Miles:

“District of Columbia, City of Washington—Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a notary public of the District of Columbia, George M. Gentry, who, on oath, states that:

“On Wednesday, May 21, 1913, at or about 10 o’clock in the morning, Mr. Gay C. February called me over the telephtone [sic] and desired to know if I would do some stenographic work for him. I told him I would, but that I couldn’t get off until noon. He said that they were in a hurry for it and he would like for me to come at once, so I arranged to get off and went down to his office, and the chief told me he wanted me to take down some testimony, and he asked me if I could write very fast. Mr. Febuary asslred [sic] Chief Lanford that I was a good stenographer and could do the work all right. The chief then told me that the work he wanted done required somebody that could be trusted all right, and I assured him that I always treated all stenographic work I did as confidential. Chief Lanford told me then that what he wanted me to do was to take down a conversation that would take place in a hotel, and he asked me if I thought I could take it over a dictophone. (Mr. Surles coming in at that time with a satchel, which he opened and which contained wires and other paraphernalia in connection with a dictograph outfit.)

“After a few minutes, during which time Mr. Febuary was absent, we went over to the Williams house No. 2, on North Forsyth street, Atlanta, Fulton county, Georgia (Mr. Febuary and I), and I was instructed to go into Room No. 21 of this hotel. Mr. Surles and Mr. Colyar were there, and they probably had to make arrangements for adjoining rooms, as Mr. Surles commented to me that they hadn’t decided just what to do with the dictographs. After a time Colyar came in and instructed Surles to follow him, and gave me instructions to await his wishes. Later on Mr. Febuary came in, and I told him that if I had to wait much longer by myself I was going back to the office.

SAW DICTOGRAPHS INSTALLED.

“I was then allowed to come into the room, where they were installing the dictographs (one on each end of the bottom board of the bureau just under the bottom drawer on the back of the board), and the wires being run through the keyhole of the door between Room 31 and Room 32. The bureau was then screwed against the door facing. At about 12:30 I started getting accustomed to Febuary’s and Colyar’s voices.

“At first I could not hear at all, but gradual[l]y I was able to hear more distinctly and after an hour or two of diligent practices I was able to use the dictograph and to distinguish voices very clearly. Right at the beginning I found that I would not be able to hear anything with the windows up. When they were closed it became rather stuffy and this, coupled with the strain I was under, added to the distraction. I stopped particing [sic] at 2:45 that afternoon and went downstairs to the office of the hotel, where I awaited Mr. Felder’s arrival.

SAW FELDER ARRIVE.

“I saw him cross Forsyth street, and after he, Febuary and Colyar went upstairs, or were just about at the top of the stairs, I started up and saw the three enter Room 31 of the Williams house, located as mentioned previously. I then immediately went into room 32 and closed the door, partly, but did not lock it. The windows were down and so I went directly to the table and placed the receiver over my head and started writing what I heard. I took down all the conferences that took place. At somewhere around 5 that afternoon I left the hotel and went to Mr. R. B. Bliss’ house and took some dictation. From there I went home and changed my collar. I returned to the office of the General Fire Extinguisher company, 376 Marietta street, where I wrote the dictation he had given me, signed his letters and then met Mr. Febuary there at the office. We went to the Candler restaurant to supper and from there we returned to the Williams house to keep an appointment with Colyar at about 7:30. At about 8 o’clock Mr. Miles and Mr. C. C. Jones and Colyar went up to the ‘conference room’ and Mr. Febuary and I to the ‘information reception room.’

“I placed the retriever over my head, and in order to be sure that I would hear everything, Mr. Febuary stood behind me and held them pressed tightly to my ears. This conference lasted about thirty minutes. Between 8:30 and 9:15 Wednesday night Mr. Febuary loafed about town, as we had an appointment with Mr. Branch and Mr. Paschal at 9:30 at the Williams house, and as they were not in The Journal office, we had to kill time until they showed up. I left Mr. Febuary and Mr. Colyar at The Journal office at 9:15 and went over to the Williams house to wait for the arrival of The Journal reporters mentioned above. They came in shortly and we went over to The Journal office and all of us (Colyar, Febuary, Branch, Paschal and myself) went up to the editorial department, where a machine was selected and I then went to work transcribing what I had heard.

SAYS CHANGES WERE MADE.

“Right at the start I made Colyar angry because when I did not hear what was said I put dashes and so I allowed him to dictate several answers and questions, which do not appear in my notebook and which I am not positive that I heard. I did not hear Mayor Woodward mention Chief Beavers or Chief Lanford during the whole conversation, nor did I write it in the transcription of my notes, these names being evidently added by other parties. At 4:30 Thursday morning, May 22, I finished transcribing my notes and turned the papers over to Mr. Febuary. Later on during the morning he came down to the office, bringing an affidavit which I had written for me to sign before a notary public. He told me that they had made only a few minor changes in the transcription, and that all I had to do was to sign the affidavit which I did. However, I noticed that some interlineations had been made in my copy, or rather in Chief Lanford’s copy, as I had no copy.

Colyar and the reporters, just before I started to transcribe my notes, argued as to the number of copies that should be made. They agreed that one copy should be made for the chief, one for Colyar and one for The Journal, and that no more should be made. This kept me from having a copy. I had my notebook, however, and it was the comparison on my notes with the published articles that lead to my discovery that in addition to the several answers and questions which Colyar had personally dictated, other changes had been made, namely that insertion of the names of Chief Beavers and Chief Lanford, in the conference with Mayor Woodward, also many other variations occurred, changing the sense of the statement, and since they had my affidavit attached to the papers I felt that I had been duped.

“As to the remuneration of my services, will say that The Journal reporters, Branch and Paschal, agreed to pay me $5 to get the work written Wednesday night, so it could be published in Thursday’s paper. Saturday morning, after the appearance of the article in Friday’s Journal, The Georgian’s reporter came to the office and offered me either $25 or $45, I do not recollect which, for a copy of the conference with Mayor Woodward, February, Miles and Colyar, and Miles, Jones and Colyar’s conference. I declined the offer. I then went to see The Journal’s reporters and told them that The Georgian had offered me money for a copy of the conference, and they agreed to pay me $50 to hold my notebook from Saturday until Monday. I turned my notebook over to Mr. Brice, who gave it to his stenographer to keep until Monday. Later during the day the reporters told me that The Georgian had gotten a copy, and so I was too late.

LOCKED UP NOTEBOOK.

“I then went down to Mr. Brice’s office and asked Miss M.—, Mr. Brice’s stenographer, for my notebook, and I took it home and locked it up. Monday, when I went up to see Major Cohen about the $50 he went down to look for Mr. Brice, whom he was unable to find. Later we went back upstairs together and Branch and Paschal explained to him their promise to pay me $50 for allowing The Journal to retain my notebook. However some argument arose over the fact that I took my notebook out of The Journal’s office Saturday night. I told them that they had agreed to give me $50 not to make a copy for The Georgian, and that I had not made the copy for The Georgian, and had, therefore, carried out my part of the compact. They then told be to come back later on and see Mr. Brice about it. I returned after awhile, I believe it was around 1 o’clock, and Mr. Brice paid me the amount in currency and took my receipt.

“Chief Lanford has not as yet paid me for my services, from the fact that I have not rendered a bill.

“Saturday morning, before the publication of the Woodward conference, held at 4 o’clock Wednesday, May 21, as previously mentioned, and the Jones conference, held at 8 o’clock the same night, I went to the editorial department of The Journal and requested a proof of what they were going to print. Colyar, who had one reading it, declined to allow me to have a proof, and so I left The Journal building, suspicious.

“Saturday afternoon I went down to the office, carrying with me my original notebook, and a copy of Friday’s and Saturday’s Journal. I compared them all the way through and upon seeing the many variations in what was printed and what I had in my notes, I realized that my transcriptions had been tampered with, and that I had just cause for the suspicions which were aroused by their refusal to allow me to read the proofs Saturday morning.

BECOMES VERY NERVOUS.

“Having signed the affidavits, at Mr. Febuary’s request, in which I swore to what I had heard, and seeing something entirely different published, I became very nervous and uneasy. Saturday night when I went home, a reporter called up and said he was one of The Journal reporters and wanted to see me a few minutes. I told him to come over. He came in and introduced himself to me as Mr. Starr, The Journal. My other and aunt recognized his voice as that of a reporter who had called shortly before I came home, and said he was from The Georgian. They both rushed into the sitting room and told me that he was not with The Journal, but was the same fellow that came a few minutes ago, and said he was from The Georgian. He denied that he had said he was from The Journal, although he had told both myself and my grandfather, who went to answer the door bell, that he was from The Journal. Just before he left he informed me that a warrant had been sworn out for Febuary’s, Colyar’s and my arrest, and upon my directing him as to where the door out could be found, he departed, saying that he had got the information he wanted.

“Sunday afternoon, at the office, someone called me up and informed me that I would probably be arrested Monday, I did not recognize the voice, and so am unable to say who it was. They also informed me that I would have to make bond in order to be released. I asked who it was, and they hung up or were cut off.

BROTHER HAS NOTEBOOK.

“Monday morning Colyar requested that I turn my notebook over to The Journal and said he would give me $5 if I would show him a receipt from The Journal for the notebook. I came near allowing The Journal to have the notebook, but instead gave it to my brother to take home and instructed him to allow no one to have it.

“Developments later showed me the character of some of the people connected with this transaction and it made me so ashamed of my connection with it that I was afraid I could not face the humiliation that I thought would naturally onsite, and also the fact that they had changed my transcription showed to me very clearly that I was mixed up with a bunch of crooks.

“I am prepared to read my notes whenever it becomes necessary. These notes will show exactly what I heard.

“The foregoing affidavit is made by me voluntarily, unsolicited, and no money or the promise of any remuneration whatever was offered to me for making it, my sole motive being to give the straight history of my connection with the now ‘infamous’ dictograph affair.

“GEORGE M. GENTRY.

“JEANNETTE HENNING, Notary Public, District of Columbia.”

Lanford Declares He Does Not Know About Any Changes

Detective Chief N. A. Lanford Wednesday morning declared that he knew absolutely nothing concerning the alleged tampering with the dictograph records.

“The records were typewritten and sworn to when they were brought to me,” said the chief, “I still have them in my possession and no changes have been made in them since they were turned over to me. Personally, I do not believe that they were ever tampered with or doctored. According to Gentry’s latest affidavit he still has his notes. It would be quite a simple matter for him to take these notes and point out the alleged changes. All I want is the truth about the affair.

Chief Lanford, upon reading the alleged affidavit, sent the following telegram to police Chief James L. Beavers, who is in Washington attending the convention of the National Police Chiefs association:

“Atlanta, Ga., June 11, 1913,

“J. L. Beavers,

“Care Convention Chiefs Police.

“Washington, D. C.

“I understand that George M. Gentry is in Washington and that he made affidavit before Jeannette Henning, notary public, District of Columbia, to the effect that his notes made in dictograph of Colyar and Felder matter were padded. Please have him located and ascertain if this is true and if so under what conditions this affidavit was made, and advise.

“N. A. LANFORD,

“Chief of Detectives.”

“My Vindication Complete,” Declares Thomas B. Felder

Thomas B. Felder, commenting upon the affidavit of George M. Gentry, says:

“Gentry’s affidavit is a complete vindication. It bears out my statement that the whole thing was a frame-up on the part of Newport Lanford and his hirelings. Everyone agrees with me now that I was the innocent victim of a dirty, contemptible plot.

“The notebook is not in the hands of Gentry’s brother. It was at the time he left Atlanta, but it is now in a safe deposit vault and I have the key.

“I have given Mayor Woodward a copy of the affidavit, and I expect he will ask the grand jury to look into the matter.

“So far as I am personally concerned, the incident is closed with this vindication. Gentry will return to Atlanta within the next week or ten days, and he may have something additional to say.”

Says Police Board Ought to Investigate

Other than to say the police board ought to make a thorough investigation of the detective department. Mayor Woodward Wednesday morning made no statement in reference to the Gentry affidavit.

“This young man’s affidavit certainly is enough to convince me that Lanford and his aggregation of so-called detectives are not very careful as to the methods they employ, to say the least of it,” said the mayor. “It is time for the police board to give the detective department a thorough airing, and I’m not so sure but what the city would be better off if the whole detective crew were kicked out and new ones elected. We certainly couldn’t get much worse than we’ve got now.”

It was the mayor’s first intention Wednesday to give out a written statement in reference to the Gentry affidavit, but later he changed his mind. In this connection he said:

“There was nothing in the dictograph record, even as the detectives gave it out, that worried me. There was nothing in it that I was ashamed of, or cared to explain.

“The Gentry affidavit was not gotten at my instigation. I cared nothing about the dictograph. I knew nothing about the Gentry affidavit until it was handed to me by Ed Miles about 9 o’clock Tuesday night.”

Miles Will Not Divulge Young Gentry’s Address

E. O. Miles, the private detective who figured in the dictograph conversations and who brought back from Washington the alleged affidavit from Gentry charging that the dictograph records had been padded, refuses to tell whether Gentry can be found. He will not say whether he is withholding this information at Gentry’s request.

Mr. Miles says he went to Washington after the affidavit in the interest of those who had been dictographed. Further than this he would not talk.

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Atlanta Journal, June 11th 1913, “Gentry Now Says Dictograph Record Was Tampered With,” 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

Going to A. S. Colyar’s room in Williams House No. 2, on Forsyth street, Wednesday afternoon to make efforts to get information of alleged grafting on the part of Chief of Police Beavers and Chief Lanford, Mayor James G. Woodward walked into as neat a trap as was ever devised. The same dictagraph which was alleged to take down the statements of Colonel T. B. Felder, is said to have been working while the mayor of Atlanta was in conference with E. O. Miles, a private detective; Febuary, Chief of detectives Lanford’s clerk, and A. S. Colyar.

The mayor admits frankly he was there, but says he offered no money, but that he would subscribe to a fund to unearth graft in any city department; and also said that his visit had nothing whatever to do with the Phagan case.

“These parties told me they had evidence of the corruptness of Beavers and Lanford. I wanted to see what they had,” he is quoted as saying.

Part of the conversation, as alleged to have been taken down by George M. Gentry, nephew of the president of Southern Bell Telephone company, dealt with the early arrival of Miles, who discussed the Phagan case with Colyar.

After Mayor Woodward arrived in the room, Colyar stated that Febuary had the goods on certain members of the police and detective department. There was some discussion about the right of the police to arrest anyone who could get such evidence. Mayor Woodward staying that he didn’t understand how such an informer could be thrown in jail.

At some of the most important portions of the dictograph record Mr. Gentry reported that there was much confusion outside, or the speakers spoke so low, that he could not gather what was said.

A little later on in the record Woodward assured Colyar that there was nothing for an informer to fear.

“You don’t know what police persecution is,” Colyar said. “They can prove that black is white, and water will run up stream, and they can get a jury that will——“ and here Miles is interrupted.

Still further in the conversation, Miles said: “Febuary wants to know if we can promise his protection. I think we can safely do it in a matter like this.” “Yes,” Mayor Woodward answered.

Miles—He has the graft list, and knows whose on the list, who is to be protected, and who is not to be protected. It looks to me like we have the same things down here that they had in New York, only on a smaller scale, because Atlanta is a smaller town.

Colyar—Did you tell Tom Felder that you authorized Felder that if he got the proof for you you would see that he got paid for it.”

Here the dictagraph did not record all that was said, owing to indistinct voices, according to Gentry, the stenographer, who was taking down the conversation.

Colyar—He said he would give him a thousand dollars for the evidence.

A little later on in the conversation, Miles spoke.

Miles—What would be the nature of those documents? (speaking of alleged graft lists, etc.)

Colyar—It is an affidavit from two people—both signed it—acknowledging threats, etc. graft and general corruption. Like you said a while ago.

Miles—A place like the Walton Inn has never been closed. My information is that the woman who runs it is a sister-in-law of an official in the police department. A woman gave me that information and said that she was operating under protection.

Woodward (evidently referring to reward asked for)—There will be no trouble about getting the money.

The Kind of Evidence.

Later in the conversation, when asked what kind of evidence was wanted, Woodward replied:

“Get anything that looks like graft. I don’t care who it hits, and especially Beavers.”

Febuary here stated that he would see what he could get.

Woodward—We are going to get up the money to pay for it. They’ll want to know what you have got and what you can prove. Then I can give him an answer.

Woodward (later on in conversation)—I won’t do anything until it is substantiated.

Miles—Yes, just forget it. You know you have never broken your word yet.

Woodward—I hear they charge me with some meanness.

Here the dictagraph was indistinct again, and the next words from Woodward were: Well, they have pretty good evidence on him.

Colyar—On who?

Woodward—Beavers. (Then later:) We want Beavers first, then Lanford.

Miles is then quoted as saying that they would raise the money to pay for the evidence, go out into the county, examine the evidence, and then turn the money over.

Here the mayor spoke.

Woodward—We have got lawyers here that will get you out pretty quick. And I have the pardon power still.

The mayor’s final words in regard to the matter were:

“I don’t think there will be any trouble at all * * * we could get together and establish * * * there is something wrong. It is simply a * * * Now, Mr. Febuary, you get a list of the papers you can furnish me against those men, and give them to me or Miles, and then we will know how to talk with you. As it is, we don’t know whether we can get anything or not.”

George M. Gentry, the stenographer in the other room at the end of the dictagraph wires, swore that the statements which he had taken down were true. A. S. Colyar and G. C. Febuary also swore that their conversation was true, and that Gentry had made a correct transcript of the same.

* * *

Atlanta Constitution, May 25th 1913, “Here is the Dictograph Record of Woodward’s Conversation,” 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

That’s the Way Mayor James G. Woodward Made Answer Saturday to Published Dictagraph [sic] Record.

After Mayor James G. Woodward and read the published dictagraph record of the conversation alleged to have been held between him, A. S. Colyar, G. C. Febuary and E. O. Miles, in room No. 31, Williams House, Wednesday afternoon, he declared that it was a “frame-up by a dirty gang.”

The mayor told The Constitution that he would be willing to start a fund to employ Burns detectives to trace the motive which inspired Colyar and his companions.

“I haven’t much money to spend, but I would contribute to a fund to carry this investigation to the finish,” he said. “It has just gone that far that it is not complete. There certainly must be more in it than has been published. I haven’t been able to find a thing but froth and no substance. Now, let’s get at the substance.”

All the Record Not Given.

Mayor Woodward says he is sore only because the dictagraph record did not get all he told Colyar and Febuary in the Williams House room. He says that some part of the conversation is reported correctly, and other parts have been eliminated and words put into the record to fit the aims of the conspirators.

“I’ll stand on a drygoods box in the center of the street at Five Points and repeat every word that I uttered in that room,” Mayor Woodward said. “There are some things I said and which were eliminated, which I have stated in print, and which I would like to have in that record as long as they have it.

“It’s all a frame-up by a dirty crowd. Now, isn’t Colyar a fine specimen to be employed by the city detectives. He is charged with everything from murder to arson.”

Mayor Woodward denies that the name of Police Commissioner Dozier was mentioned at any time during the conversation while he was in the room. He also denies making the statement that he was “especially after Beavers,” when Colyar made the remark that he had evidence sufficient in convict Beavers and Lanford.

“I didn’t mention one word about Dozier deserting Beavers. In fact I did not even know that he was with Beavers. I didn’t mention a word about any one of the commissioners, and I feel pretty sure that the names of Beavers and Lanford were not often mentioned.

Reports Are Untrue.

“I want to make it plain that every statement or report, coming from whatever source, connecting me with the Phagan case, is absolutely untrue and unfounded.

“My only connection with the case was to call council to meet in special session to offer a reward of $1,000 for the apprehension and conviction of the guilty party.”

Mayor Woodward was asked if he would take steps to have an investigation made of the entire affair.

“I have no interest in it one way or the other, so why should I start an investigation. If someone wants to start I’ll contribute to a fund for defraying the expense. Colyar and his crowd sent word to me that they had evidence of graft in the police department, and wanted me to give them $1,000 for it. They didn’t get it.”

* * *

Atlanta Constitution, May 25th 1913, “‘Charge Framed Up by a Dirty Gang.'” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

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

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

Atlanta Journal

Saturday, May 24^th, 1913

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

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

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

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

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

THE DICTOGRAPH RECORD.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jones: In what way.

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

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

Colyar: He told me they framed up on you.

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

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

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

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

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

Colyar: Who is Jackson?

WHAT JONES IS QUOTED AS SAYING CONCERNING MARION JACKSON

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

Colyar: Who is John Eagan?

Jones: He is one of them Jackson crowd.

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

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

Colyar: What does Jackson do?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Colyar: Have you seen Felder since you saw me?

Miles: Yes.

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

Miles: Will he go.

Colyar: Well, we will get the papers.

Miles: I told him that was reasonable.

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

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

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

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

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

SAYS FELDER “BULLED” MORSE OUT OF FEDERAL PENITENTIARY

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

Colyar: What was his fee?

Miles: A hundred thousand dollars.

Colyar: How much did he get?

Miles: Oh! Absolutely ——

Colyar: How long have you known Felder?

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

Colyar: (Question incoherent.)

Miles: Did you not hear him commit himself.

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

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

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

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

Colyar: No.

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

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

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

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

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

Colyar: We will make Tom spend his money now?

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

Colyar: I thought you wanted the papers.

Miles: I don’t want them.

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

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

Colyar: Tom said that the papers ——

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

Colyar: I will see him tomorrow.

Miles: Good night.

Colyar: Good night.

* * *

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

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

Atlanta Georgian

Saturday, May 24^th, 1913

Wanted Woodward to See Just What Sort of a Crook Colyar Was, He Declares.

Edward O. Miles, a private detective, assumes the responsibility for the presence of Mayor Woodward at the Williams House, resulting in the dictographing of the Chief Executive of Atlanta. He also says it was at his suggestion Colonel Thomas B. Felder discontinued even his acquaintance with A. S. Colyar, the wild-eyed investigator from Tennessee.

Miles’ statement to a Georgian reporter follows:

“Colonel Felder had already been to see Colyar and he asked me to go and see what he had; to examine any papers, etc.

“I went and as soon as I saw Colyar I was disgusted. The Lord doesn’t make mistakes, and the Lord certainly put the brand of a crook on that fellow’s physiognomy if He ever put it anywhere.

“Colyar wanted Mayor Woodward and asked me to get him. I went to the Mayor and said: ‘I want to take you down to see the greatest freak and crook you ever saw in your life. I want you to hear his line of bunk. You don’t have to say anything—just come along and listen to what he hands out.”

Thought Someone Listened.

“That was Wednesday afternoon. I didn’t think anything about a dictograph, but I knew, or at least thought, that he had somebody listening in the next room. I couldn’t help knowing that, because every now and then Colyar raised his voice so they could hear. Anybody on the streets a block could have heard him had they listened.

“After the conversation, practically as reported in the dictograph, Mayor Woodward left.

“Colyar told me not to forget to bring Colonel Felder and the money next morning at 10 o’clock. I asked him what money, and he said the $1,000 for the papers. I told him I didn’t want to buy any papers; that if Colonel Felder or anybody else did, that was their business, but I didn’t believe they did.

“Then I went back and reported to Colonel Felder and advised him to have nothing more to do with Colyar, not to go back to the Williams House and even not answer his telephone calls.

Felder Quit Negotiations.

“They waited all day Thursday, and Colonel Felder didn’t go back and didn’t answer the telephone calls. That’s why it was published in incompleted form. They saw the jig was up, and I believe Colyar then sold the story.

“I know young Gentry, who took down the dictograph report, and I’ll wager $100 he won’t sign an affidavit it has been published in unexpurgated form. Nothing has been added, but some things have been left out. However, I can’t say that the omissions made any material change.

“Yes, I am the one that caused Mayor Woodward to go there. He is all right. I just wanted him to hear the line of bunk that crook had to hand out.”

* * *

Atlanta Georgian, May 24th 1913, “Miles Says He Had Mayor Go to Room,” 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

Saturday, May 24^th, 1913

The little dictograph cunningly hidden in Detective Colyar’s room in the Williams House No. 2 is said to have caught a conversation between Mayor James G. Woodward, Secretary G. C. Febuary of the detective department and Edward Miles, Wednesday afternoon, between 3 and 4 o’clock.

Detective Colyar who drew Attorney Thomas B. Felder into the conspiracy was also present at the interview. Colyar sent Miles to the private office of Mayor Woodward in the Empire building, with an invitation that he examine affidavits which Colyar alleged to have in his possession charging police graft.

Mayor Woodward admitted to The Constitution, Friday night, that he went to the room designated by Miles. He charges that Colyar tried to induce him to agree to pay $1,000 for certain information in documentary form which Colyar declared was sufficient to convict the heads of the police department of corruption in receiving money for protections from disorderly houses.

Mayor Had No Money to Give.

They were the only ones who spoke about money, Mayor Woodward said “I told them that if they were looking for money from me I had none to give, but I suggested that if they would make out a list to show just what evidence they had to give there would be no trouble getting up the money to extend the investigation.”

Detective Colyar visited Mayor Woodward’s office in the city hall one day last week, according to Frank Hammond, the mayor’s secretary. He explained that he wanted to see the mayor on important business, and when informed that he would have to wait he became impatient, and declared that there was more red tape in getting to the mayor than to the president of the United States.

“Colyar left word that he had some importance [sic] evidence that he wanted to give me,” Mayor Woodward continued. “I sent word out that if he could not wait to see me to fix a time when I could see him. That was the last I saw or heard of him until Wednesday afternoon.

Police Graft Affidavits.

“I was sitting in my office in the Empire building Wednesday afternoon when Ed Miles came to see me. He said that Colyar sent him over to say that he had some affidavits to show that there was graft in the police department. He suggested that I go over to the Williams house with him and discuss the matter with Colyar.

“I remember that Secretary Febuary was in the room with Colyar when we entered. I am not absolutely certain but it seems to me that Colyar started the conversation by remarking that Febuary had turned up some affidavits against someone in the police department. He said that they showed that houses were paying for protection. I am not certain Colyar mentioned the name of Beavers or Lanford. I am not sure whether he mentioned either one but I am sure he connected the police department with graft.

“Colyar said that Febuary had secured the evidence and that the only thing they were afraid of was that he would lose his job in the police department. I told Colyar that if the evidence was sufficient to convict I was sure that the people of Atlanta would see to it that he was not discharged.

$1,000 Was Needed.

“Colyar said that it would take $1,000 to put the deal through. I presume he meant getting the evidence. I told him that if it was sufficient to convict I did not think there would be any trouble getting the money passed up to pay the expenses. I let them know mighty plain that they were not going to get any money from me.

“The first time I laid my eyes on Colyar I was not impressed with him. He talked about getting other affidavits and mentioned something about transferring them in DeKalb county. That part of it sounded ridiculous to me because a felony is a felony no matter where it is committed and I figured that if they were going to pull of something crooked they might just as well do it in Fulton as in any other county because the laws are all the same.

Apparently Miles was not interested in what I said for he left the room and in a few minutes Colyar got up and said I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Mayor is Not Worried.

Mayor Woodward says that he does not know whether the dictograph was worked on him. He declares that he is not worried and would much rather have the record produced and printed than to be forced to make a statement himself.

“I don’t think anyone in Atlanta will believe that I am controlled by Thomas B. Felder or anyone else,” Mayor Woodward said discussing Felder’s statement. “Nor will anyone believe that he controls Judge Roan, Solicitor Dorsey or anyone else. Colonel Felder will probably contradict that statement. I am sure that he did not give such an utterance.”

Asked to relate the conversation he had with Colonel Felder Monday afternoon regarding the evidence contained in the affidavits, Mayor Woodward said,

“Colonel Felder came to my office and told me that his men in hunting evidence in the Phagan case ran into evidence to show that disorderly houses were operating under police protection. He said that the man he had working on the Phagan case was getting $6 a day and explained that he could not take one of the other men from his forces to work on the graft investigation.

Evidence is Documentary.

“I told him that if the evidence was positive and sufficient to convict there would be no trouble in my opinion in getting up the money. He said that the evidence was in documentary form and was sufficient to convict. That was the substance of our conversation.

“As to the statement that Charles C. Jones was with Colonel Felder when he came to my office Monday afternoon, that is not true. Colonel Felder was alone. Mr. Jones came in afterwards. I understand that he was attending the session of council. He came in only for a minute.”

Charles C. Jones of 127 North Pryor street corroborated the last part of Mayor Woodward’s statement. He said that he was at the meeting of council Monday afternoon and did not speak to Mayor Woodward until near the end of the session.

Saw Felder Coming Out.

“I had some business in the mayor’s office and left council chamber to attend to it. As I was entering the mayor’s office I saw Colonel Felder coming out. Our conversation was casual and had absolutely nothing to do with this matter.

“I have been drawn into this affair although I had nothing to do with it.

“Ed Miles came to me and informed me that Colyar wanted to see me. Miles said that he had some affidavits which would interest me. I went to the room in the Williams house No. 2 next to the city hall in the evening. I am not sure what day it was but can find out later by refreshing my mind. Colyar was there. He said that he had something which would interest me. I asked him what it was. He spoke about money and I told him that he had better see the mayor.

“He asked me if the police had not asked for money and if Chief Beavers had not given me a raw deal. I told him that I did not pay the police anything nor did I charge those things against Beavers or any member of the police department. Colyar grew impatient and said to Miles, ‘Oh, it’s no use talking to him. He has no confidence in me.’

“I told Colyar that I had no business with him that I had not sought the interview and had visited him in his room simply because I had been informed by Miles that he (Colyar) had something to offer me that I was interested in. Colyar left saying that he would see me the next day. I have not seen him since that time.

Jones believes that he was inveigled into Colyar’s room for the purpose of having him involve himself.

“If they have the dictograph record it’ll show what I said.”

* * *

Atlanta Constitution, May 24th 1913, “Mayor Woodward Reported Caught by the Dictograph Seeking Police Evidence,” 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

Saturday, May 24^th, 1913

Big Part of Published Record Absolutely Untrue, Declares Mayor, Though “There’s Nothing In It,” He Says

“WHOLE THING AMOUNTS TO HIRING DETECTIVE”

“It’s all a frame-up of a dirty gang,” declared Mayor James G. Woodward, in commenting Saturday afternoon on the published dictograph record of the conversation alleged to have been held between him, A. S. Colyar, G. C. Febuary and E. O. Miles in Room 31 of the Williams house, No. 2, on Wednesday afternoon.

“The dictograph record has been filled out by some one,” he declared. “I don’t know who. Some one either filled it out or fooled the dictograph after I left.”

Part of the record—almost all the first half of it—was correct, the mayor said. The rest was untrue, he vowed.

“The whole business amounted to employing a detective,” he said. “Certainly I would vote to protect any one who unearthed graft. Certainly I would.

“While there is nothing in this published record, what there is is mostly incorrect. I’m willing to admit anything I said. The record has certainly been filled out after ‘they’ got hold of it.

“I didn’t mention anything about Dozier deserting Beavers. In fact, I didn’t even know he’d ever been with Beavers. I didn’t say anything about any members of the police board. Call it ‘protection’ to Febuary if he unearths graft if you want to. I’d vote to protect any one unearthing graft.

“They told me they could furnish evidence that disorderly houses were protected. I wanted to get it.”

Mayor Woodward declared that the entire portion of the dictograph record from the sub-head “Woodward Says There is Evidence Against Beavers” had been either filled in or spoken by some one after he left “to fool the dictograph.”

Mayor Woodward dictated the following statement to a reporter for The Journal before reading the dictagraph [sic] report:

“I want to make it plain that every statement or report, coming from whatever source, connecting me with the Phagan case, is absolutely untrue and unfounded. My only connection with this case was to call the general council in special session to offer a thousand dollars reward for the apprehension and conviction of the guilty party.

“All I had to do with this alleged attempt to obtain papers from the detectives was that a report came to me that there was evidence that there was graft in the police department as regards disorderly houses and blind tigers. This report was to the effect that law breakers were paying for protection. I was informed that a list was kept of all such places and the amount of protection money paid by each.

“Colyar and his crowd wanted $1,000 for this information. I told them I had no $1,000 to give, but I felt sure if they could produce the evidence that would bring about convictions they would be paid for their trouble.

“I didn’t tell them so, but I will say so now, that I would be willing to contribute to a fund to defray the expenses of an investigation of all the graft charges that are rife in this city.”

Anticipating the possibility that they, too, like Col. Thomas B. Felder, might have been “dictographed” Wednesday in room 31 of Williams House No. 2, Mayor James G. Woodward and Charles C. Jones, of 127 North Pryor street issued their versions of what transpired while each of them was in the room.

Mayor Woodward was in room 31 during the afternoon, he says, with A. S. Colyar, Edward Miles and Secretary G. C. Febuary of the city detective department. He went there, he says, on the invitation of Miles, to examine affidavits which Colyar claimed to have and which were said to charge graft in the police department.

Charles C. Jones went to the room in the evening, he says—he is not sure what day—also on the invitation of Miles, who said that Colyar wanted to show him some affidavits.

NOTHING TO FEAR.

Mr. Jones and the mayor say they have nothing to fear from the publicity of a dictograph record, if one was taken.

The mayor declares that an attempt was made by Colyar to induce him to agree to pay $1,000 for certain alleged documentary evidence that would convict the heads of the police department of corruption in receiving money for the protection of disorderly houses.

Mayor Woodward says that he declared he had no money to give, but suggested that if a list of the available evidence was made out there would be no trouble in getting funds for a complete investigation.

The mayor says that Colyar left word at his office in the city hall one day last week that he had some important evidence he wanted to give him.

“I sent out word that if he could not wait to see me to fix a time when I could see him,” Mayor Woodward said. “That was that last I saw or heard of him until Wednesday afternoon.

MR. WOODWARD’S ACCOUNT.

The mayor continued:

“I was sitting in my office in the Empire building Wednesday afternoon, when Ed Miles came to see me. He said that Colyar sent him over to say that he had some affidavits to show that there was graft in the police department. He suggested that I go over to the Williams house with him and discuss the matter with Colyar.

“I remember that Secretary Febuary was in the room with Colyar when we entered. I am not absolutely certain, but it seems to me that Colyar started the conversation by remarking that Febuary had turned up some affidavits against some one in the police department. He said that they showed that houses were paying for protection. I am not certain Colyar mentioned the name of Beavers or Lanford. I am not sure whether he mentioned either one, but I am sure he connected the police department with graft.

“Colyar said that Febuary had secured the evidence and that the only thing they were afraid of was that he would lose his job in the police department. I told Colyar that if the evidence was sufficient to convict I was sure that the people of Atlanta would see to it that he was not discharged.

WOULD TAKE $1,000.

“Colyar said that it would take $1,000 to put the deal through. I presume he meant getting the evidence. I told him that if it was sufficient to convict I did not think there would be any trouble getting the money passed up to pay the expenses. I let them know might plain that they were not going to get any money from me.

“The first time I laid my eyes on Colyar I was not impressed with him. He talked about getting other affidavits, and mentioned something about transferring them in DeKalb county. That part of it sounded ridiculous to me, because a felony is a felony, no matter where it is committed, and I figured that if they were going to pull off something crooked they might just as well do it in Fulton as in any other county, because the laws are all the same.

“Apparently, Miles was not interested in what I said, for he left the room, and in a few minutes Colyar got up and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

DENIES HE’S “CONTROLLED”

Regarding the statements attributed to Colonel Felder, the mayor said: “I don’t believe anyone in Atlanta will believe I am controlled by Thomas B. Felder or anyone else. Nor will anyone believe he controls Judge Roan, Solicitor Dorsey or anyone else. Colonel Felder will probably contradict that statement. I am sure that he did not give such an utterance.”

Colonel Felder called at his office Monday afternoon, but not with Charles C. Jones, who came in later, the mayor said. He said:

“Colonel Felder came to my office and told me that his men, in hunting evidence in the Phagan case, ran into evidence to show that disorderly houses were operating under police protection. He said that the man he had working on the Phagan case was getting $6 a day, and explained that he could not take one of the other men from his force to work on the graft investigation.

“I told him that if the evidence was positive and sufficient to convict there would be no trouble, in my opinion, in getting up the money. He said that the evidence was in documentary form and was sufficient to convict. That was the substance of our conversation.

“As to the statement that Charles C. Jones was with Colonel Felder when he came to my office, Monday afternoon, that is not true. Colonel Felder was alone. Mr. Jones came in afterwards. I understand that he was attending the session of the council. He came in only for a minute.”

Jones said that he attended the meeting of the council and did not speak to the mayor until near the close of the session. He said:

“I had some business in the mayor’s office and left council chamber to attend to it. As I was entering the mayor’s office I saw Colonel Felder coming out. Our conversation was casual and had absolutely nothing to do with this matter.

“I have been drawn into this affair, although I had nothing to do with it.

“Ed Miles came to me and informed me that Colyar wanted to see me. Miles said that he had some affidavits which would interest me. I went to the room in the Williams house No. 2, next to the city hall, in the evening. I am not sure what day it was, but can find out later by refreshing my mind. Colyar was there. He said that he had something which would interest me. I asked him what it was. He spoke about money, and I told him that he had better see the mayor.

“He asked me if the police had not asked for money, and if Chief Beavers had not given me a raw deal. I told him that I did not pay the police anything, nor did I charge those things against Beavors [sic] or any member of the police department. Colyar grew impatient and said to Miles: ‘Oh, it’s no use talking to him. He has no confidence in me.’

“I told Colyar that I had no business with him; that I had not sought the interview, and had visited him in his room simply because I had been informed by Miles that he (Colyar) had something to offer me that I was interested in. Colyar left, saying that he would see me the next day. I have not seen him since that time.

“If they have the dictograph record it’ll show what I said,” he concluded.

Jones declares that he believes efforts were made to trap him into Colyar’s room to make him involve himself.

* * *

Atlanta Journal, May 24th 1913, “‘Dirty Gang’ Filled Out Record or Else ‘Fooled Dictograph’ — Mayor Woodward,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

A. S. Colyar, who figures in the dictograph sensation. Records show he has been confined in two insane asylums and numerous prisons. His operations are alleged to extend from New York to Mexico. He is a member of a prominent Tennessee family.

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

Atlanta Georgian

Saturday, May 24^th, 1913

The following conversation occurred in room No. 31, at Williams House No. 2, 34-36 N. Forsyth Street, Atlanta, Ga., Wednesday evening, between 8 and 9 o’clock, between C. C. Jones, E. O. Miles and A. S. Colyar:

Colyar—It has been very warm to-day, hasn’t it?

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

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

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

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

Jones—In what way?

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

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

Colyar—He told me they framed up on you.

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

Colyar—Tom told me he would like to see the gang out of business.

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

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

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

Colyar—Who is Jackson?

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

Colyar—Who is John Eagan?

Jones—He is one of them Jackson crowd.

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

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

Colyar—What does Jackson do?

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

Colyar: I want to talk to you about—

Jones—Well, we can make it. I will show you something.

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

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

Jones—I will try and go there between 10 and 11. Will that suit you? I am glad to have met you. Good-night.

Colyar—Have you seen Felder since you saw me?

Miles—Yes.

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

Miles—He will go.

Colyar—Well, we will get the papers.

Miles—I told him that was reasonable.

Colyar—Then I will get the papers at 2:30 to-morrow. What time will you get in in the morning?

Miles—I will get in at 8:30 to-morrow, and I will have an appointment.

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

Miles—I have no doubt. It can’t possibly use our side.

Colyar—Call me up at 2401, Atlanta phone, at the hotel, at 1 o’clock. I wont’ have anything to do with the transfer of them in Fulton County. As long as he—

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

Colyar—What was his fee?

Miles—A hundred thousand dollars.

Colyar—How much did he get?

Miles—Oh! Absolutely—

Colyar—How long have you known Felder?

Miles—I have known him 35 years, personally.

Colyar—(Question incoherent).

Miles—Did you hear him commit himself?

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

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

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

Miles—In dealing with rattlesnakes I never think about (dictograph not clear) Do you?

Colyar—No.

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

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

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

Colyar—Will you call me in the morning at 10 o’clock?

Miles—I will call you at 10 o’clock.

Colyar—We will make Tom spend his money now.

Miles—Yes. You don’t want to give the Mayor any list of these things.

Colyar—I thought you wanted the papers.

Miles—I don’t want them.

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

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

Colyar—I am willing to copy it.

Colyar—Tom said that the papers—

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

Colyar—I will see him to-morrow.

Miles—Good-night.

Colyar—Good-night.

* * *

Atlanta Georgian, May 24th 1913, “Jones Attacks Beavers and Charges Police Crookedness,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)