Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.
Atlanta Journal
Monday, May 26th, 1913
Chief Detective Declares He Has No Direct Evidence of Attempt to Influence Witnesses, as Published
CONLEY STICKS TO STORY UNDER SEVERE GRILLING
His Statement That He Wrote Notes at Frank’s Dictation a Disturbing Element—Search for Evidence Continues
Chief of Detectives Lanford positively denied to The Journal Monday afternoon that he has secured any proof of efforts to bribe witnesses in the Phagan case proper.
The official made this statement, when questioned about the numerous rumors and reports of bribery of witnesses, some of which have been published and given general circulation.
Chief Lanford states that he is in possession of no affidavits relating to attempts to bribe Phagan witnesses, nor has he proof of any sort, he says, which would show that friends of the man indicted for the murder or anyone else, had sought to bribe any witness.
Chief Lanford says, however, that he personally believes that efforts to influence witnesses have been made, and that he is vigorously probing the rumors.
The indictment of Leo M. Frank, on a charge of murdering Mary Phagan has not halted the several investigations of the case. Monday morning neither the city detectives, the Pinkertons nor the Burns forces ceased their efforts to unearth new and cumulative evidence in the case.
The principal efforts of the detectives are now as they have been since from the beginning, directed towards securing evidence to building up the state case against the factory superintendent. Continue Reading →
