Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.
NO REAL SOLUTION OF PHAGAN SLAYING MYSTERY
EVIDENCE AGAINST MEN NOW HELD IN BAFFLING CASE WEAK, SAYS OLD POLICE REPORTER
Atlanta Georgian
Sunday, May 11th, 1913
Detectives in Coroner’s Jury Probe Admit They Have Nothing on Which to Convict Anyone in Mysterious Tragedy of Atlanta.
TESTIMONY BROUGHT OUT NO INCRIMINATING POINTS
BY AN OLD POLICE REPORTER.
The most sensational testimony offered at the Coroner’s inquest in the Phagan case was lost sight of entirely by the newspapers.
Juror Langford asked Detective Black, who was on the witness stand: “Have you discovered any positive information as to who committed this murder?”
Detective Black replied, “No, sir, I have not!”
Coroner Donehoo asked Detective Scott of the Pinkerton force on the witness stand:
“Have you any definite information which makes you suspect any party of this crime?”
Detective Scott replied, “I would not commit myself. I am working on a chain of circumstances. Detective Black has been with me all the time on the case and he knows about the circumstances I refer to.”
As you read this over and consider it carefully, you will be impressed by the fact that the two most important detectives engaged for a period of two weeks on the Phagan case testify under oath that they have no positive information as to who committed the crime—in fact really know nothing about it at all.
I am setting down here my own thoughts and ideas, without intending the slightest disrespect to any official, and further, I believe I am at liberty to do so because of Scott’s and Black’s testimony.
MYSTERY STILL WITHOUT SOLUTION.
In The Sunday American of last week I published an article saying that the developments of the preceding week had led nowhere, and that the mystery was then as dark and deep as any mystery that ever puzzled police and detectives. Continue Reading →