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

Atlanta Constitution

Friday, June 6th, 1913

Court Officials Worried Over News Growing Out of the Phagan Murder Mystery.

It is understood on good authority that the grand jury has been called upon to make a searching investigation in the apparent “leakage” in the detective department, which has enabled the newspapers to publish every important development in the Phagan murder mystery before such development had, often times, been brought to the official attention of the solicitor general’s office. It is said that certain court officials deemed the matter of such importance that they called the attention of the grand jury to it in the hope that the responsibility might be properly placed and a repetition of the “leaks” prevented.

It is a matter of history that as soon as some new angle to the case developed it was given the widest publicity, and the case of the state, in all its details, is today known to the attorney for the defense as thoroughly as it is known to the solicitor general.

Don’t Blame Reporters.

No blame is attached to the newspapers for printing the news. Court officials recognize that that is the province of a paper but they deplore the apparent ease with which the news has been secured.

The policy of Solicitor Dorsey has been one of absolute silence. To all reporters he has stated that he had nothing to give out.

Not so with the detective department. Hundreds of readers of the newspapers have learned of new angles in the Phagan case before the detective department had had time to bring the matter to the official attention of the solicitor general. At the present time the average man on the street has an intimate knowledge of the facts on which the state will base its case against Leo Frank. He knows just what witnesses will be called, just what they will testify, to just what affidavits will be presented and if he has kept a scrapbook, he has copies of these affidavits in his possession.

The surprising thing about the whole conduct of the case is the fact that there will be no surprises.

To go back and recapitulate: The fact that the Fomby [sic] woman had made a sensational affidavit leaked out shortly after she had affixed her signature to it. The ink was scarcely dry before a newspaper reporter had seen her and she had given him the substance of its contents. Following close on the heels of this came the publication of the affidavit itself.

Conley’s Confession.

Next came the sensational confession of James Conley, the negro sweeper, employed at the National Pencil factory who stated that he had helped Frank dispose of the body and Conley had not recovered from the sweating process when an afternoon pink extra contained flaring headlines stating that he had made a confession. That night The Constitution reporter had little difficulty in getting the details of the confession. The subsequent publication of the affidavit bore out The Constitution’s story of the morning before.

But recently, Minola McKnight, a servant in the home of Leo Frank, was arrested. She too made an affidavit. A police commissioner, it is definitely stated, prevailed on Chief Lanford to give out this affidavit to the afternoon papers. There were three typewritten copies of it and it was promptly turned over to the reporters.

Police Official Talks.

A prominent police official who has had no direct connection in the Phagan case said to a Constitution reporter:

“There is no one who likes the newspaper reporters better than I and I have always been ready to give them any legitimate news but I do not believe in trying a case in the newspapers. It doesn’t convince a jury and it does not bring about convictions. Suppose that a general on the eve of an important battle sent a courier out with a flag of truce bearing plans of his fortifications and explaining just what line of attack he intended to make? How many battles would he win? Nary a battle! It’s the same thing in working up evidence which is to be used in a murder trial. Unless you hold something in reserve, unless you catch the other side unprepared, you stand a mighty poor show of accomplishing anything, especially where the case is one in which circumstantial evidence plays an important part.”

Just what steps the grand jury will take will be looked forward to with interest.

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Atlanta Constitution, June 6th 1913, “Grand Jury Probes Detective ‘Leaks,'” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

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

Let the Law Take Its Course, He Says

‘Guilty Will Be Punished, Innocent Free’

Atlanta Constitution

Sunday, May 4^th, 1913

I desire to commend, with all the emphasis at my command, the Hearst newspapers’ timely suggestion to the people of Atlanta and Georgian that they remember the sanctity and majesty of the law of the land, and the sure operation of justice through the courts, in contemplating a recent horrible and unspeakable murder in our midst. I desire to offer the Hearst newspapers a word of praise in that they—leading newspapers of the South—while being brave enough to print the news as it developed from day to day, still were brave enough to caution their constituency that it was, after all, merely the news of the day, and not evidence that might considered competent in a court of law.—GOVERNOR JOSEPH M. BROWN

Georgia’s Executive Gives High Praise to Hearst Newspapers for Their Stand for Law and Order and Fair Trial for Accused.

Joseph M. Brown, Governor of Georgia, last night gave to Hearst’s Sunday American the following ringing and significant interview, in respect of the Phagan murder mystery.

By GOVERNOR JOSEPH M. BROWN.

I DESIRE  to commend, with all the emphasis at my command The Hearst’s newspapers’ suggestion to the people of Atlanta and Georgia that they remember the sanctity and majesty of the law of the land, and the sure operation of jusict through the courts, in contemplating a recent horrible and unspeakable crime committed in our midst.

I commend all newspapers, and persons, and influences, and things that hold fast to the law in times of anxious suspense, and when wild and irresponsible rumor runs riot in a community.

We must hold ever in mind that the people have established the processes of law, and that those processes work through the courts, with judges and juries.

Trials of criminals must not be conducted in the newspapers, on the street corners, in the cafes—not even in the homes.

Trials must be conducted in the authorized temples of justice, and not elsewhere. They must not be based upon suspicion or hearsay, but upon competent evidence, sworn to by the mouths of creditable witnesses, or established upon such combinations of circumstances as legally prove the guilt or innocence of the accused.

No elements of class favoritism or race prejudice should operate either for or against a defendant or suspect.

The law requires, and jealously, the conviction of a criminal beyond a reasonable doubt, and neither disconnected nor fragmentary evidence will do in cases involving the life and liberty of persons charged with infractions of the law.

A recent dreadful crime in Atlanta has shocked the entire State beyond expression.

It is known that a young girl, fresh in the flower of youth, has been foully murdered. That fact, and the place and some of the primary circumstances of the crime are settled, beyond dispute—but no more.

Certain suspects are in jail—within the State’s custody, safe and secure. As yet no one has been indicted by a Grand Jury.

That point in the consideration of the matter will be reached in its place.

Suspicions, street gossip, rumor, it makes no difference how seemingly plausible, have no place in shaping a verdict for or against anybody now.

The process of the State’s law has been promptly inaugurated and is proceeding in order.

There is no reason whatever to doubt that it will go forward in dignity, and with all due haste, to the conclusion of the investigation.

The Coroner’s jury now has the Phagan case in hand, and is intelligently and fairly sifting the testimony. Where the Coroner leaves off, the Solicitor will take it up, and thus on, through the Grand Jury, to the court house, the judge and the jury.

This process has been evolved of the long experience of the Anglo-Saxon race—the highest type of humanity on earth—and the ultimate aim of that process is, and ever has been, the firm and certain establishment of the truth, and consequently the intelligent and thorough application of justice.

In passing, and in further emphasis upon the necessity of preserving calm and poise in the situation discussed, I desire to offer the Hearst newspapers a word of praise in that they—leading newspapers of the South—while being brave enough to print the news as it developed from day to day, still were brave enough to caution their constituency that it was, after all, merely the news of the day, and not evidence that might be considered competent in a court of law.

That was a manly thing to do. It renewed and rejuvenated my persistent faith in the fairness of Georgians, and in their ever-present desire to work justice to all and injustice to none, no matter how high or how low, or of whatever creed or cult, sect or faith, color or condition.

The law holds the scales evenly between the State and the accused, and at all times its eventual aim is justice. The State exacts justice for herself and accords it to the accused.

I have been moved to say this much to you, and through you to the public, in the interest just now of fair play, of law and order—all so dear to my heart, and to the hearts of a vast majority of Georgians.

We must bear in mind that the State is quite as anxious to fix upon the right party the responsibility for this great crime as any man can be, and that the State is infinitely better equipped to do this than any individual, of his own motion, could be.

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Atlanta Georgian, May 4th 1913, “Gov. Brown on the Phagan Case,” 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, April 30^th, 1913

Following an interview between Mayor Woodward and Chief of Police Beavers and Chief of Detectives Lanford, in which the mayor protested that extras on the Phagan murder case which were based on information alleged to have been given out by the officers and the detectives and which were liable to unduly inflame the public, a petition has been circulated among local business men asking the newspapers not to issue so many sensational extras.

The petition states that extras such as have been issued are hurting business and will hurt it still further, that the community is being aroused to a dangerous degree by them, and that they may bring extremely unfortunate conditions.

The Journal issues six local editions and has been doing so for months. In these editions the developments in the Phagan case have been given fully and correctly. The case will be covered in the same conservative way in the future, with all possible facts included and no unwarranted ones.

The six editions which The Journal issues every day, and has been issuing for the past six months, are as follows:

1. 1. Goes to press 10:30 a. m. Out at 11. Marked “extra.”
2. 2. Goes to press 11:30 a. m. Out at 12. Marked “early mail” or extra.
3. 3. Goes to press 2:30 p. m. Out at 3. Regular edition.
4. 4. Goes to press about 3:45 p. m. First baseball extra.
5. 5. Goes to press about 5 o’clock when the game is over.
6. 6. Final night extra.

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Atlanta Journal, April 30th 1913, “Business Men Protest Sensational ‘Extras,'” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

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

Atlanta Constitution

Wednesday, April 30^th, 1913

“I don’t want a disturbance on the street of Atlanta. The town has been stirred over the Phagan tragedy, and I fear that sensational and misleading extras may cause mischief. I have requested Chief Beavers to use great caution in giving out news.”

Mayor James G. Woodward made the above explanation of his visit to Chief James L. Beavers, at police headquarters, shortly after 8:30 o’clock last night. The mayor said that he made a tour of the city and found the people in all sections in a highly nervous state.

He charged that a “misleading and sensational headline” in one of the night extras had caused many to believe that Newt Lee, the negro held by the detectives had been proven guilty.

“I am not afraid of the people of Atlanta doing anything that will bring shame on the city,” the mayor said. “But this affair has stirred up the people. The town is restless, and there is an element which can easily be inflamed. I am quite sure that the police will get the truth, and that the murderers of Mary Phagan will be punished. What I want to guard against is rowdyiam. I don’t want anyone to suffer needlessly, and the papers can do a lot to keep down feeling.”

Mayor Woodward said that he urged Chief Beavers to caution his men to keep the crowds moving on the streets and quickly disperse gatherings where the Phagan tragedy is the topic of discussion.

“I want to appeal to the people of Atlanta not to be misled by sensational reports,” he concluded.

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Atlanta Constitution, April 30th 1913, “Mayor Confers with Chief; Says Extras are Misleading,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)