Tag Archives: R. S. Ozburn

A. S. Colyar Makes Answer to Charges of Col. Felder

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AS Colyar Makes

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

Atlanta Constitution

Saturday, May 24th, 1913

A. S. Colyar, when seen last night by a representative of The Atlanta Constitution, gave out the following statement:

“I have just read Colonel T. B. Felder’s card in the bedtime edition of The Atlanta Georgian, in which he sees fit to call me, behind my back, a liar and a crook. Knowing the colonel as I do, and as his intimate friends know, he is a past grand master on explanations. The Atlanta Journal, in its Friday afternoon home edition, published every detail of the case, with the sworn statements of Mr. February [sic], Mr. Ozburn, Mr. Gentry, Mr. Suries and myself, and I do not care at the present time to dignify this astute politician with any further controversy.”

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Atlanta Constitution, May 24th 1913, “A. S. Colyar Makes Answer to Charges of Col. Felder,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)

Bribery Charges False Declares Col. Felder; Calls Them “Frame-Up”

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

Atlanta Constitution

Saturday, May 24th, 1913

Affidavits and Alleged Dictagraph [sic] Record Are Made Public, Accusing Prominent Lawyer, of Offering Bribe of $1,000 to Secretary Febuary, of Police Department, to Secure Affidavit Made for Police by J. W. Coleman, Stepfather of Mary Phagan, in Regard to Felder’s Connection With Case.

ALLEGATIONS ARE MADE TO FORESTALL A PROBE OF POLICE, SAYS FELDER

Mayor Woodward Also Dictagraphed [sic], According to Report—Admits He Was Called Into Conference by A. S. Colyar, Who Offered Him, He Says, Evidence That the Police Department Is Giving Protection to Disorderly Houses in Atlanta—“I’ve Done My Duty, It’s Up to Grand Jury,” Says Lanford.

Developments came thick and fast yesterday following the publication of affidavits, charging that Colonel Thomas B. Felder—the man who freed Charles Morse, and who used the dictagraph on Governor Cole Blease, of South Carolina—had himself been dictagraphed, and had made an attempt to secure an affidavit in the Mary Phagan murder case now held by the police department, through bribing Secretary February by the offer of $1,000.

Stinging counter charges that the Atlanta detective department is reeking with graft and corruption were hurled at Chief Newport Lanford by Colonel Felder, who asserts that the affidavits now in the possession of Lanford are perjured and the charges prompted by the desire to forestall an investigation of the department.

MY DUTY HAS BEEN DONE AND IT’S UP TO GRAND JURY, SAYS LANFORD

“I have proved Felder to be an attempted briber,” said the chief. “My duty has been done. It’s now up to the grand jury to take action.”

It also developed that Mayor Woodward has himself been dictagraphed, this instrument being used on the mayor during the course of a conversation at the Williams house, held by the mayor, Secretary February, of police department, A. S. Colyar, who worked up the affidavits against Felder, and Ed Miles, head of the Miles detective bureau.

Felder says he has viewed with his own eyes a police “graft” list, containing the names of owners of disorderly houses in the city, which resorts are given police protection in return for money. This, he said, was shown him by G. C. February, stenographer for Chief Lanford, right hand man of that official. Continue Reading →

Detective R. S. Ozburn Swears to Phone Talk

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

Atlanta Journal

Friday, May 23rd, 1913

Says He Overheard Col. Felder Offer $1,000 for Phagan Papers

State of Georgia,

County of Fulton.

Personally appeared before me the undersigned notary public, for the state and county aforesaid, R. S. Ozburn, who makes oath, in due form of law, and says he is a citizen of Atlanta, GA., and a member of the detective department of the Atlanta police force; that he was in J. M. Hewitt’s office, 1409 Fourth National Bank building, in said city, on Tuesday, May the 20th, 1913, at 11:43 a. m., and that at that time there was J. M. Hewitt, N. A. Lanford, chief of detectives; A. S. Colyar, and the affiant in the room. A. S. Colyar called over the telephone, Main 1103, and called for T. B. Felder to come to the phone; the affiant got up and put his ear by the side of the said Colyar’s ear and had the receiver to said phone between the two ears, and the affiant heard what the said Colyar said to T. B. Felder. “If I get the p[a]pers for you in the Phagan case, with the Coleman affidavit, do we get the thousand dollars,” and T. B. Felder said, “Yes,” and then Felder said also, over the telephone, “Now, will these papers impeach both chiefs?” and Colyar said “What chiefs,” and the voice answered back “Beavers and Lanford.”

R. S. OZBURN.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 22d day of May, 1913, A. D.

HAROLD HILTON,

Notary Public, Fulton County, Ga.

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Atlanta Journal, May 23rd 1913, “Detective R. S. Ozburn Swears to Phone Talk,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)