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

Atlanta Constitution

Wednesday, May 21^st, 1913

Burns Operative Finds New Theory in Detailed Study of Life of Girl Who Was Murdered.

Investigation into the life of Mary Phagan from the time she was a child until the day upon which she was murdered has been the work for the past several days of C. W. Tobie, the investigator who is preceding William J. Burns in the attempt to find the perpetrator of the crime.

The detective will not reveal his specific reasons for accumulating a record of the girl’s life, but steadily he has been familiarizing himself with every detail which it has been possible to learn. When his chief reaches Atlanta he will have practically every detail in the life of the murdered girl at his finger tips. Tobie states that this is an important part of his criminal investigation.

All of Tuesday morning was spent in interviewing Mrs. James W. Coleman, mother of the dead girl, at her home, 146 Lindsay street. The grief-stricken parent broke into tears before the examination was finished. Tobie learned that on the morning of Mary’s disappearance she had arisen early to help her mother with the day’s housework.

Ironing Sunday Frock.

Up until the time she caught the trolley car for town, shortly after 11 o’clock, she had been ironing a summer frock which she intended wearing to Sunday school the following Sunday. It still lies carefully spread across the chair upon which she had folded it, a cherished memento of her bright young life.

A pathetic feature of Tobie’s investigation of the victim’s past was his interview with a girl employee of the Nunnally factory, a local manufacturing concern. A number of these girls were intimate chums of the Phagan girl, and it was from them that the first floral offering came to the undertaking establishment as her body lay in the silent chapel.

“She was the best girl that any of us knew,” the factory girl told the detective. “She was a fine little girl, as good as they make them.”

Grand Jury Meets Friday.

Solicitor General Dorsey announced Tuesday that the Phagan case was ready for the grand jury, and would be presented next Friday morning. It will require three or four days, it is predicted, for the returning of either a true or no bill, although it is possible the jury will finish with the case in a single day.

In making this announcement, the solicitor said he anticipated no development which would change or alter his present plans. The larger part of the day was spent in procuring signatures for the big batch of stenographic interviews obtained by Mr. Dorsey. He also examined a number of witnesses.

The mysterious telephone girl, of whom mention was first made publicly by The Constitution Tuesday morning, telephoned the office of Solicitor Dorsey early that morning and informed him that it was she whom the detectives were hunting. She offered to tell all she knew.

Letter on Phagan Case.

Evidence that Mary Phagan was seen outside the pencil factory afternoon on Memorial day was submitted to The Constitution Tuesday in the following letter from Mrs. A. A. Smith, a well-known woman living at 198 West Peachtree street:

“On Monday, May 5^th, between 4 and 5 o’clock in the afternoon on Whitehall street in front of High’s I heard three women in conversation. One was a rather stout woman, apparently 25 years old, and the others were older. I did not note the appearance of the elder women as closely as I did the young one, for the reason that the latter did the most talking.

“These ladies were talking about the Phagan case. The younger one said she did not like the looks of Mr. Frank’s picture, but that she believed justice ought to be given everybody. She said she knew Mary Phagan well, and that she saw her on Whitehall street, near Trinity avenue, about 4 o’clock on Memorial Day, after the parade had ended. One of the other women said if she knew that, that she ought to tell the authorities.

“I was deeply impressed with the sincerity of this young woman and have deeply regretted that, in the interest of justice, I did not ask her name at the time I overheard her conversation.

“So strongly have I felt upon this subject that I have dared to write this card, begging that the women referred to, in some way, communicate with the editor of this paper. I suggest the editor, because I believe that he will fairly treat the informant and see that the information is fairly used.

“I have no possible interest in the Phagan case except to see justice done.

“Very truly yours,

“MRS. A. A. SMITH.”

Search for the Girl in Red.

Chief Lanford Tuesday morning received from J. W. Tedder, a business man of Kennesaw, Ga., a small community near Marietta, a letter advising the chief to send a detective to see him, as he could show them to a girl who was acquainted with the mysterious girl in red who is said to have accompanied Mary Phagan to the pencil factory.

Detectives Starnes and Campbell visited him, but upon the trip to find the girl, failed to locate her. It is rumored in Kennesaw that this girl has made a public statement to the effect that she knows the girl for whom a veritable army of detectives has searched for three weeks.

Harry Scott, assistant superintendent of the Pinkerton offices in Atlanta, issued a statement Tuesday in reply to the assertion of Chief Tobie, of the Burns agency, that a number of phases of the mystery had been overlooked by the local investigators.

“We have overlooked nothing,” he said. “We have worked upon the case from a thousand different angles, and are continuing to do so as the investigation progresses daily. We have been successful to a surprising extent, and when our hands are revealed, the public will readily be convinced of that fact.”

Detective John Black, of police headquarters, said:

“The police detectives have covered the case thoroughly. They have unearthed evidence which will merit conviction. We can fix the guilt, and we have overlooked nothing. We have run to earth countless thousands of rumors, idle and substantial, and we have worked systematically and energetically.”

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Atlanta Constitution, May 21 1913, “Tobie is Studying Mary Phagan’s Life,” 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, May 21^st, 1913

P. A. Flak, of New York, visits Scene of Crime and Also Takes Finger Prints of Men in the Tower

BURNS INVESTIGATOR INTERVIEWS NEWT LEE

He is Said to Be Convinced That Negro Is Innocent—Pinkertons Still Busy in Search for Additional Evidence

The employment by Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey of one of the best known finger print experts in the world on the Phagan mystery was Wednesday’s principal development in the sensational case.

P. A. Flak, of New York City, noted criminologist, and a recognized expert on finger prints, was brought to Atlanta by the “Southeastern Banker” and introduced to Mr. Dorsey.

The expert and the prosecuting officer spent the entire day Wednesday in an effort to find the murderer of Mary Phagan through finger prints.

Together they visited the scene of the crime, and also the jail, where they are said to have secured the finger prints of Leo M. Frank, superintendent of the pencil factory, and Newt Lee, the negro night watchman, the two men held by the coroner’s jury.

Finger prints, which may lead to the conviction of the murderer were found on the notes left beside the dead girl’s body, and they were closely examined by Mr. Flak and the solicitor general.

Mr. Flak recently attended a meeting of the Georgia Banker’s association at Macon and consented at the request of representatives of the Southeastern Banker to come here and look into the Phagan mystery.

Solicitor General Dorsey and the finger print expert spent practically the entire morning Wednesday together.

With the solicitor general, the city detectives and the Pinkertons practically ready for the grand jury hearing, which will commence on Friday morning, the latest addition to the ranks of the Phagan probers, C. W. Tobie, of the Burns agency, is delving into the past of Mary Phagan and the seemingly unimportant incidents in her life just before her murder.

Tobie is conducting a vigorous probe of the case, and Attorney Thomas B. Felder, who is responsible for the employment of the Burns people, is well pleased with the progress of his work up to this time.

SEES NEWT LEE.

Mr. Tobie spent an hour interviewing Newt Lee, the negro suspect, at the Tower Tuesday, and according to Attorney Felder, the detective developed an important fact from the negro, which was not brought out when Lee was on the stand at the coroner’s inquest.

As the result of his interview with Lee and subsequent developments, it is authoritatively reported that the Burns man is convinced that Lee is eliminated from the case as a suspect, and Mr. Tobie is of the opinion that the negro made a truthful statement to him, telling all he knows of the tragedy.

According to Mr. Felder, the Burns interrogator will be able to establish beyond any doubt the theory that Mary Phagan met her death between noon and 1 o’clock on the Saturday of April 26.

The Burns man, according to Mr. Felder, has dev[e]loped several additional facts of importance in the case.

“There is no doubt about it, Mr. Tobie will deliver the goods,” said Mr. Felder.

Gordon Bailey, the negro elevator boy, who has been held at police headquarters since a few days after the tragedy at the National Pencil factory, where he worked, was “sweated” again by the detectives at headquarters Wednesday morning.

Like James Connolly [sic], the negro sweeper, Bailey has been held since the crime largely because it was thought that a continued incarceration might result in the negro giving information, which the detectives think he has probably withheld. The detectives, who examined the negro Wednesday, made no comment, but it is authoritatively stated that he threw no light on the tragedy.

Rumors that Mary Phagan was seen in the afternoon of April 26 have again occupied the attention of the city detectives during the past twenty-four hours. Mrs. A. A. Smith, of 198 West Peachtree street, declares that on May 5, she heard three women discussing the tragedy on Whitehall street, and one of them stated positively that she saw Mary Phagan about 4 o’clock on Memorial day.

The revival of the rumors of the “red dress girl” about Kennesaw have resulted in the detectives again going over the territory between Atlanta and that place in hopes of finding a woman, who is supposed to have gone to the pencil factory with Mary Phagan.

PINKERTONS BUSY

It was rumored Wednesday that there had been important developments in the Pinkerton investigation of the tragedy. When asked about this rumor, officials of the Pinkerton agency here, who have been actively in charge of the probe, stated that there are no developments of unusual importance.

“We have,” said one of the officials, “found evidence recently which we consider material to the case, but its nature will not be divulged as it is against the policy of Pinkertons to try their cases in the newspapers.”

The Pinkerton men have not dropped the probe by any means and several men are devoting practically their entire time to the Phagan.

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Atlanta Journal, May 21st 1913, “Finger Print Expert Works With Dorsey to Solve Mystery,” 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

Wednesday, May 21^st, 1913

Stories That He Was Retained by Prisoner’s Friends Silly, He Declares.

Mystery piles up upon mystery in the Phagan case.

Colonel Thomas B. Felder was asked Wednesday afternoon by The Georgian to reply to rumors circulating on the street, all making the general charge that he had been retained by friends of Leo Frank, prisoner in the Phagan case, and that his object in bringing the great detective, William J. Burns, here, was not to aid the prosecution.

Colonel Felder said:

“Any stories to that effect are silly and ridiculous—if nothing worse. Anybody who knows me or Mr. Burns knows that we would not lend ourselves to any scheme to block justice. Mr. Burns in hunting down a criminal can not be stopped. He could have made a million dollars by listening to the importunities of friends of the McNamaras in the dynamiting cases, but he is above price.”

Loath to Discuss Rumors.

Mr. Felder said that he was loath to discuss the rumors on the street because he wanted to avoid injecting into the case any issues that might impede a speedy solution of the mystery.

He stated also that he had never said he was retained by the family of the dead girl, but that a committee of citizens had been the moving spirits in getting him to take hold and using his influence to bring Burns’ talents to bear on the case.

Mrs. J. W. Coleman, mother of Mary Phagan, stated to a Georgian reporter Wednesday that the statement that Colonel Felder had been retained by her and her husband to prosecute the search for the slayer of Mary Phagan was without foundation.

Mrs. Coleman said that the first she heard of Colonel Felder taking up the case was when she read of it in a newspaper.

Saw Burns Man Once.

Neither any of the murdered girl’s relatives nor the citizens of Bellwood got up the fund to aid in the employment of William J. Burns or his agent, or in retaining Felder. She stated further that she had seen the Burns agent only once and then only for about three minutes. Mrs. Coleman said she was returning from market about 8 o’clock Tuesday evening and the Burns detective stopped her long enough to ask two or three questions. This is the only time she has seen him.

Mrs. Coleman and her step-daughters believe that the guilty man is known, and while more evidence may be necessary to convict him, they believe this evidence will be brought to light and Mary’s death avenged.

Mrs. Coleman thinks that Lee has not told all he knows, but that he slow in taking action against the will if the police department gets behind him strong enough. She does not think that Lee had a hand in the crime, but thinks that he was hired to dispose of the body afterward and lost his nerve.

Elevator Boy Grilled.

Severe grilling of Gordon Bailey, the elevator boy at the National Pencil Factory, and a city-wide search for the possessor of the “voice in the street,” heard by Mrs. A. A. Smith, 198 West Peachtree Street, to declare Mary Phagan was seen at about 4 o’clock on the afternoon of her murder, inaugurated Wednesday morning’s investigation of the Phagan case.

Bailey, who at the time of the strangling was employed as janitor and sweeper in the factory, was cross-examined by city detectives. Bailey was in the building the greater part of the afternoon on the day of the tragedy. Despite the testimony that he has given many times previously, he has always been considered as what might be an important

Voice in Street Now Sought in Phagan Case

Gordon Bailey, Negro Elevator Boy, Also Subjected Again to Close Examination.

Continued From Page 1.

link in the solution of the crime. That a final effort is being made to break down his former alibi before the cases of Frank and Lee are placed before the Grand Jury is evident.

Case Ready for Grand Jury.

Solicitor Dorsey declared Wednesday morning that everything has been prepared to present the case Friday to that tribunal in a clear and concise form.

City Detective John Black, who has superintended the city’s investigation of the case, announced that evidence had been secured to fix the guilt and merit the conviction of the girl’s slayer.

Despite these preparations, however, C. W. Tobie, the Burns operative, is making an exhaustive research into the case and blazing the trail to be followed by William J. Burns when the famous detective arrives in Atlanta. Mr. Tobie is also making daily reports to Solicitor Dorsey and Colonel Thomas B. Felder. The material which Detective Tobie is unearthing is said to be of great importance.

Spends Day at Girl’s Home.

Characteristic of the Burns method in handling such cases. Tobie spent the entire day Tuesday at the home of the Phagan girl, familiarizing himself with her life.

Mrs. Smith’s letter, mailed to The Georgian, stated that on Monday, May 5, she overheard a conversation on the street downtown in which a female voice declared that its possessor had seen Mary Phagan at 4 o’clock on the afternoon of the murder:

Mrs. Smith’s letter follows:

Editor Atlanta Georgian,

Atlanta, Ga.:

Dear Sir—On Monday, May 5, 1913, between 4 and 5 o’clock in the afternoon, on Whitehall Street, in front of J. M. High & Co.’s store, I heard three ladies in conversation. One was a rather stout lday, about 25 years old; the other two ladies were older. I did not note the appearance of the two older ladies as closely as I did the younger one, for the reason that the younger lady did most of the talking.

Tells of Seeing Girl.

These ladies were talking about the Phagan case. The younger one said that she believed justice ought to be given to everybody. She said she knew Mary Phagan well and that she saw her on Whitehall Street, near Trinity Avenue, about 4 o’clock on Memorial Day, after the parade had ended. One of the other ladies said if she knew that she ought to tell it to the authorities.

I was deeply impressed with the sincerity of this young woman, and have deeply regretted that in the interest of justice I did not ask her name.

So strongly have I felt upon this subject that I have dared to write this. Begging that the ladies referred to in some way communicate with the editor of this paper. I suggest the editor because I believe that the editor would fairly treat the informant, and would see that the information given will be fairly used.

I have no possible interest in the Phagan case, except to see justice done. Will you not give this matter such publicity as will bring a reply from the ladies mentioned?

Very truly yours,

MRS. A. A. SMITH.

J. W. Tedder, a business man of Kennesaw, Ga., a small town near Marietta, called on Chief Lanford Tuesday to tell him he was acquainted with the mysterious girl in red, who was reported to have accompanied Mary Phagan to the factory when she went there to draw her pay. It is rumored that the girl in Kennesaw has made a public statement to the effect that she knows the girl. Detectives are working on this feature of the case to-day.

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Atlanta Georgian, May 21 1913, “T. B. Felder Repudiates Report of Activity for Frank,” 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

Monday, May 12^th, 1913

The history of the baffling Phagan mystery, daily recorded, is briefly as follows:

Sunday April 26—Girl’s body found in basement of pencil factory. Newt Lee, negro night watchman, who made discovery, arrested. Arthur Mullinax, street car employee, also arrested. Both held on suspicion.

Monday—Leo M. Frank, factory superintendent, detained, but later released. J. M. Gantt, former bookkeeper of pencil concern and friend of dead girl, arrested in Marietta. Negro elevator boy also taken into custody. Pinkertons enter case.

Tuesday—Bloody shirt found at negro watchman’s home. Planted evidence theory advanced. Mary Phagan’s body buried. Sleuths announce they have evidence to convict. Frank confers with negro suspect.

Wednesday—Inquest begins. Newt Lee testifies. One hundred and fifty pencil factory employees summoned before coroner. George Epps, newsboy, tells of ride to uptown with Mary Phagan on her last trip.

Thursday—Frank and Lee ordered to Fulton tower on warrants issued by Coroner Donehoo. Trip made without incident.

Friday—Both prisoners tell reporter for The Constitution at 1 a. m. that they are not guilty and will prove their innocence.

Saturday—Evidence is unearthed that imposters, pretending to be Pinkerton detectives, are questioning leading witnesses. No arrests made.

Sunday, May 4—Detectives again announce their belief that they can convict murderer, whoever he is.

Monday—Paul P. Bowen, former Atlanta youth, arrested in Houston under suspicion of complicity in slaying. Is released at night.

Tuesday—Detectives obtain affidavit from woman who alleges she heard screams from basement of factory building at 4:30 p. m. on Memorial day.

Wednesday—Testimony is secured from Monteen Stover that she visited pencil plant at 12:05 noon on Memorial day and that offices were deserted.

Thursday—Inquest resumed. Character witnesses are examined. Frank and Lee ordered by jury to be held under suspicion of murder for grand jury investigation.

Friday—Mrs. Nancy Caldwell, of 10 Gray street, is examined by detectives under belief that she was the “mysterious girl in red” who was supposed to have visited factory with Mary Phagan. She establishes alibi.

Saturday—Three more Pinkerton detectives put to work on investigation. No developments at police headquarters. Solicitor general examines 100 witnesses.

Sunday May 11—Solicitor Dorsey announces that grand jury will probably not take action until early next week.

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Atlanta Constitution, May 12th 1913, “The Phagan Case Day by Day,” 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

Monday, May 12^th, 1913

“You Are Employed to Hunt Down Murderer, It Matters Not Who He Is,” Luther Rosser Informs Detectives.

GRAND JURY TO PROBE MYSTERY NEXT WEEK

Solicitor Dorsey States That He Wants All the Evidence Ready to Submit to Jurors Before Opening Hearing.

Officials of the Pinkerton National Detective agency, who were brought into the Phagan case through Leo M. Frank, recently went to authorities of the National Pencil company. It is stated, and in the presence of Leo M. Frank’s counsel, Luther Z. Rosser, said:

“We want to make our position clear. The Pinkertons have been employed to apprehend the murderer of Mary Phagan. That is our intention, and if anybody can find her slayer we can. Shall we continue on the case?”

Mr. Rosser, who has been retained as Frank’s attorney since the superintendent was first arrested, spoke up:

“Find the murderer of Mary Phagan. Work in co-operation with the police—work with anyone, work any way which might lead you to success. Let your chips fall where they may. You are employed to hunt the murderer until he is found and convicted. It matters not who is guilty.”

Five Men on Case.

Five picked men, under command of Assistant Superintendent Harry Scott, are working exclusively on the mystery. Scott, through Detective John Black, of headquarters, is working in co-operation with the police.

For several years Attorney Rosser has represented the National Pencil company, mostly in civil cases. When Frank, the plant superintendent, was first detained by the police, Mr. Rosser, in capacity of the concern’s counsel, was chosen to represent him. It has erroneously been reported that the well-known lawyer was retained personally by the suspected man, and was engaged when Frank was first detained.

The prisoner was visited in his cell at the Tower Sunday by Mr. Rosser. They were together only a short while. To a Constitution reporter, Mr. Rosser stated that he had only inquired about Frank’s health, and had not discussed the case. Among the large number of visitors to Frank during Sunday were several classmates of Cornell, of which college he is a graduate.

The Girl in Red.

The rumor that the “mysterious girl in red,” who is said to have appeared in a Marietta grocery store and announced that she had accompanied Mary Phagan to the pencil factory, had again shown up and told of her alleged visit with the victim to the plant, injected renewed energy into the widespread search for her.

A squad of detectives and members of the solicitor’s staff are scouring the community in and around Smyrna, Marietta, Mapleton and the neighboring section.

Because of their inability to find further clues of the mysterious girl’s identity, the sleuths are beginning to doubt her existence, and believe she is a product of some fanciful brain.

Grand Jury Will Act.

The mystery of Mary Phagan’s murder Sunday morning was fourteen days old. No progress was made throughout the day by either the solicitor’s staff or the detective department. It remains in precisely the same status as was reported by the Sunday newspapers.

Solicitor Dorsey stated last night, however, that he was undecided as to whether or not he would submit the case to the grand jury when it met this week. It would probably be next week, he said, before such action would be taken. This report will surprise the hundreds of persons who placed credence in the rumor that the Phagan case would go before the jury Monday morning.

Wants Substantial Case.

The solicitor’s plan in delaying, he said to a reporter for The Constitution, is to place his case upon a firm foundation before submitting it to the jurors.

He was asked if he did not think that the case against the superintendent and negro watchman, in its present state, was sufficient to merit indictments.

“No, I do not mean that,” he answered. “I will not commit myself in that respect. What I do mean, however, is that I desire to consider the case more carefully, sifting out the unimportant and building up the important details so as to expedite the work of the jury.”

The efforts of the solicitor on Sunday were confined to examining a number of men concerned in the mystery. He would not state the nature of the examinations, or divulge the names. They were of but little importance, though, he admitted.

Public Kept Well Informed.

Mr. Drosey, in surveying the significant evidence now at hand, stated that the public, through the newspapers, had been kept well informed of progress made by the detectives and members of his staff.

“The newspapers,” he said, “have kept admirably abreast of our investigation. There is little, if anything, to disclose in the line of new developments.”

Harry Scott, in command of the staff of Pinkerton men at work on the case, voiced the same opinion as held by the solicitor general.

“The press has informed the public of all the headway made in the Phagan mystery.”

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Atlanta Constitution, May 12th 1913, “Find Guilty Man, Frank’s Lawyer Told Pinkertons,” 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 10^th, 1913

Names of Witnesses Withheld by Dorsey to Prevent “Manufacturers of Public Opinion” Getting in Touch with Them—Satisfied with Progress.

Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey declared Saturday afternoon that he was very well satisfied with the progress made in the investigation of the Phagan murder mystery and made the significant remark that he would not reveal the names of new witnesses so that manufacturers of public opinion could not get to them.

The Solicitor held a conference with Dr. H. F. Harris, of the State Board of Health, who examined the girl’s body. Dr. Harris said he would rush his report in time for presentation to the Grand Jury when that body takes up the mystery next week. The Solicitor would not reveal just what the physician has learned so far.

The examination of the bloodstained shirt in the back yard of Newt Lee’s home was also continued, and the Solicitor was far from convinced that its significance had been rightly determined.

Mr. Dorsey worked all day Saturday on the case and announced that he would continue all of Sunday so that he could present his evidence to the Grand Jury as early as possible next week.

Confers With City Sleuths

A conference was held with the city detectives, who are working in co-operation with the State, but none of the details could be learned. Strict secrecy is being maintained regarding new developments.

Evidence “exclusive and valuable” in the Mary Phagan case has been obtained. So much the Solicitor said to-day, and no more, declaring details of the evidence would be revealed at the proper time.

The evidence is the result of work by private detectives engaged by the Solicitor, among them one whom he termed “the best detective in America,” when speaking of him Friday.

He mentioned the important evidence when he discussed the statement by Monteen Stover, the 14-year-old employee of the National Pencil Company, that is in direct contradiction to the testimony by Leo M. Frank, the suspected factory superintendent.

Other Evidence More Important.

The Solicitor was interested in the girl’s statement, but declared that the other evidence in his hands was far more important and tangible.

In opposition to the testimony of Leo M. Frank in the Mary Phagan inquest was the statement of the Stover girl. The evidence that she will bear is to the effect that she was in Frank’s office at 12:05 o’clock and a little later on the Saturday afternoon preceding the discovery of the slain girl’s body, and that she found it deserted.

According to Frank’s testimony, he was in his office from 12 o’clock until 12:25, when Lemmie Quinn, his foreman, came in. During that time, he said, Mary Phagan came in, about 12:05 o’clock, to receive her pay.

Monteen Stover is certain that she reached Frank’s office at exactly 12:05 o’clock. She has been retained as an important witness.

Remembers the Time.

“The minute I got to the office floor when I went up to get my pay,” she said, “I looked at the clock. I wanted to know if it was time to draw my money. I would have looked at it, anyhow, I suppose, as it is always customary for me to punch it the first thing upon entering the place to go to work.

“It was five minutes after 12. I was sure Mr. Frank would be in his office, so I stepped in. He wasn’t in the outer office, and I went into the inner office. He wasn’t there, either. I thought he might have been somewhere around the building, so I waited.

“The whole place was awfully quiet. It was scary. When he didn’t show up in a few minutes, I went to the door and looked around the machinery. He wasn’t there. I stayed until the clock hand was pointing exactly to 12:10. Then I went down

Dorsey Veils New Clews in Phagan Affair

Continued from Page 1.

stairs. I could not see nor hear no one.”

The testimony of Monteen Stover was obtained by detectives when they quizzed her the Saturday following the killing of Mary Phagan. The girl and her mother, Mrs. Homer Edmondson, of 171 South Forsyth Street, came to the factory to get the pay which the girl did not get the week before.

Stopped by Detectives.

In the office were detectives, eager to seize every available bit of information. They stopped Mrs. Edmondson and the girl, and were rewarded by Monteen’s statement that she had been in Frank’s office on the afternoon of the fatal day.

Monteen Stover said she did not know Mary Phagan, and probably had never seen her. She commended Frank as being popular with his employees and kind.

Another development within the last 24 hours has been the elimination of another clew. The “woman in red,” a mysterious figure reported to have been seen with Mary Phagan at the pencil factory, has been located. She is Mrs. Nancy Caldwell, of 10 Gray Street, an acquaintance of the dead girl. Examination revealed the fact, however, that she had not been with Mary Phagan in a year. The rumor of her association with the Phagan girl on the afternoon of the killing started in the mistaken statement of a girl at Mapleton.

Developed also evidence from a young woman whose name will not be revealed that the girl probably came to her death in the basement of the factory, and not in the upstairs lathe room. The following affidavit, subscribed to by a young woman who passed the factory about 4:30 o’clock Saturday afternoon, April 26, is in the possession of Solicitor Dorsey, given him by Chief of Detectives Lanford.

The testimony is that as she passed the Forsyth Street entrance to the factory she was attracted by the shrill screams of a girl, coming, apparently, from the basement of the building. The cries were loud and piercing, and she stopped, hearing three sharp screams in rapid succession. Then the factory became quiet again.

Neither Chief Lanford nor Solicitor Dorsey would reveal the name of the young woman informant nor anything regarding her identity, except that she lives on Haynes Street.

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Atlanta Georgian, May 10th 1913, “Guard of Secrecy is Thrown About Phagan Search by Solicitor,” Leo Frank case newspaper article series (Original PDF)