Newspaper Page Text
M> M-.WS/n h.SDAV. A PHIL 'JD. 19TJ.
FACTORY HEAD TAKEN INTO
11$ TODY; LAWYER, BARRED,
EATER ADMITTED TO CLIENT
Continued From Pago On#
flite Rtateiiifiit this afternoon as to liis plans for ohtaiuiiiK Hu* free I
iorn of his client. He said that lie would institute proceedings if j
ae considered Frank was being held an unnecessarily long time.
At the same time that the Frank proceedings were under way j
(Sober & Jackson, attorneys for J. M. (Santt, also in custody in eon
nection with the crime, made formal application for a writ of.
tabeas corpus before Judge Hell and a hearing was set for 4 o'clock
his afternoon.
Frank previously had been questioned by the police. He was
brought to the station Monday morning in company with his at
tornevs and there made a lengthy and detailed statement to the
detectives.
The authorities had announced they believed Frank hail :io
Knowledge of the crime. Their sudden action to-day appears to
be freighted with great significance in view of the fact that they
have already quizzed him as to all he knew in connection with
the affair.
At the factory of the pencil company reporters were suddenly
txcluded.
"We’ve lieen harassed enough by the reporters of the news
papers, ’ was the explanation volunteered by Kd .Montag, in
charge. "This plant has had all Ihe notoriety it wants.”
In the working ranks of the National Pencil Company is be
iicved to be the last hope of solving the great strangling mystery.
If these workers are barred to the press and to the public and ad
mission is denied to the factory, those in authority have effectually
dosed one of the most important avenues for the solution of the
,'ritne.
Frank Last in Building
Frank, to a Georgian reporter, just before his arrest, said:
"No one is more anxious to learn of the whereabouts of
Mary Phagan Saturday afternoon and night than 1 am. The com
pany is exerting every effort to get information and has em
ployed a Pinkerton detective to work on the ease. Officials of the,
company also thought it best to retain counsel 1o assist in the in-
vrstigation, while every one of the foremen and head men about
the factory is endeavoring to find out if any of the employees
know anything.
I deeply regret the carelessness shown by the police depart
incut in not making a complete investigation as to finger prints
ind other evidence before a great throng of people were allowed
to enter the place.
"The affair is exceedingly embarrassing to me. To know
that the authorities even felt that they should detain me for a
while ami question me leaves a had taste, and I am dofng every
thing possible to locate ihe guilty mail.”
Arthur White and Harry Denham, the last two workmen in
the factory plant the day of the tragedy, declared to The Geor
gian that when they left the building shortly after J o'clock in
he afternoon Superintendent Frank was the only man remaining.
White’s statement follows:
“Denham and 1 went to the factory to work on Saturday, al
though it was a holdav. We left shortly after 3 o’clock in the
afternoon.
“We punched our time at exactly 3:10 o'clock.
“On our way out 1 stopped in Mr. Frank's office and bor
rowed two dollars of him. Denham went in with me. Neither of
ns saw anyone else in the building. When we left Frank was the
only person remaining.
Saw Gantt in Pool Room
“Denham and I stayed together most of the afternoon, and
in the evening we went to the Globe pool rooms on Broad Street,
near Marietta. We had been in there a little while when I saw
John Gantt come in. He did not play, but. sat down and watched
the game. '
“In a little while we went out, but returned in a few min
utes and stayed tinttl after It) o’clock. Finally lie said thal lie
guessed he would go home, and that was the last I saw of him."
Denham’s statement is substantially the same. He said
that he saw no one else in the factory aside from his fellow’ work
man, White, and Superintendent Frank.
Mrs. Leo Frank, wife of the superintendent of the pencil
factory, declared lo-dav before the arrest that, her huabnad was
anxious to do everything in bis power to clear up the Mary Phagan
mystery and regarded the feeling against him as totally unwar
ranted.
"I do not care to go into any of the details of the crime.”
said Mrs. Frank. "My husband is a* the office and is perfectly
competent to give out all information. Any knowledge I have of
thr affair I got from him.
"All that I know is that lie is doing everything to solve the
mystery, lb lias engaged detectives and is personally investigat
ing many of the clews.”
An investigation was couduited at the plant of the pencil
factory this afternoon in ait effort to find some employee who pos
itively had seen the Phagan girl after she drew her pay Saturday
noon at the office of Superintendent Frank. The canvass of cm
plovers was made under the direction of Frank hmself.
Mrs Leo M. Frank, wife of the factory superintendent; his
father and brother called at the police station this afternoon to aid
Ihe closely guarded Frank.
They were not given admittance at once, as Frank was under
going an examination in the office of the detectives. They were
taken to the office of Probation Officer ( oogler, where they waited.
Restraining her tears with difficulty. Mrs. Frank declared her
belief in the entire innocence of her husband. She preferred not
to talk at length of the ease and said thal it had not been discussed
in their home.
She broke down several times while talking and burst into
tears. bu1 recovered herself and continu'd the conversation.
husband is absolutely innocent #iul able to take care of
YOUTH HELD IN PHAGAN CASE
John M. Gantt, held in connection with flic investigation of the strangling of little Mary Phagan
in the National Pencil Factory . Here Gantf is shown reading the warrant for bis arrest on a
charge of murder. Ib- stoutly denies any connection with the crime. An alibi story, told by his
sister, may clear him of suspicion.
STEPFATHER OF DEAD GIRL OUTSPOKEN
AGAINST NEGRO WATCHMAN, NEWT LEE
That Mary Phagan never left the
factory after she entered it at 12: IB
o'clock Saturday, the day of her mur
der, and that she was killed and her
body dragged Into the basement by
the negro night watchman, Newt
Lee, novv in jail, is the firm belief
i of th^ child's stepfather, W. J. Cole
man, anl other members of her fam
ily.
As for Arthur Mulliijax, former
street car conductor, held on suspi
cion, Mr. Coleman told a Georgian
reporter he thought him innocent of
the crime. He was also very doubt
ful if J. M. Gant, ex-bookkeeper for
tiie pencil factory, where the girl
worked, had anything to do with her
murder or knew, anything about it.
“If the negro watchman did not kill
the child, how would it have been
impossible for him to hear her
screams going on in the building?’
he asked. “A livery stable man next
door heard them, and it would have
been much easier for the watchman
to. If the black did not do it him
self, tjien he must have known
something about it, and who the per
son was who did it.”
Outlines Theory of Murder.
Then, in broken tones, for he had
just returned from making all ar
rangements for taking Ihe girl’s body
to Marietta, Ga., to be buried, he out
lined his idea of how she met her
death.
“When Mary turned from the win
dow after receiving her money,” he
said. "I think that, instead of going
directly out, she went to the dress
ing room, perhaps for a drink of wa
ter, as one of the notes found said.
Superintendent Frank, missing her
when he* came out and supposing she
had left the building, locked her in.
The negro watchman must have seen
her go into the dressing room, and
a little later .seized her afrl gagged
her.”
Later developments in the story go
to show that the spot where the
child’s hair was found caught on a
-steel lathe was not the scene of her
struggle with her assailant. In the
dressing room, it was said by a mem
ber of her family, there were plain
evidences that the attack was made.
She was also gagged in the room, for
a strip of her new* lavender dress
was cut off from the front and bound
aroupd her mouth to keep her from
screaming.
Ribbon Found Near Boiler.
Another bit of evidence, it was
said, that went to throw added sus
picion on the black was a bow of
the child’s blue ribbon and a hand
kerchief found down near the boiler,
whdre he constantly stayed.
“The negro evidently kept the child
in the factory all day,” Mr. Coleman
said, “and was afraid to attack her
until midnight for fear she would
scream or somebody would come. He
may or may not have knocked iier
senseless from the first, or he may
have tied her. I do not know, but
when Gant entered the shop it is
more tiian likely that he knew noth
ing of the girl’s presence there and
simply went up and got his shoes, as
he said, and went out again.
“All this about Mary having been
seen on the street at midnight, or at
any other time after 12 o’clock in
the day I do not think can be true.
I believe she remained all day in the
building. After the negro did the
work, he was afraid to leave or not
to notify the police, which would
make appearance* worse for him
Therefore he called the officers.”
Now Clears Mullinax.
Air. Coleman said he had at first
given credence to a report that Mary
had come home at fi o'clock Saturday
afternoon, and that Mullinax, meeting
her as she got off of the car, had
taken her back to town with him.
This report, Mr. Coleman said, turned
out to be untrue. The conductor had
made a mistake, and the girl Mulli
nax was with was Miss Pearl Rob
inson, of Bell wood, as he swore in
jail.
This was corroborated by the con
ductor himself, J. C. Horne, 11 Corai
Place, .on whose can the reporter rode
out to the Coleman home on Lind
say Street. The conductor said that
Mullinax' and ATlss Robinson had
taken his car out and, knowing Mui-
linax. he had talked with him and
the girl, who at that time he thought
was Alary Phagan. When Mullinax
and Miss Robinson reached their cor
ner Mullinax remarked that it was
a bit chilly and he was going home
to build a tire. It was later that
they returned to the theater, the
conductor said, but on whose car he
did not know.
SCENE AT PHAGAN FUNERAL
In front are Benjamin Phagan, brother of Mary Phagan, who came from New York, where he
is stationed on a United States battleship; and Miss Ollie Phagan, sister of the dead girl. In the
rear are-friends of Mar#.. The photograph was snapped at Bloomfield's morgue as the body was
leaving for Marietta to-day.
himself in the matter,” she said. “I would rather that any state
ments should come from him. We discussed the matter hardly at
all in our home.”
Mrs. Frank is a striking appearing woman of about 30 years.
With her were her father, E. Selig. 08 East Georgia Avenue, of the
West Disinfectant Company, and a brother-in-law, A. E. Marcus,
of the Marcus Clothing Company.
Frank's Rise in Company Rapid
Frank is 27 years old and has been married three years. His
wife was Miss Lucile Selig. Frank and his wife live with her fa
ther at 68 East Georgia Avenue.
Frank was induced to come to Allanta about five years ago by
his uncle, E. M. Frank, of this city, lie formerly lived in New
York, and was in the employ of the Sturdevant Fan Company.
He is an expert mechanic and his rise has been rapid with the Na
tional Pencil Company. Coming here in a minor capacity, he was
not long in being promoted to a position of authority. A short
time later he was made superintendent.
HERS TO FIGHT WEDDING HELD UP
PAVING CONTRACT 2 HOURS B¥ JINX
Atlanta Will Lose $25,000 This
Year on High-Priced Asphalt.
Commissioner Says.
County Commissioner Tull C. Wat
ers to-day announced he would open
a fight on the county’s asphalt con
tracts at the next meeting of the
Commission. He said he could not
understand why Commissioners Shel
by Smith. W T. Winn and S B
Turman insisted on higher price ma
terial when scientific tests proved it
was not better than low priced ma
terial.
“Chief of Construction Clayton is
right in this controversy.*’ said Com
missioner Waters. “Chemical analysis
is the proper way to determine the
worth of asphalt. Why should the
county pay $44 a ton for asphalt when
the analyses show we can buy mate
rial just as good for $21.75? Tins
would make a difference of more than
$25,000 this year.”
Commissioner Waters said the
Commission did not advertise for
bids. The plan to buy the high
priced lake asphalt, he said, came to
the Board as a written report .signed
by three members Commissioners
Smith. Winn and Turman.
This was a majority. Although
Commissioners Waters and Clifford
Anderson protested they wejre over
ridden.
Augustans Go to Justice When
Only Minister Available Re
fuses to Marry Divorcee.
Mr. ami Mrs. A. L. Campbell to-day
are speeding West on a marriage tour
which began last night after hours of
delay, because every Atlanta minister
was attending the Sociological Con
gress. <
From 5 until 6:SO o’clock their
search wae thorough and diligent—
from- oia- church and parsonage to
another, while a crowd of friends fol-
lowed. Finally Rev. C. T. A. Pise was
located at his home, 19 Brown Place.
"Now,” laughed Miss Hadley, the
bride, “we’ll soon be happily mar
ried."
“No such luck." said the Jinx, who
had been in the wedding party for
more than an hour.
It so happened the fair Miss Hadley
was formerly Mrs. Cleveland Barnes,
a young divorcee from Augusta. The
minister declined to tie the knot with
out first securing the permission of
the Bishop.
Fifteen minutes later Justice of the
Peace Charles Girardeau pronounced
Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Campbell man and
wife. They will live v. Atlanta. - Au
gusta has been their heme.
Brown Offers $200 for Capture 1
of Slayer—C. C. Jones
Also Gives $100.
Governor Joseph M. Brown to-day
offered a reward of $200 for the ap
prehension and conviction of the mur
derer of little Ijdary Phagan and May
or James G. Woodward issued a call
for a special meeting of Council for
tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock, urg
ing a $1,000 reward.
Governor Brown's decision was
leached on receipt of the following
letter from Solicitor Hugh M. Dor
sey:
“From the best information obtain
able, it is my belief that the circum
stances surrounding the death of lit
tle Miss Mary Phagan indicate a most
brutal murder, probably attended with
another horrible and detestable crime.
“The officers of the local police and
detective departments seem to be
using their best efforts toward the
solution of the mystery, but I believe
it advisable to ask that you offer a
reward for the apprehension, with evi
dence to convict, of the guilty par
ty.”
The Mayor's message follows:
“To the General Council, City of At
lanta :
“Gentlemen—The General Council of
the city of Atlanta is hereby called to
convene in special session to-morrjw
morning at 10 o'clock, April 30, 1913
to take cognizance, in an official way,
of that most brutal crime that was
committed in this city on last Sat
urday night.
“I think it is proper that the city
government should take some befi
ting action as regards this most de
plorable matter, which, as it is, is
liable to cast . unenviable criticism
upon the name of our fain city, and I
would suggest that your honorable
body offer a suitable reward of not
less than $1,000 for the capture of the
brute or brutes that committed such
an outrageous crime. I feel satisfied
that every taxpayer'of this city w ill
heartily co-operate in indorsing the
action of the Mayor and General
Council in offering this reward. # Re
spectfully submitted.
’ J. G. WOODWARD, Mayor.”
CUSH OF SEXES
Militants' Violence Arouses Bitter
Feeling — Mrs. Pankhurst
Still Outside Bars.
Special Cable to The Atlanta Georgian.
LONDON. April 29.—England is
becoming thoroughly aroused against
the violence of the militant suffra
gettes, and the early prophecy of Mrs.
Emmeiine Pankhurst that there would
be a war of the sexes seems nearer
of fulfillment than ever before.
Anti-suffragists at a meeting to
day made angry speeches, condemn
ing the suffragettes for burning the
grandstand on the Neville athleVc
field. A number of suffragettes pres
ent, tried to speak. They were seized
by the antis anu severely assaulted.
Because of her physical condition,
Mrs. Pankhrust. who was temporarily
released from Holloway jail April 12
because of illness brought on by a
hunger strike, was granted an exten
sion of leave to-day by the home of
fice.
Nearly everybody in Atlanta reads
The Sunday American. YOUR ad
vertisement in the next issue willieell
gcods. Try it!
i CHECK YET ON
TARIFF BILL TALK
Underwood Permits Free Discus
sion—Republicans to Offer
Flood of Amendments.
WASHINGTON, April 29.—With
Democratic Leader Underwood deter
mined to pass his tariff bill at the
earliest possible moment, the House
to-day plunged into actual considera
tion of the measure under the five-
minute rule.
Underwood still was determined to
allow full and free discussion and
ample opportunity to offer amend
ments. He is not disposed to resort
to gag rule. It was known, though,
that the Democratic leader will re
sort to a gag as soon as he becomes
convinced that an attempt is being
made to delay the bill.
The best opinion was that if no re
sort to a rule is had it will take at
least two weeks to complete the read
ing of the bill. On th e other hand.
Underwood can force immediate ac
tion by making a rule. Some idea
of the number of amendments that
will be offered can be obtained by the
statement of a prominent Republican
who declared he had fifty amendments
to offer to the chemical schedule
alone.
LEGISLATORS PLAY BALL.
COLUMBUS, OHIO. April 29.—
Democrat and Republican baseball
“bugs” in the lower house of the Ohio
Legislature crossed bats at the Amer
ican Association Park here to-day.
FLOWERS and FLORAL DESIGNS?
ATLANTA FLORAL CO.i
Both Phones Number 4. 41 Peachtree
ATLANTA
THEATER
Matinees
Wed. and Sat.
Nights 15c io 50c
ALL THIS WEEK
Except Wed. & Thurs. Nights
Miss BILLY LONG
And Company In
A Butterfly
on the Wheel
First Time In Atlanta
LYRIC
This
Week
fn?ats. Tues.,
Thurs., Sat.
BILLY THE KID
A DRAMA OF THE WEST.
With the Young American Star,
BERKELY HASWELL.
Home Again With Vaudeville
CASDCVYM Wat. To-day 2:30
ryndY in To-nlzht at 8:30
Sophye Barnard--Lou
Angler & Co.—Chris
Richards — Gaby —
Heim Children—Barr
& Hope—Muriel &
Francis and Others....
NEXT WEEN
Gus Edwards
Kid Kabaret