Atlanta Georgian. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, May 30, 1913, Image 1

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i t 1 - r——r- 1 ' .Mi IP l III I , Ul CONFESSON yfh 5)0) Negro Conley Makes Startling Admission EXTRA The Atlanta Georgian South Georgia Read for Profit---GEORGIAN WANT ADS---Use for Results VOL. XI. NO. 256. ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1913. Copyright, 1906, q IJ\T r rC PAT N< By Tn* Ueorgian Co. — J. o MORE jrpo PAT NO E NFRIIII Pit ft l&KLGNMS II L W I I U M I Jand Gwktf •£&/.Afvc / STEVENS Son Is Freed of All Suspicion, Men Sought Were Feared by Slain Women. As a result of his straightforward story and the proof he has brought forward to sustain it, the police vir tually have eliminated Wade Stevens as a suspect in the murder of his mother, Mrs, Sarah C. Stevens, and his sister, Miss Nellie Stevens, and the burning of their home on the McDonough road. The activities of the police ana Sheriff McCurdy are now being di- Vected toward Walter Wilkes, and Ernest Maynard, former employees of Mrs. Stevens. A country-wide search has been instituted for them. Descriptions of the negro and the half-breed have been sent out to all parts of the South by telegraph, and the officers are confident that it is only a matter of hours before they are arrested. The theory that Wilkes and May nard committed the crime, formulated by statements made by neighbors of the Stevens family, and statements made by William Stevens, has been strengthened, the police say, by the statements of Wade Stevens. Caw Wilkes Near Home. Young Stevens, brought to Atlanta from Chattanooga by Detective John Black at 2 o’clock Friday morning, told the police that twice within the past week he has seen Wilkes, the last time being only a few hours be fore the murder. “I met Wilkes in town Tuesday night shortly before 8 o'clock,” said young Stevens. “He stopped me and asked me where I was going. I told him that I was to Chattanooga. He asked me if father had not already gone, and I told him yes. Then he remarked that he supposed mother and sister would be alone at the house during the night, and I told him I supposed so. Then he asked me if we needed a hired man, and said ’tie guessed he would go out and ask mother if he could get another job.” Young Stevens said he also saw Wilkes within a mile of his home last Sunday morning. “I was driving to town,” the boy declared. “And I met Wilkes just beyond the bridge over the South ern railroad. He asked me where I was going, and I told him to town. Then he wanted to know if mother wanted any work done, and I told him I didn’t know. He then asked me if father was at home, and when I told him he was, he asked if he could go back to town with me. He got in the buggy then and we came to town. He said he was going down on Decatur Street, and that was the last time I saw him until Tuesday night, just before I left lor Chatta nooga.” Both Insulted the Women. Young Stevens is positive that ‘Wilkes and Maynard committed the crime, and declares that both the men have several times insulted his mother and sister and tried to get them to give them money. "The negroes thought mama kept a large sum of money in the house,” said the Stevens boy, "an dthey were always asking her for a quarter or a dollar, and getting mad when she wouldn’t give it to them. Mamma and sister often talked of the ne groes, and said they were afraid of them. Three times that I can re member, while Wilkes was working for us, he tried to insult sister, and that is why we discharged him. • Twice sister saw him peeking in the Tfe SCARLET PLAGUE z/i £A.<s^~ FREE MAGAZINE given with next SIMM Avoids Ma’s Scolding, But Hearing Is Hurt WASHINGTON, IND., May 30.— Just because he did not wish to take a scolding: from his mother, Clinton Fitzgerald, 12-year-old son of Milton Fitzgerald, carried the rubber off the end of* a new lead pencil in his ea) for a year and a half and nearly lost his hearing. The boy got the rubber fast in his ear at school a year ago last winter and was never able to get it out. His parents noticed that he was losing his hearing, but did not until recently dis cover the cause. The lad was hurried to a doctoi and the piece of rubber was removed. Wales’ Club Supper Makes Queen Angry Special Cable to The Atlanta Georgian. LONDON, May 30.—The Prince of Wales; it became known to-day, suf fered a rebuke from his mother for attending a “Bullingdon blind,” or club supper at Oxford. An exaction of the King and Queen that he would not participate in any of the Bullingdon’s evenings of drink and song was the condition on which he was permitted to join that college organization. The Queen has telegraphed him to. remove his name from the Bulling don. Crippled American Liner Towed to Port Special Cable to The Atlanta Georgian, QUEENSTOWN, IRELAND, May 30.—The American liner Haverford, which crashed on Daunts Rock yes terday in a thick fog, was towed tu the entrance cf Queenstown Harbor to-day with 21 feet of water in her forward hold. The ship w’ill be towed to Liverpool. Arrangements were made for the passengers to sail for New York to day on the Baltic. Court Wasn’t Her Dear, So She’s Fined PHILADELPHIA, May 30.—Mrs. Katheryne S. King, of this city, was arraigned for attempting to jump on a moving coal wagon while she was at tired in a slit skirt of the latest model. When the Magistrate asked for an explanation, Mrs. King said: “Why, I did it on a dare, my dear.” “That will do; $5 or five days,” said the Court. “No woman but my wife can say ‘my dear’ to me.” Whitney to Build $110,000 Playhouse NEW YORK, May 30.—Ham Payne Whitney will build a $110,000 tennis court, swimming pool and club house, 68 by 129 feet, on his Roslyn, L. I., estate. The structure will be of the armory type, with no inside supports, its cen ter ridge 59 feet high. The roof will be of plate glass, the walls of con crete. The pool will be 15 by 30. BOOZE ii We Should Worry” Motto Worries Class Continued on Page 2, Column 8. MUSCATINE,. IA„ May 30.—Mem bers of the graduating class of the Muscatine High School, who remain firm in their refusal to accept any motto other than that of "We Should Worry," which was adopted by the class yesterday, were to-day threat ened with expulsion unless they abided by the faculty ruling to accept a more satisfactory motto. Ready for Start of Big Auto Race •*•••!• ^*•4* •»•••*• 27 in Indianapolis Speed Contest •!•••$• •ft*!* Weather and Track Are Ideal Two cars in the big race at. Indianapolis, low, Harry Endicott at wheel of the Nyberg. At top, William Chandler in the Mercer. Be- NOT BLOCKED YET Proposal Before Finance Com mittee Calls for New Contract to Cost Less Than Old. A proposal to purchase the out lawed crematory through a new legal contract will be made at a meeting of the finance committee Friday. It is generally agreed that it will take all the city’s available money to buy the plant, which means numerous special improvements will be sacrificed. Council is? agreed to carry out the spirit, if not the letter, of the old contract. This is firmly opposed by Mayor Woodward, who reiterates his charge that the plant is costing too much, and he will do his utmost to block the ‘new plan. The original contract provides that Council shall pay $276,000 for the plant. It is believed this figure will be reduced by the new contract, but not as much as Mayor Woodward will demand. W. G. Humphrey, chairman of the finance committee, agrees with the majority of officials that Atlanta’.** garbage problem must be solved this summer at any cost. He has joined with those trying to make a new legal contract. THE WEATHER. Forecast for Atlanta and Georgia—Generally fair Fri day and Saturday. Records Expected to Fall in Great 500-Mile Grind — Foreign Cars Feared. MOTOR SPEEDWAY, INDIANAP- OLIS, May 30.—Bright skies, a warm sun and prospects for an ideal racing day greeted the drivers who took their cars out upon the two and one-half mile brick paved course early to-day to try them out before the 500-mile race, scheduled to start at 10 o’clock. Each of the cars that qualified for the biggest event of the auto year was carefully inspected by the drivers during the early hours. Indianapolis to-day was speed rrazy. The entire city was talking auto races. Being a national holi day, the day was given over to the big speed contest. All business was suspended. Six Hours of Speeding. When the 27 starters were being made ready for the long grind which, for the fleetest cars that finish, will mean six hours of nerve-straining work, the race course was being washed clean and white. It was expected that speed records set In the 500-mile races of last year and the past will fall to-day. An average speed of 80 miles an hour was predicted by the men who will drive in the race. The foreign cars entered from Eng land, France, Germany and Italy were the unknown quantities in the race. Piloted by Tetzlaff, Trucco and Grant, the Isotta cars which quali fied by making a rate of 75 miles an hour yesterday, were feared by the American entrants. The English Sun- Cars and Drivers In Big Auto Race The cars which qualified with their drivers and their best time in qualifying tests follow: Miles Per Car and Driver. Hour. Mason (Evans) 82.0 Schacht (Jenkins) 76.0 Stutz (Herr) 86.0 Stutz (Anderson) 82.5 Stutz (Merz) 84.5 Mercedes-Knight (Pillette) 75.5 Peugeot (Zucarrelll) 86.0 Nyberg (H. Endicott) 76.8 Mercer (Rragg) 87.5 Mercer (Wlshart) 82.0 Fox Special (H. Wilcox) 81.6 Case (W. Endicott) . 85.5 Tulsa (G. Clark) 76.0 Mason (W. Haupt) 81.0 Mason (J. Tower) 88.5 Case (J. Nlkrent) 78.0 Mercedes (Mulford) 81.0 Keeton (It. Burman) 84.0 Sunbeam (Guyot) 81.0 Isotta (Trucco) 82.0 Case (Dfsbrow) 82.5 Peugeot (Goux) 86.0 Anel (W. Liesaw) 77.0 cmra IS CRITICALLY ILL Attack by Nihilist Given as Cause for Grand Duke’s Alarming Condition, Special Cable to The Atlanta Georgian. ST. PETERSBURG, May 30.— Alarming reports about the condition of the health of Grand Duke Alexis, the young Czarevitch, reported criti cally ill last October, again were cir culated here to-day. Physicians attending the youth have ordered him to Euphatorla, Crimea, to take a course of treatment at the fa mous Crimean mud baths. Because of his illnees. the proposed visit of King George and Queen Mary of Eng land has been abandoned. Czar Nicholas, the Czarina and their only son probably will leave within a few days for Crimea upon the Imperial bomb-proof train. Conflicting reports have been cur rent as to the cause of the Czare vitch’s illness. Some stated he had fallen and in jured his spleen. One rumor said he had been attacked by a Nihilist on board the imperial yacht Standart. beam car, the mount of the French driver, Guyot, was a favorite. French Cars Heavily Backd. The French car Peugeots, entered by Zaccarelli and Goux, was bet on by followers of the racing game who are In Indianapolis. Mulford’s Mer cedes and Pilette’s Mercedes-Knight. made In Germany, were conceded to have excellent chances of being among th first few cars to cross the finish line. Of the American drivers, Bob Bur- man in his Keeton, was said to have the surprise of the race stow'ed in his sleeve. Burman once was crowned with a “speedway helmet,” denoting that he was “king of the Indianapolis motor speedway.” He knows every Inch of the course, and his light car Continued on Page 2, Column 4. Friedmann’s ‘Cure’ Barred in New York NEW YORK, May 30.—Dr. Fred erick F. Friedmann, the German dis coverer of turtle vaccine for tubercu losis, has been barred from inoculat ing person.** in this city, by a resolu tion of the Board of Health. In addition, the board amended the sanitary code to make turtle vaccine come w ithin its prohibitory scope. The board holds that use of the vaccine is dangerous. WORLD’S OLDEST SALE8MAN. SAN FRANCISCO, May 30.—Mort than 80 year*-* of age, 63 of which have been spent in the employ of one firm, N. W. Flaisig, a needle salesman, has just signed a contract to continue with the house 25 years longer. & SKIS BE HELPED 10 Detectives Place Credence in Factory Sweeper’s Newest Startling Admis sion-Prisoner To Be Grilled Again in Effort to Uncover More Details. Chief of Detectives Lanford admitted Friday morning that Jim Conley, under the rack of the third degree, had made the astounding confession that he had assisted Leo M. Frank in dis posing of the body of the murdered Mary Phagan. His new statement is believed to contain even more startling admissions than have not yet been made public. If the negro sweeper is to be believed after his long series of deceits and lies, this forms the most damaging evidence that has been brought against Frank since suspicion was first pointed in his direction a month ago. CHIEF BEAVERS MADE POLICE (i H Eleven of the twelve members of the police board voted last night to give Chief James L. Beavers plenary power in selecting patrolmen and pro moting officers in the line. The chief thereby virtually is made dictator in his department. This action was embodied in a reso lution expressing Implicit confidence in the chief, also in N. A. Lanford, chief of detectives. It broke a dead lock in which the board stood six to six on the election of a sergeant nom inated by Chief Beavers. Express Desire for Peace. When the board assembled the struggle between the Mason and Woodward factions, instead of becom ing accentuated, was abandoned by leaders of both contingents, who ex pressed a desire for harmony. J. B. Newell, a detective who had been nominated by Chief Beavers to suc ceed the late Sergeant K. 8. Foster, was thereupon elected almost unan imously. Commissioner Clarke was not pres ent,. Mayor Woodward and Commis sioner Johnson voted for other can didates, explaining that they did so only because of pledges. Introduced by C. A. Garner. The resolution making Beavers chief of the police department in fact as well as In name, and expressing confidence in him and the chief of detectives, was introduced by Com missioner C. R. Garner. It was adopt ed unanimously. Following is the resolution: Whereas it is essential that there should be harmony In the police force and its officers; and Whereas at this critical time there should be no mistake in the public mind concerning the atti tude >f this board toward Chief James L. Beavers and Chief of Detectives N. A. Lanford, and their work as chiefs of the forces under them; be it Resolved, That this board has implicit confidence in the chiefs, their work, and the entire force, and be it further Resolved, That it Is the sense of this board that the chief of police should nominate the officers and men to serve under and with him in his work. Ip All hinges on the negro’s credibility. Conley, if his truth fulness can be established in this instance, after he has lied persistently for weeks, seems to be the only person in the world who may be able to connect Frank directly with the crime. To Ask Indictment. it became so assured by Friday morning that Chief Beavers was con cealing circumstances of which the public was already aware that he ad mitted that the negro had made state ments of this nature, although he had no* confessed to the crime itself. He added that he would apply for a writ of ne exeat so that Conley might be transferred to the county jail to be held as a witness. Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey announced that if Conley persisted in this story he would take steps to have him indicted as an accessary after the fact and bring him to trial on this charge. It was announced at police head quarters that the negro would be given the most sevdre examination he has yet had, and would be confronted with the charge that he was guilty of murder. Conley's startling tale came late Thursday afternoon after he had been under a merciless sweating for near ly three,hours. Noting the signs of weakening, Detective Harry Scott and Chief Lanford shot question after question at him in rapid succession. Conley hesitated and then told told the men who surrounded him that he had seen Mary Phagan on the day of the crime, but that she was dead when he saw her. When it became evident that the most im portant disclosures of the long in vestigation were to be made, G. C. February, secretary to Chief Lanford, was called in and took the negro’s statement. Aided Frank, He Says. Conley said that Frank led him to where the girl’s body lay and di rected him to help in carrying the body to the basement. The negro said that he did as he was commanded without asking any questions and that he was badly frightened by the grewsome task. He said that Frank made no explanation of his strange actions. It is understood that Conley de clared the body was hidden under neath the steps on the second floor before it was dragged to the base ment. The body is supposed to have been lying there when the tw'o wo men came into Frank’s office shortly after 1 o’clock, at the time Conley says he das shut up in a closet opening off the office. According to Conley’s story, Frank released him from the closet aa. soon