Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

STAR PHAGAN AFFIDAVIT & Remarkable Story Is Told by Frank's Cook ALWAYS FIRST <0> <0> The SUNDAY AMERICAN Order It NOW o Both Phones Main 8000 The Atlanta Georgian Read for Profit---GEORGIAN WAlSiT ADS-—Use for Results VOL. XI. NO. 260. ATLANTA, GA., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1913. Copyright. 1906, ty riTT'XTT'C TAT NO By Ths Georgian Co. L/X'jJN io MOKE Police Commissioner Accused Be fore Grand Jury of Brawl in Disorderly House. As a climax of revelations made before the Grand Jury In Us probe of vice conditions In Atlanta, Police Commissioner William F. Fain was named as the central figure in a ca- rou a! said to have been held In a house on Ivy Street some months ago, according to evidence presented at the Wednesday afternoon session. Mr. Fain was also accused of bru tally treating one of the women in the party. When the police answered the woman's screams and raided the place, it was said that Fain was ar rested. but was Immediately released by order of a man high up in police circles This startling Information was given the Grand Jury by a real estate operator and friend of Fain's who was summoned by the tribunal to give testimony. Whisky For Resorts. Before the witness left the hear ing, it is declared that he laid bare one of the most sensational stories of vice ever brought to light in this city. That the Grand Jury, will prob ably probe to the bottom of It, and that its veracity will be given the acid test before any action is taken is assured. Another witness at the afternoon hearing Was J. E. Skags, agent for the Southern Express Company. Mr. Skags was asked to testify as to ship ments of Whisky end other liquo.3 into Atlanta to places of Ill-fame. Chief Beavers also was called be fore the Grand Jury durin- the aft ernoon session. The police official is declared to have told the jurors that to his knowledge Atlanta was better morally at this time than ever before. The chief will be called again later .n the investigation. Chief Beavers Cleared. Elimination of Chief of Police Beav ers from all charges of graft and cor ruption In the Police Department, made by Colonel Thomas B. Felder, marked the second day's probe by the Fulton County Grand Jury. Colonel Felder made this distinc tion to Chief Beavers personally, and in so doing renewed his accusations against Chief of Detectives Newport A. Lanford. At the same time it was said evi dence of corruption money being paid to the police had been given the Grand Jury. There was a dramatic situation in the ante-room to the Grand Jury room when Felder, Beavers and Lanford confronted each other. Many hot words were flung back and forth. “I want to say to you right here," declared Felder to the police chief, "that I have never made one single charge of graft against you. I do accuse the other chief at the police station of protecting vice, and I have a superabundance of evidence to prove it. I Will prove it.” Briberv To Be Probed. Another unexpected turn in the in- vestigatioii was revealed at the morn ing sesison when it became known that the Grand Jury will take up im mediately the bribery charges made against Colonel Felder by the Police Department and counter-accusations growing out of their dictograph epi sode. Colonel Felder appeared before the tribunal at its morning session and demanded that the dictograph con spiracy be probed to bed rock. The attorney based his demand upon his own desire for exoneration of the sen sational accusations. He declared to the jurymen that the charges were absolutely false and the result of an Tobacco Magnate's Donations to Trinity Pass Million Mark DURHAM, N. C., June 4—W. P. Few, president of Trinity College, at commencement exercises to-day an nounced new gifts to the college that will make the total endowment fund $1,108,000. This places Trinity on an equal footing with any college In the South. The endowment Is due in the main to the generosity of Benjamin N. Duke and James B. Duke, the tobac co kings, who have given to Trin ity a total of $1,149,800. The general education board of New York City gave $150,000. and the remainder was raised from small con tributions of many people In all parts of the State, mainly coming from Methodist churches. The late Washington Duke, who de veloped the cigarette industry, was the staunchest supporter the college ever had. Atlanta Woman in Umbrella Battle Continued on Pago 2, Column 5. MACON, GA., June 4.—Becauae Mrs. Leola Collins objected to Mrs Luella Miller, of Atlanta, one of her boarders, coming in at late hour* of the night, and also because she re fused Edward C. Barnhill the privi lege of seeing Mrs. Miller at mid night, such a lively time resulted in the Vineville Station neighborhood that the police were called. Barnhill smashed an umbrella over Mrs. Collins’ head. In the police court hearing, Mrs. Miller teatlfled that she looked on and laughed during the whole proceeding. Militants Dynamite, Then Burn, Mansion Special Cable to The Atlanta Georgian. TROWBRIDGE, ENGLAND, June 4. Damage estimated between $75,- 000 and $100,000 was done at West- wood, a suburb, to-day by militants who burned an unoccupied manor house. Ttie old mansion, which was one of the historic spots of the neighbor hood, evidently was shaken by a pow der or dynamite explosion. Residents of the neighborhood heard a loud de tonation. Ask U, S. Control of Cotton Shipments WASHINGTON. June 4.—Chairman Adamson, of the House Interstate Commerce Committee, will call his committee together this week, he said to-day, to frame a bill for uniform regulations governing the shipment of cotton in interstate commerce. Losses by the producers in sam pling, lack of uniformity In railroad regulations governing baling and lack of uniformity in tare charges are among the abuses which the proposed legislation is designed to correct. $40,000,000 Urged For Alaskan Roads WASHINGTON, June 4.—A combi nation of the Jones and Chamberlain bill providing for a bond issue of $40,000,000 for the construction by the Government of railroads in Alaska, will be urged at the present session of Congress, according to a state ment made to-day by Senator Pit man, chairman of the Senate Commit tee on Territories. The new measure was framed by a sub-committee composed of Sena tors Pitman, Chamberlain and Jones. Financial Morals of U. S. Scored in Paris Special Cable to The American. PARIS, June 4.—The bitterness against American securities is far from abating. The Journal des De bats, after reviewing the series of disappointments Paris investors have suffered, says: “American financial morals make operations in securities depending upon New York particularly danger ous. American bankers have the idea, accepted as perfectly legitimate there, that ability only counts in business.’’ PAINTER MYSTERY DEEP +•+ +•+ +•* +•+ +•+ +•+ +•+ +•+ +•+ Disappearance of Organs Unsolved 4* *4* +•+ +•+ +•+ +•+ Family Discredit Suicide Theory E O. PAINTER, Jacksonville fertilizer man, whose death in • the St. Johns River is being investigated by insurance companies because of the fact that he had taken out over $1,000,000 life insurance in four months preceding his death. Johns Hopkins Author ities Know Nothing of Loss of Parts of Body; Bonding Concern in Hunt. BALTIMORE, June 4.—The mys tery enshrouding the death of E. O. Painter, the Jacksonville man who wan drowned after having in four months taken out one million dollars in life insurance, was heightened Wednesday by the fact that nothing can be learned as to the disposal of the organs which had been hastily removed from Mr. Painter’s body. At the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where the heart, stomach and kidneys of the wealthy Floridan were to have been analyzed Saturday for evidences of poison, It is said that no word of their whereabouts has been received. On the other hand, Redmond O. Stewart, a local real estate man, who is said to have made the arrange ments for the examination at the nos- pital, refuses to discuss the matter in any way. HUD DF MERCER L T MACON. GA.. June 4.—Following the demand of the board of trustees for his resignation, the Rev. S. Y. Jameson, president of Mercer Uni versity, will resign. His contract calls for one more year. Three members of the prudential committee—E. Y. Mallary, Andrew W. Lane and A. L. Adams, or Macon— have tendered their resignations. They, too, were asked to resign. A special committee reported that there was an entire lack of harmony at Mercer, and that especially was there friction between President. Jameson and the prudential commit tee. The Rev: E. C. Dargan, chairman of the board and prominent in the fight to oust Dr. Jameson, last night introduced a resolution calling for the resignation of the conflicting parties, and it was passed 19 to 3. The commencement exercises of Mercer were held this morning, and diplomas presented to 70 young men. Collapse of Trestle Kills Bridgeworker W. B. Tate, a bridgeworker, was crushed in the collapse of a trestle at Liddell’s Crossing, near Atlanta, Wednesday morning. He died as he was being taken to Grady Hospital in an automobile. Tate’s home was in Greenville, Ga. The men had been working only a short time Wednesday when one of the sections of the trestle gave way. Tate was hurled to the ground and a mass of steel fell on him. Blood Stains Clew to Mysterious Shooting The police are Investigating blood stains in Ponce DeLeon Avenue, near Bonaventure, following a report that an unknown white man was shot during the night in that vicinity The trail of blood extended for three blocks. In one place a pool of blood tended to show’ that the wounded man had fallen to the pavement, or had lain down to regain strength. A negro woman is said to have made the report of the shooting. THE WEATHER. Forecast — Local thunder showers Wednesday and Thursday. FAMILY OF PAINTER SAY HE HAD NO REASON FOR SUICIDE By COLE E. MORGAN. JACKSONVILLE, FLA.. June 4.— Edward Okie Painter’s family and intimate friends positively state their belief that his death In the St. Johns River on May 22 was accidental and not premeditated or due to mental aberration, as is talked in Jackson ville. They declare his business was in excellent condition, his home life ideal and that he had no cause to seek self- destructipn. The insistence of insurance sales men to write policies, because he was considered an c -eellent risk, and be cause a spirited competition among insurance rivals had ensued this spring, are the explanations offered for h's taking out a million dollars of new insurance since February 1. More Insurance Reported. In addition to the $1,178,000 insur ance carried by Painter, it is known that he sought $125,000 additional that he did not secure. A $50,000 policy was issued by tl Equitable Life, but before it was d .vered fhe agent here was instruct? to hold it because Painter was 4 ; ver insured. This policy was taken to Painter the Saturday before his death, but he told the agent to hold It until Monday, when he would give a check for the pre mium and accept It. Before it could be delivered on Monday a telegram came from the home office that it must not be delivered. On April 12 a $50,000 application was made with the Travelers. On May 15 the company postponed the applicant for six months. On May 14, Painter applied to the Florida Life for $25,000 insurance, the application was rejected by the com pany’s medical director the very morn ing Painter was drowned, because he was over weight. His blood pressure showed 160 in the medical examina tion. On May 17 Painter asked the com pany to give him a receipt for pre mium notes that had accompanied his application. This was done. After his death the company offered to return the notes, requesting that the com pany’s receipt be given back. This w’as refused at Painter’s office. Miss Okie Painter, the dead man’s only daughter and hi* namesake, has for several years occupied a position in his office, and has been one of the directing spirits in the E O. Painter Fertilizer Company. She is authority for the statement, speaking for the family, that he had no reason to want to die. She is typically a business woman. She discusses the affair calmly and Continued on-^age 2, Column 8. Mysterious Slaying Of Two Years Ago Is Revealed by Woman A remarkable story of the alleged murder of a young man on the Chapel Road two years ago that never has been Investigated, and of which no details ever became known, was told to Chief of Detectives Newport Lan ford Wednesday morning by C. C. Daniels, once a railroad detective and now a contractor. So great an impression did Daniels*’ story make on Chief Lanford that he has prepared to start an investiga tion. Daniels said he got his Information when he heard several women, guests of Mrs. Daniels, talking. He heard one of the women remark that there had been a murder on the Chapel Road two years ago that was never heard of According to the story she told, a young man was murdered by a man and his son in a row* over a girl, and the body was buried in the woods Just off the road. Later the murderers, so the story goes, exhumed the body and tried to burn it, and, failing in that, removed it elsewhere. Daniels declares he did not learn the name of the man who is supposed to have been murdered, or the names of the murderers. Mrs. Lillian Flour noy, of Atlanta, he mid, knows some thing of the affair. She will be ques tioned by the officers. New Throat Disease Has Europe Puzzled Special Cable to The American. LONDON, June 4.—Physicians In many parts of England and France are puzzled by the spread of a mys terious throat complaint, the chief symptom of which is a filmy exuda tion from the tonsils or at the back of the throat. It has caused several deaths. The complications include erysipe las, high temperature and weakness of the heart action. Some physicians are inclined to believe that It is a non-typical form of scarlet fever or measles. “0. K.’d by T. R.” Is Liquor Ad Caption SPRINGFIELD, filASS., June 4.— “O. K.’d by T. R.” is the flaring an nouncement of a local liquor firm in to-day’s Springfield papers in offering to the public “milk punch, rare old Madeira wines and mint juleps.” The slogan is in type an inch high and extends across five columns. Under the heading “Milk Punch” the advertisement says: “T. R. Is probably like the rural dominie w*ho was given his first punch by his city host. " ’My dear sir,’ he said, ‘you ought to thank Qod every day of your life for having a cow r that will give such milk.’’ J. Ham Lewis Fined For Not Paying Tax CHICAGO, June 4.—The names of two of the State’s highest officials were written today upon the list of penalized taxpayers. Governor Edward F. Dunne and United States Senator James Hamil ton Lewis were assessed for pergonal property estimated by an assessor, and a 60 per cent penalty was added, the same as In the case of ordinary taxpayers who forgot to schedule their personal property. Governor Dunne’s assessment, in cluding the 50 per cent penalty, was fixed at $4,500. Senator Lewis must pay on $6,750. William Lorimer’s as sessment w’as fixed at. $6,000 and a $3,000 penalty was added. Money Magnates to Reveal Wage Scales CHICAGO, June 4.—The powers of finance in Chicago, including a num ber of bankers, to-day were sub- penaed to appear before the Illinois Senate White Slave Committee and tell about the wages of men employed in their institutions. The financiers will appear Friday. The committee is investigating statements that many men in Chica go don’t earn enough to support a family. HAD THREATENED SUICIDE Incoherent Statement by Employee of Frank Household That Must Not Be Taken as Legal Evidence Until Heard and Corroborated in Court. Another sensational but strangely incoherent affidavit in the Mary Phagan mystery was made public this afternoon when the police gave out what purports to be a startling statement sworn to by Minola McKnight, negro cook in the Frank household who was grilled for two hours at police headquarters Tuesday. The statement quotes the McKnight woman as declaring that she overheard Mrs. Leo Frank tell her mother that Frank had talked of murder and had threatened to get a gun and shoot him self. The Georgian informs its readers once again that police affi davits are not evidence until they have been accepted in court, and that judgment as to their reliability should be withheld until then. The McKnight woman’s statement is given for what it is worth as follows: STATE OF GEORGIA—County of Fulton: Personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for the above State and County, Minola McKnight, who lives in the rear of 351 Pulliam Street, Atlanta, Ga., who, being duly sworn, deposes and says: Saturday morning, April 26, 1913, Mr. Frank left home about 8 o'clock, and Albert, my husband, was there Saturday too; Al bert pot there I guess about a quarter after 1, and was there when Mr. Frank come for dinner, which was about half past one, but Mr. Frank did not eat any dinner and he left in about ten min utes after he got there. Mr. Frank come back to the house at 7 o’clock that night, and Albert was there when he got there. Albert had gone home that evening but he come back, but I don’t know wha*t time he got there, but he come sometime before Mr. Frank did, and Mr. Frank eat supper that night about 7 o’clock, and when I left about 8 o’clock I left Mr. Frank there. Sunday morning 1 got there about 8 o’clock, and there was an automobile standing in front of the house, but I didn’t pay any attention to it, but I saw a man in the automobile get a bucket of water and pour into it. Miss Lucile (Mr. Frank's wife) was downstairs, and Mr, and Mrs. Selig were upstairs. Albert was there Sunday morning, but I don’t remember what time he got there. When I called them down to breakfast about half-past 8 I found that Mr. Frank was gone. Mr. and Mrs. Selig eat break fast and Miss Lucile didn’t eat until Mr. Frank came back and they eat breakfast together. I didn’t hear them say anything at the breakfast table, but after dinner I understood them to say that a girl and Mr. Frank were caught at the office Saturday. I don’t know who said it, but Miss Lucile and Mr. and Mrs. Selig and Mr. Frank were sanding there talking after dimir. I didn’t know the girl was killed until Monday evening. I understood them to say it was a Jew girl, and I asked Miss Lucile and she said it was a Gentile. On Tuesday Mr. Frank says to me: “It is mighty bad Minola, I might have to go to jail about this girl and I don’t know any thing about it. I heard Mrs. Rauzin, Mrs. Frank’s sister, tell Miss Lucile that it was mighty had, and Miss Lucile said, “Yes, it is; I am going to get after her about it.” 1 don’t know what they were talking about. Sunday Miss Lucile said to Mr. Selig that Mr. Frank didn’t sleep so good Saturday night. She said he was drunk and wouldn’t let her sleep with him, and she said she slept on the floor on the rug by the bed because he was drinking. Miss Lucile said Sunday that Mr. Frank told her Saturday night that he was in trouble; that he didn’t know the reason why he would murder, and he told his wife to get his pistol and let him kill himself. I heard Miss Lucile say that to Mrs. Selig. It got away with Mrs. Selig mighty- bad, she didn’t know what to think. I haven't heard Miss Lucile say whether she believed it or not. I don’t know why Mrs. Frank didn’t come to see her husband, but it was a pretty good while be fore she come to see him, maybe two weeks. Sh would tell me, “Wasn’t it mighty bad that he was locked up!” and she said: “Minola, I don’t know what I am going to do.” When I left home to go to the Solicitor General’s office they told me to mind how I talked. They pay me $3.50 a week, but last week she paid me $4, and one week she paid me $6.50. Up to the time of the murder I was getting $3.50 a week, and the week right Continued on Page 2, Column 2• e V