Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-08-06
NEGRO TELLS HORRIBLE STORY,
Says Frank Killed Girl-He Helped
Conceal Body.

Atlanta, Aug. 4-James Conley to-
day testified that he helped Leo NJ.
Frank, charged with the murder Of
14-year-old Mary Phagan, dispose Of
| the girls body after she had been
killed by Frank.
After three minor witnesses had
| been examined Conley was led to the
witness stand by Chief of Police Bea-
| vers and Chief Of Detectives Lanford.
| The negro held the interest Of the
| spectators, more than 100 of whom
| were women, from the moment he en-
tered the court room.
In his testimony he declared that
on several occasions he stood on
| guard for Frank, when the latter was
| closeted in his Office with women.
| Frank, according to the negro's tes-
! timony, was accustomed to stamp on
| the floor when he desired Conley to
keep watch. The negro testified
Mary Phagan went to the office Of
Frank about noon on the day OF her
disappearance. Shortly thereafter,
he testified, Frank stamped on the
floor and the negro took his accus-
toned post
Only a short time had elapsed, ac-
cording TO the negro, when he heard
muffled scream. A few minutes la
ter he was summoned by Frank, ac-
| cording to the latter's testimony ap-
parently being greatly excited. Con-
ley testified that the factory superin-
| tendent's face was crimson, his body
| and legs were trembling and that he
clutched a cord with both hands.
81 wanted her and she resisted
Conley. "You know I'm not like
other man I hit hor tno bor6
Conley was asked what he thought
Frank meant by his statement that
he was mot like other nOnn.'' The
negro described to the cou. two al
legged incidents which led him to the
conclusion that Frank was a degen-
crate. These two incidents, accord
ing to the negro, were observed
when Conley unexpectedly encoupt-
! cred FRANK with woman
Conley then told Of going, at
Franks direction, to the machine
room ere he fouud the body ef
/ NJ MaiR p b az an "a SSis q y ~
tRhe first witness to-day was Police
Sergeant l.. s. Dobbs. He previously
had testified and was recalled TO tes-
tify to the finding of bloody hand
kerchief, later identified as Mary
Phagan's. by the body Of the girl.
The handkerchief was found shortly
after the murder was discovered
w. II. Geeslin, an undertaken, who
embalmed the body Of the Phagan
girl, testified that the handkerchief
gave evidence that she died from
strangulation.
M. l.. Sanford, a sweeper at the
factory where the murder is believed
to have been committed, testified in
rH fn inrn
ways and passages in the building.
The negro testified that the girls
body was lying on the metal room
floor, face up. He said he knew at
once that she was dead because she
did not move and she did not
| breathe. The witness stated that he
| put the body Of the girl in a gunny
| sack and tied the sack like wash-
erwoman ties Clothes"
Putting the bundle on his shoul-
der, the negro, according to his testi-
| mony, then started toward the ele-
| Vator. When about half way across
the room, the body slipped from his
shoulder and fell to the floor. He
called to Frank for assistance, and
together he testified they carried the
girls body to the elevator. Appar-
emily the current was cut off and the
elevator would not run. Frank, ac-
cording to Conley, went to his office,
secured the key to the switch box,
and returning, unlocked the box and
turned on the current Both de-
scended with the body to the base
ment, whe"o the body was left on
pile of rubbish near the furnace, the
negro said
Conley told of then going to
nh M h. nlo -.
factory uperintendent offered him
$500 and where, the negro claimed
he wrote the notes at Franks dicta-
tion, which were found near the body
OF the girl. Conley testified that
Frank continued to become more
nervous while in the office. Walking
back and forth and wringing his
hands, Conley stated that Frank ex-
claimed:
why should l hang-I have
wealthy relatives in BROOKLYN"
But what's going to happen to
me?' Conley said he asked Frank.
I'll take care of you all right"
Conley said Frank replied, and hand
ed him o roll of bills containing
$500.
According to the negros testi-
mony, Frank told him to go down
into the basement, gather up some
chips, put them in the furnace, and
put the girls body on top OF them.
The negro stated that he told the
factory superintendent he was afraid
to go into the basement alone, but
would go If Frank would accompany
him.
You see. was willing to do this,
too, gentlemen" Conley testified,
turning toward the Judge.
Frank, according to the witness,
refused to go to the basement, and
took back the $500 which he had