Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-12
CONLEY
AND FRANK,
LANFORD
URGES
Detective Chief Ready to Have
ACCuser Confront Prisoner
Before Grand Jury,

New sensations are expected in the
Phagan mystery Friday morning
when the petition of Solicitor Dorsey
for the revocation Of the order hold
ing James Conley as a material wit
ness is heard before Judge L. s. Roam.
Luther 2. Rosser, attorney for Leo
Frank. Will be afforded his first op-
por,unity formally TO present his red
sons for the holding of James Conley.
not only as material witness in the
battling murder mystery, but as an
actual suspect.
While it is not Anticipated that the
attorney win disclose his hand 100
freely, 1t is to be supposed that he
will present every argument he be-
lieves necessary to keen the negro in
the custody of the State.
Lanford Agrees to Test.
Chief of Detectives Lanford Thurs
day replied to the demand OF Luther
u. Rosser that Jim Conley be taken
before the Grand Jury by making the.
startling proposition that he would
take the negro to be questioned by
this body the instant that Rosser as
scented to having Frank before the
Grand Jury at the same time.
That this dramatic situation is not
beyond the pale Of possibilities with
in the next few days is indicated by
the attitude Of Franks friends, who
have been suggesting just such an
arrangement.
Chief Lanford Is Willing.
Il am perfectly willing that Conley
should be taken before the Grand
Jury" said Chief Lanford. Il think
it only fair, however, that Rosser per
init his client to go there at the same
time where he may be confronted by
the negro and where the negro may
tell his story right before Frank.
Just the instant that Rosser con-
sents to an arrangement of this sort,
! will be prepared to have Conley on
his way to the Grand Jury room.
There Will be no delay. It is irregu-
lar, of course but l am perfectly will
ter The fact that Frank already is
indicted makes it unnecessary for
Conley to be called before the Grand
Jury to give testimony against him"
Chief Lanford, referring to the eff
fort to remove Conley from the sta
ton house to the Jail, said that he
would hold the negro at police head
D quarters until there was a court or
der TO the contrary. He said that if
Solicitor Dorsey's petition was sue
Cessful and Conley was freed from the
present court order, that he would
still be held at the station as a ma
terial witness.
Attorney Rosser would make no
comment for publication on the prop
osition made by chief Lanford, ex-
cept to say that he stood on his open
letter published earlier In the week
In this letter he made an emphatic
demand that the Grand Jury investi-
gate Jim Conley, with a view of in
dieting him as the possible murderer
OF Mary Phagan.
Little Chance for Bargain.
Il has been the attitude Of the de-
Tense from the start that it has no
reason 80 trade with the detective
force, and for this reason it is regard
ed as doubtful if the appearance Of
ConIey and Frank before the Grand
Jury will come as the result of a bar
gain between Chief Lanford and At
torney Rosser.
Attorney Rosser. however. viii con-
tinue to insist that it is within the
province and the duty Of the Grand
Jury 70 probe Jim Conley's story and
TO indict him as the suspected muir
derer. if the evidence warrants. In
this investigation Leo Frank, as an
indicted suspect. is in the hands Of
the Grand Jury and can be called at
any time. This makes.it entirely pos
sibIe. if Chief Lanford consents to
Jet Conley 20 before the Grand Jury,
Continued on Page 2, Column 1.