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
wnen 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. 5. Roam.
Luther y, Rosser. attorney for Leo
Frank VIII be afforded his first op-
portunity formally to present his rea-
sons for the holding OF James Conley.
not only as material witness in the
battling murder mystery, but as an
actual suspect.
While 1t is not anticipated that the
attorney will disclose his hand too
freely, Il Is to be supposed that he
viii present every argument he be-
lieves necessary to keep the negro in
the custody Of the State
Lsnford Agrees to Test.
Chief Of Detectives Lanford Thurs
day replied to the demand Of Luther
q. 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
sented 70 having Frank before the
Grand Jury at the same time.
That this dramatic situation is pot
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.
81 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 10 have Conley on
his way to the Grand Jury room
There will be no delay. 1t is irregu-
lar, Of course, but am perfectly will
Inc 10 40 nh Of "a
ter. The fact that Frank already is
indicted makes II unnecessary for
Conley to be called before the Grand
Jury to give testimony against him"
Chief Lanford. referring to the ef-
fort to remove Conley from the sta
tion house to the jail, said that he
would hold the negro at police head
quarters until there was a court or
der 10 the contrary. He said that II
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 Nfar-ys phatrap
Little Chance for Bargain.
It has been the attitude Of the de
Tense from the start that it has no
reason 20 trade with the detective
force and for this reason it is regard
ed as doubtful If the appearance Of
Couley and Frank before the Grand
Jury viii come a- the result Of A bar
gain between chief Lanrord and At
torney Rosser.
Attorney Rosser, however. Will con-
tinue 20 insist that It Is within the
province and the duty Of the Grand
Jury to probe Jim Conley's story and
TO indict him as the suspected muir
Gerer. n the evidence warrants n
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. IL chief Lanford consents 10
let Conlsy go before the Grand Jury.