Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-11
EYEWITNESS To
PHAGAN KILLING
NOW SOUGHT
Story That Companion of Con-
ley Saw Him Strike Down
Girl Opens New CIews.
! sssd woJ5 Psnu!@uoo

combed with a fine-tooth comb
and a like combing has been ap-
piled to Brooklyn. the city OF his
birth. 10 find something against
his moral character. With what
result? The silence Of the detec-
tive department gives the answer.
"Drivel and Nonsense"
Lanford's conduct in connec-
ton with the woman Formby and
the negro Conley shows that he
was stung by Folders charge that
he was favoring Frank, or that
for come other reason he was
temporarily out Of his head.
He swallowed whole the state
nents Of this Formby woman,
Gearing upon their face the clear
proof that they we're by no means
to be believed.
This woman was not unknown
10 Lanford She did not entrap
him by appearing under the guise
OF a truthful. sober. virtuous
woman. But so absorbed was he,
either in trying to disprove Fell
der's charge or in the foolish pride
Of opinion, that he accepted with
out doubt or fair investigation
the drivel and nonsense of this
woman.
So far beside himself did he
become that he had the folly TO
furnish 10 the papers. based upon
this woman's statement, the the
ory that Frank, during the night
Of the murder, wishing to rid
himself Of the body, was seeking
30 do so in a room rented from
this woman
The folly and difficulties OF the
theory did not disturb Lanford.
They would have disturbed any
body but Lanford. His insane
desire 20 justify himself cleared
the matter Of an difficulties and
follies.
conley's Actions.
II the case OF the Fomby
woman did not clear. Lanford OF
Folders charge. that OF the Con-
lev negro ought 10 have done so.
Conley is a very ordinary, ig-
norant, brutal negro, not unac-
quainted with the stockade. His
actions Immediately after the
crime were suspicious. So much
so that they attracted the atten-
ton OF the employees OF the fac
tory and occasioned general
comment. In spite OF these facts.
Conley was not taken into custo-
dy until several days after the
crime. and not then until the en-
ployees OF the factory caught him
suspiciously washing a shirt and
as q result reported him to the
police. He was not brought be-
fore the Coroner's Jury, and prac-
tically no notice was taken OF him
ir that investigation. So swiftly
were Lanford and his associates
pursuing Frank that they ran
over this negro standing In their
path with the marks OF guilt
clearly upon him.
Finally the pressure OF public
suspicion brought this negro to
Lanfords attention, Conley be-
gan TO talk. and negro-like, TO
talk so as 10 protect himself. and
as a means thereto to cast suspi-
cion upon some one else. Ordi-
nariiy the detectives could be
trusted not TO aid the negro In an
effort to clear himself by placing
the crime on a white man, but In
this case II Is TO be feared that
the negro was not discouraged.
Lanford had finally banked all his
sense. all his reputation as a man
and a policeman upon Franks
guilt. and II would be remarkable
II he discouraged this negro from
involving Frank IL Lanford and
his followers had acted wisely,
and kept open minds seeking only
the murderer and not seeking 10
vindicate their announced opin-
ions. the negro would have by this
time told the whole truth.
Varying AffidaVits.
Conley made one statement. II
did not meet the announced opln-
ions OF Lanford He made anoth-
er. This second was not up to
the mark: u did not sufficiently
show Franks guilt. Another was
made, which was supposed to he
nearer the mark. Whereupon
there was great rejoicing. For
getting all others. this last state
uent-reaChed through such
great tribulations-wa proclaim
cd the truth. the last truth, and
that there would be no other
statement.
The detectives had al last got
the statement which they thought
sustained their views. saved their
regulations and insured their
places.
But what a statement So fun
af Contradictions so evidently