Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-18
POLICE HALT
CHILLING Of
CONLEY
Detective Bent on Questioning
Negro Is Barred From Cell
by Chief Lanford.

A meeting Of the Fulton County
Grand Jury has been called for
Monday to consider petitions pre-
scented by Atlanta citizens ask
ing that the Indictment of Jim
Conlsy for the murder of Mary
Phagan be acted upon. The call
was issued by Foreman Beattis
despite the protests of Solicitor
General Hugh M. Dorsey.
With Pinkerton detectives taking
the trail in search Of W. H. Mincey,
whose startling accusations against
Jim Conley stirred the police depart
ment and won the negro another
sweating" from Solicitor Dorsey, the
Mincey affidavit Friday became the
storm center about which the prose-
cution and defense In the Frank case
waged their battle
Despite the degree of indifference
with which the detectives and prose-
cutting officials affected to look upon
the remarkable statements of Mincey.
it became known Friday that every
effort was being bent toward locating
him and turning the light on his past
history
Pinkertons Have CIew.
II is understood that the Pinkertons
have obtained information Of Min
cey's whereabouts as # has been
known since The Georgian published
its exclusive story of the affidavit and
later Mincey's detailed account of the
significant happenings on the day Of
the murder that he was teaching
school in North Georgia.
Although Solicitor Dorsey processes
to be not greatly concerned over the
effect that the Mincey affidavit may
have in his case against Leo NJ.
Frank, It is reported that his Office is
gathering character witnesses for an
attack on Minceys credibility.
Developments since the publication
of the affidavit indicate that the PROS
ecution feels II must absolutely dis
credit Mincey and his story If there
is to be any hope of obtaining a con-
viction aaginst Frank.
Harry Scott, Pinkerton detective,
was denied permission to talk with
Jim Conley Friday morning when he
went to the police station to see if he
could wiring any additional admis-
sions from the negro, From the fact
that Scott has been working in en-
tire harmony with the city detective
department up to this time, this in
cident led TO the rumor that Scott
had changed his theory of the crime
and was inclined to place the re-
spOnsibility upon Conley.
Defense Ready for Trial.
Scott refused to say to what ex-
tent his theories had been altered,
if at all Chief of Detectives Lanford
explained that he had full confidence
in Scott, but that the Pinkerton was
in the position where he had to re-
port all Of his findings to the defense
and he did not wish Scott to see Con-
ley in these circumstances.
Attorneys for the defense said in
regard to the report that the case
might again be postponed, that they
knew OF no reason why it could not
go to trial July rs, the date set by
Judge L. S. Roam. They said that
their side of the case was complete
and that they We're prepared to pre-
sent it to jury at any time.
AS bitter fight as that brought on
by the Mincey affidavit is being waged
by the members Of the Grand Jury
and the Solicitor over the question Of
investigating Jim Conley's connection
with the Phagan murder, with view
of bringing an indictment. A number
Of the members are said to have de-
clared themselves in favor of reopen
ing the case because of the mass OF
evidence that has piled up against the
negro since ne confessed to being in
the factory on the day of the crime.
The Solicitor. however, is unalter-
ably opposed to any movement look
ing toward the indictment of the ne
gro.
- ,net- cENnMn pENIMEAT