Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-22
Noted Lawyer, in Statement to
Sunday American, Tells Why He
Has Decided to Take Up the
Defense of the Accused Man,
Negro COnIey, in New Interview,
Asserts He Is Eager to Face Leo
M. Frank in Court and Repeat
Story of Alleged Part in Crime,

Positive confirmation Of the report
that he would be one Of counsel for
the defense in the trial of Leo NJ.
Frank, for the alleged stranglInR OF
Mary Phagan. was made Saturday
night by Reuben r, Arnold, in a state
ment unqualihedly declaring that
there could be no room for the be-
lief that Frank was guilty Of the
murder
Mr.. Arnold expressed his conviction
that no white man committed the
crime, and said that If he had not
thoroughly convinced himself OF
Franks absolute innocence he would
not have undertaken to assist in the
defense.
The brilliant attorney in forcibIe
language, made known his surprise
| that the detectives could continue to
place the responsibility on Frank in
the face Of what he described as the
positively discriminating aftidavlts Of
the negro sweeper, Jim Conley.
L
The news OF MS connection with
| the Phagau case, which was antici-
pated Dy Ine American of three weeks
ago, was contained Ia the following
formal statement " uIun was gwen -
the newspapers.
II is trus that ! have accepted
employment 10 assist IN tne 90
Tsnso OF mr. Leo NJ. FRANK, but
wish to state Tnat before ! agreed
! 10 lake me case . maze It & con-
eison mat snouIa nave time TO
STUDY erIueaiiy al the evlosnee
delivered at Inc CVronsr's inquest
ana al Ine aHIuavits that nave
reaehsa the Eu0lie shrousn the
newspapers, 60 could torn an
opinion rOr myself - 10 rranNs
lnhoCtneS Or sGit. wild not
GSrsna any man II guilty or suen
nGtGG' a. Ius Ous N ms case,
Aver studying the evIusncs as
ertTeaiiy 40 . can, 1 am satIsnsd
Inat nsz~fu not a tnng m say
my snst there ~ no room 10 10
hsSe Mr. rranK guIIy OF ms nor
rInie murosr. 90 nor believe mat
any ~nl.s man committed the
Crtnne.
InGsedI II IS surprising to me
that the asJsetNss snvuta corr
time ~ rry " ku. TINS crime on
FRANK wISn the positively lncrln-
Inauny anIaavIIs " Gunisy ge-
tore tnem. People OF common
sense, un,ess unusr great sNSlls-
n'VnI ougnr nos TO give a mo-
msnts Grsasnoe TO sunsr me
FermsDy or the Conley staremeht,
IN 50 lar as lnsy attempt 10 IN
crlmInaIS mr. FRANK.
see the detectives are gradual
~ giving It out that mrs. rorms-
ny VIII not be calico as a witness,
although ne: AFFIDAVIT has Dseh
Parsosu BEFORE Ine pubic gearing
the unqusIirsG Inuorssment or
the detective department as being
perfectly reiIaD,s ana true. wors.
tnan inns, an animation was pup-
lsned in the newspapers Gnat
FRANKS Irienus had PERSUADED her
to IsaVs town. in this and IN
many other ways our cient has
bcen done very great injustice.
no enort seems to nave been not
to ma the criminal, put to try by
all means to put the crime on
Frank.
However, think we will be able
to clarity the situation in que
time.
The Arnold statement constitutes
one Of the strongest documents Of the
whole Phagan mystery. 1t is known
that the attorney has been Interested
in the case for weeks. During thus
time he carefully has gone over every
scrap of evidence accessible. with tho
idea in view of satisfying himself be-
youd the possibility of a doubt Of tho
innocence of Frank. He has not con-
fned himself to the affidavlts Of the
defense.
His main consideration has been OF
the affidavits and statements produced
by the detectives in the case they
have been developing against the ae-
cused man. His statement indicates
that he believes them worthless so far
as they seek to involve Frank in tina
crime.
1t became rumored some time ago
that he was making an investigation
of the Phagan mystery on his own
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