Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-07
FRANK DEFENSE
To MAKE FIGHT
ON CONLEY
Continued From Page I.

who drew the staple from the back
door and thereby made his escape
from the building, either by way Of
Madison Avenue or Forsyth Street
The missing purse that Mary Pha-
gan is known 10 have had in her
hand when she left home, and n
which she Is supposed to have put her
money Just received from Frank, has
never been found. although Conley
has been careful enough TO account
for her hat and her shoe.
Undoubtedly. the defense has been
very busy. while the States officers
have been talking.
Reticent and silent as the grave as
to the theory Of the crime 10 be
advanced in defense Of Frank. it now
is known that 1t will be sweeping.
sensational and complete.
State Faces Strong Defense.
Whether It will come as a tremen-
dous surprise 10 the prosecution, or
whether something OF the magnitude
and scope Of Il has leaked through TO
the Solicitor and the police within the
past "a hours, rs problematical.
The sudden clamping down Of the
I'd at detective headquarters and the
announcement that no more talking
would be done there, either for the
state or ANYBODY else, Is viewed by
many as Circumstance tending 70
show that the state at last has come
10 a full realization OF the fact that
Franks defense will be thorough and
complete in detail
whereas up to yesterday any sort
Of an interview might be had for the
asking OF the detective, to-day moth
ing whatever may be had.
As silent as the defense has been, It
has nothing by way Of silence on the
State to-day
Franks Character.
Franks previous good character
his fine business reputation. his hap
ON family relations, his ordinary nan
its OF life and his everyday methods
of conducting himself viii be thrown
fearlessly into the scales
II has been determined for him 70
leave nothing uusaid and to leave
rothing undOne that may tend to clear
fully and completely and 10 free him
for an time from responsibility for
this crime or any knowledge Of H.
Besides the technical correctness OF
Franks defense. his lawyers will un-
dertake 10 show how impossible II
would have been for him to have
done what the negro accuses him of.
under the neEro's own statement
Conley's afhdavits will be reduced
@ absurdties so the defense now be-
lieves He not only will be thrown
out of court upon a strict legal show
ing. but he will be grimly laughed
out.
To Attack conIey.
His general character will be put in
evidence. his drinking habits estab-
hshed. and his opportunity 10 have
killed Mary Phagan completely dem
onstrated.
Attorney Rosser is known. despite
his silence, to have determined not
only upon Franks complete acquittal
but upon Conley's future conviction.
The foregoing in brief outline, Is
the defense OF Leo Frank now being
framed up In surprising detail
II the defense can establish what II
now unquestionably hopes 10 and be-
lieves II may, Franks acquittal seems
a foregone conclusion
or course, the State still Is stand
ing pat on its theory that Frank
committed the crime. but undoubtedly
IS more or less disturbed by the sur
prising nature Of the defense that has
leaked out, even 20 the extent indi-
Gated. and is preparing to meet that
defense accordingly.