Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-30
DEFENSE PLANS
To TEAR DOWN
CONLEY TALE
Expect to Prove Frank Innocent
by Discrediting Negroes Story
Of Phagan Crime.

Warned that the State is baslng
practically all of its expectations of
sending Leo NJ Frank to the gallows
on the dramatic story told by Jim
Conley, the defense this week is COM
pleting the collection of a strong line
of evidence with which it is planned
utterly to diseredit the negroes state
ments and his testimony in court.
ConIey again has insisted on con-
fronting Frank. He says he is GER
tain If he can meet the factory super
lntendent face TO face he can make
him tell the whole story" The ne
gro has told the detectives he not only
Is willing, but is eager to repeat in
the presence of Frank the story Of the
disposal of Mary Phagan's body just
as he has related It a dozen times
since he first made the sensational ac-
acknowledgement that he had a part in
the crime.
1t is regarded as most unlikely that
the two will be brought together.
Luther T. Rosser, attorney for Frank
has refused to make any definite
statement of his attitude in the mat
ter, but it is known he looks with
suspicion on every word and every
act of the negro He has given the
impression that he is not unwilling
for his client to face the negro, but
that he regards the court room as the
proper place for the meeting and the
actual trial of Frank as the proper
time. For this reason, the dramatic
moment when accuser and accused
confront each other in all probability
will be saved for the time when the
legal battle is in progress for Franks
life.
Attack Planned on Negro.
At this time, it is the intention of
the defense to begin with the first
statements by which Conley connect
ed himself with the case after he. had
remained silent for two weeks follow
ing his arrest. Franks lawyers will
take the separate details of the ne
gro's afidavits, one by one, and seek
to show that in the light of proba-
bilities they are utterly absurd and
ridiculous.
Particular emphasis will be placed
on the fact that the negro has lied
deliberately many times in the stories
he has told of his connection with
the crime. The defense viii take the
position that It is most unrea sonable
for the State, after the negro has
made two affldavits admittedly per-
juries, to base its case on a third affi-
davtt which it holds is absolutely
true.
In the firm belief that Conley's re-
newed demand to be brought face to
face with Frank is mere subterfuge
by which the negro is seeking to shift
the blame for the crime. Attorney
Rosser is expected to give him a most
merciless grilling when he is called to
the witness stand by the State The
defense makes no secret of It's expec-
tation of breaking down the negro's
tale. An open court confession would
not suFpri2e them, they say.
Believes ConIey Won't Break.
Solicitor Dorsey and his associate
in the prosecution. Frank A Hooper,
ridicule the possibility that the negro
will make confession on the witness
stand. Mr. Hooper said Monday
morning that he believed the negro
would make an excellent witness
probably the most valuable one the
State would call. He did not believe
that Conley would break down under
the fire of questions from Attorney
Rosser and Reuben Arnold, both Of
whom have a wide reputation for the
raking cross examina ton to which
they can subject person in the wit
ness chair.
Il haven't any thought that Conley
will falter," said Mr.. Hooper. He
has told me a clear, straightforward
story. The details are fresh in his
mind. He can not be confused, and
the court, of course. will not permit
him to be intimidated should there
be any effort of the sort on the parl
of the cross examiners, which I do
not anticipate"