Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-10
ASKS
GRAND JURY
GRILL FOR
CONLEY
Why Has Negro Been Protected
From Questioning by I'm
partial Body?

Luther z. Rosser. chief Of counsel
for Leo NJ. Frank. issued the first
public statement Tuesday that he has
made since the arrest of the factory
superintendent six weeks ago on the
suspicion Of being the murderer of
Mary Phagan
He took occasion to point out many
Of the absurdities in the stories of
the negro Jim Conley, and paid his
respects in a forcible manner both to
Chief Of Detectives Lanford and Colo
mel Thomas b. Fielder, who have been
accusing each other Of trying to pro-
tect Frank.
Mr. Rosser explained the violation
of his invariable custom of maintain
ing absolute silence in regard to a
case in which he was interested by
calling attention to the prejudice that
had been aroused in the public mind
against Frank by the controversy be-
tween Lanford and Colonel Fielder.
His statement. in full. follows:
Mr.. Rosser's Statement
Editor Atlanta Georgian:
Fielder and Lanford, in an ef
fort TO make progress in their
feud, charge each the other with
giving aid to Leo Frank. Lsnford
charges that Fielder was employed
by Frank and is seeking for that
reason to shield him. Fielder
charges that Lanford and his as
sociates are also seeking, for
some reason, to shield and pro-
tect Frank.
Both charges are untrue and,
az time when no harm could
come 10 an innocent man. might
well be treated as antidotes to
monotlny.
Unfortunately, however the
present situation is such that
fair-minded citizens may be mis-
led by these counter charges.
Fielder does not, nor has he at
any time, directly or indirectly.
represented Frank For Lanford
TO charge the contrary does
Frank a serious injustice.
Fielder Against Frank.
II Chief Lanford had been in a
sane, normal mood, he would have
known that every act Of Fielder
mas been against Frank The en-
gagement Of the Burns Agency
ought TO have satisfied Lanford.
No detective agency OF half pru-
dence would have double-crossed
the Atlanta Department in the
Phagau case Nor did Fielder have
excuse for suspicion against Lam
ford. There was reason TO sus-
pect hts fairness, his accuracy
and the souudness OF his meth
DDS but not his reckless zeal
against Frank.
Had Fielder been in a calm
mood ! am sure he would never
have charged the Chief and his
associates with intention TO help
Frank
Lanford at once, as soon as Eel
der charged him with favoring
Frank. settled in his mind the
guilt of Frank. and from that mo-
ment has bent every energy Of
his department. not in finding the
murderer. but in trying to prove
TO the public that Fielder was
wrong in charging him with try
ing TO shield Frank
Frank Found Clean.
His department has exhausted
itself in an effort to fix upon
Frank an immoral life, on the
theory that a violator Of the Sew
enth Commandment was likewise
murdered. This effort has
failed No man in Atlanta has
had his moral character subjected
20 such test and there is not in
the whole city Of Atlanta half
dozen men VINO could have more
successfully stood the test
His employees. without a sim
gle exception. have made afida-
wits to his uprightness Ian
fords department subpeuaed eF-
cry one of them before the Cor
ouer's jury. and after keeping
them more than two days. did not
dare 70 swear a single one of
them.