Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-17

IN PHAGAN
CASE At
HAND
0ut-of-Town Trips Believed To
Be of Great Importance-De-
Tense Has Strong Evidence.

Frank A. Hooper. associate counsel
with Solicitor General Hugh NJ. Dor
sey in the prosecution of the Phagan
murder mystery, left Atlanta Monday
for trip to indianapolis. Attorney
Hooper was the third man closely
connected with the Phagan case to
leave town within a space of three
days.
Colonel Thomas B. Fielder, who took
an active part in the hunt for the
slayer of Mary Phagan until the die
tograph controversy arose, left Sun
day, saying that he was going TO Gin
cinnati. He said that it was a bust
ness trip and intimated that 1t was
related either to his quarrel with
Chief of Detectives Lanford or direct
ly with the Phagan case.
Solicitor Dorsey left the previous
afternoon. He gave out that the pros
ecution entirely had completed its
preparation of the Phagan case and
that he was going away for a weeks
rest at Atlantic City and New York.
Deny Mystery,
At the Hooper home Tuesday it
was admitted that MT HOeper's trip
was on business, but denial was mace
that It was in connection with the
Pagan case or that there was any
significance in his departure practi-
cally at the sGme time as that of So
iicltor Dorsey and Colonel Fielder
Pumors arr circulating, however,
shat material witnesses in the case
hove been uncovered and that their
testimony may have a most important
bearing in determining the person
who sttangled Mary Phagan. 1t IS
said that the sudden trips out of town
IF Solicitor Dorsey and his associate,
Attorney Hooper, may not be unre-
lated to these new developments.
The prosecution has been aware for
some time that the attorneys for the
defense have been weaving strong
net of damaging evidence around the
negro sweeper, Jim Conley.
But Attorney Luther q. Rosser, fol-
lowing his custom Of silence, has let
neither the public nor the prosecution
in on the secret of the source of this
important evidence. He has scores Of
affidavits. That much is known by
the prosecution, but by whom they
are signed will probably remain a
deep mystery until the Frank trial
begins.
Report New Evidence.
Recent reports that new and star
Ting evidence against the negro has
been turned up by investigators for
the defense are held responsible in
some quarters for the sudden out-of-
town trips of the Solicitor and his as
sociate. 1t is explained that they are
looking into some of the stories which
have come to their ears.
They have heard, it is said, that the
defense is in possession of statements
from reputable and unquestionably
reliable persons which place an over
whelming weight of circumstantial
evidence upon the shoulders of the
negro. These statements are said to
have been overlooked or refused by
the detectives working on the case.
Conley meanwhile sticks to the
story told in his latest affidavit. He
insists that the only part he had in
the crime was assisting Frank to dis
pose of the body.
Chief Lanford and Harry Scott, Of
the Pinkertons, continue to express
their belief in the absolute truth Of
the latest story Of the negro, although
he admittedly uttered a series Of lies
and misstatements and perjured him
self in two other affidavits before he
signed the one which the authorities
now believe.