davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
FAIR PLAY ALONE CAN FIND
Truth IN PHAGAN PUZZLE.
DECLARES OLD REPORTER
POLICE REPORTERS HAVE
BEEN TREMENDOUS AID
IN SOLVING MYSTERY

Perhaps as many of the great
murder mysteries Of history have
been solved through tho efforts Of
police reporters-men assigned BY
newspapers TO "eover" criminal
cases-as have been solved by de-
tectives. At any rate, the police
will always admit that police re-
porters have had large part in
unraveIing the knotty problems. In
a case Of this sort the police re-
porter's analysis is particularly
good, for he is simply seeking the
truth. He, unlike the police, is not
held responsible for the production
Of the criminal and, therefore,
whatever line Of thought he pur-
sues is solely in the interest Of
clearing up battling mystery. As
such the accompanying article is
presented.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
JUDGE HOLDS FALSEH000
PROVES MANS SANITY

KANSAS CITY, June when a
man n years old writes love letters
the fact does not constitute evidence
Of mental incapacity.
Judge Ellison laid down that rul-
ing I'm decision handed down N
the Kansas Court Of Appeals
The case was one from Boone
County, in which a son sought TO
break his fathers will. The love
letters were introduced 10 show that
the testator was incapable OF making
will In the letters the writer SAID
he was only s..
Judge Ellison held that this mis-
representation had nothing 70 do
with the case. The fact that he was
able to deceive, he judge said,
showed that he was in possession Of
all his faculties
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08

remember that they are placed in a
very extraordinary position. What
ever the detectives 90 in trying TO
unravel the crime Whatever the
newspapers do in publishing ru-
mors and gossip and statements
about the mystery. would natural
" cause them much suffering. l do
not believe that Mr.. Dorsey or any
of the police officials or detectives
would add one particle to the terri
BILE burden that Mrs. Frank and her
family have to bear.
But l do know the officials would
net be doing their duty If they did
not do all In their power TO solve
this terrible mystery And it must
be remembered that poor little
Mary Phagan is dead. Somebody
killed her, She had 4 right to her
life. Just as much as you or /, dear
reader. have a right to ours; ana
the duty Of the officials is to tino
the murderer. and to punish him as
the law directs.
Meanwhile. let me say another
final word-for fair play and sus-
pension Of judgment until the tria!
of the case.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
81 YEARS OLD, WINS AZ
YEAR OLD u. S. CLAIM

ST. PAUL, June IA claim for
which ELI Pettijohn, ninety-four years
old and Minnesota's oldest pioneer
had been fighting for forty-two years
has Jest been allowed by the Govern
ment Court Of Claims in part, and
the aged man within another year
will receive $500.
At his little white frame cottage
near Minnehaha boulevard in Mime
apolis. Mr. Pettijohn was Informed OF
his good fortune by a reporter.
Well well! Can It be possible |
did not expect it," he exclaimed, and
then laughed like a boy Well well,
sir, you gave me a surprise. Forty
two years Is a long time to wait !
guess I'm a pretty good fighter after
an. It's the only scrap I ever di5
have, though. And now l have won
il
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
FREE THINKERS ASKED
TO FORM ORGANIZATION

Free thinkers in every realm OF
thought, whether religious. political
or secular, have been invited 10 a
meeting In the library Of the Inde-
pendent Order Of Beavers 81 1-2 East
Hunter Street, at o'clock Sunday
afternoon, to form an organization.
The invitation was issued by ]. T.
Dabney, ]. y. Swearingen. w. c. By
ers and Fred Schrimper
Promoters of the organization an
nounce it will not be devoted 10 re-
ligious study in particular! but to a
general effort to discover the truth
about whatever subject they choose
to take UP.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08

There, on the other hand, is Mrs.
Mary Phagan's mother
Through weeks Of heart breaking
gloom and grief she has held HER
peace. Giving vent early In the
case to her unspeakable sorrow and
Mortified Indignation, she soon re-
covered her equilibrium-aul has
asked since. for what? For far
play-jlst for fair play. thats all.
Men who are not going % permit
women to try this case In the court
room. officials who viii not have
one woman on the jury that tries
Leo Frank for his life, nevertheless
have been believing from the house
tops things they knew. things tueN
didn't know things they never did
can or will know about the Phagan
Case-and a pretty nice mess they
have made OF IL so far. too
Facts. near-facts nonsense ana
imagination---it has seemed to he a
matter Of every fellow talking for
himself and as much as possible,
and the devil take the hindmOst'
Happily. however. from out the
mass OF matter that has been print
ed during the past five weeks the
public has gathered abundant and
abiding courage 10 suspend its
judgment--to insist upon II that the
Phagan case be settled eventually
In COURT, In impartial and legal
order
In every article that have writ
ten | have stated frankly my free
dom from bias IN discussing the
matter. do not wish to prejudice
this case one way or the other-i
am interested In II purely as an alb
stract proposition. What | say Is
Just my own idea of things-it IL
binding upon nobody--it Is not. in
any degree. competent evidence in
a court OF law.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08

working on thr case. DO not know
Dorsey; and j know only just what
YOU know, reader-what is pub
lished In the newspapers
] DO know. and you know, that
tha prosecution must prove him
guilty Of the crime, while the de-
Tense does not have 10 prove him
innocent.
Now, ! do not say that Frank Ia
innocent I do not say he Is guilty.
I do not know ! do not know what
evidence Mr.. Dorsey has. or 10 what
his witnesses viii testify. but ! do
know that such Of Il that has ap-
peared in the newspapers would not
be convincing legal evidence 10 me.
Nor would I consider It very seri-
ously n ] was member Of the
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Dorsey May Be
Holding Evidence.

Dorsey may have a great deal Of
important evidence that has not yet
been made public. shall be great
ly surprised II he has not I look
for a great many sensations be-
tween now and the time of the
trial.
II ought not TO be difficult for
Frank TO prove his innocence, II he
is innocent and II viii be well 10
remember that he must be consid
cred innocent until the jury returns
a verdict OF guilty against him.
Frank will undoubtedly take the
stand and make a statement In his
own defense. lie viii be his own
best witness What he says, and
how he says It. will have more in
huence with the fury than anything
that may be said against him.
One Of the most interesting
events of the past weeks develop
ments. 20 my way OF thinking. was
the statement In defense OF her
husband given out by Mrs. Leo
Frank
II IS not competent legal evidence
Of Franks innocence, of course, for
the wife can testify neither FOR
nor AGAINST the husband In
Georgia. but II had a powerfully
steadylng effect upon public opin-
ion. and has served TO give It add
tlonal Toise and calm.
In part. 70 was a fine utterance
in part II was mistaken utter
auce. but wlthal Il was an intensely
human document full OF appeal for
justice and righteous Judgment
and. In way. II cleared the at
F3neFhaV. g.gefTgfsa ElN
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
PAYS DOG TAX, PET DlESj
OWNER ASKS MONEY BACK

CHICAGO, June THE unexpect-
ed demise Of Teddy, a collie be-
longing To j. H. Hatch, Evanston.
has brought up a question of finance
which Hatch declares still is unset
tied.
Dog licenses for 1912 We're soon due
and Hatch. feeling flash" decided
TO surprise the lice nse clerk by get
ting IL ahead Of time.
The next day Teddy departed this
life Irritated by such unfeeling con-
duct. Mr. Hatch sought 20 get back
his So The license clerk merely
grinned Hatch sought his Alderman,
William Foster Burns.
Ii was decided that the city Of Ev-
anston was not responsible for the
death Of the collie.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Average Albanian
Thinks Frank Guilty.

And yet the average man believes
Frank guilty Il would be easy
enough TO make out a case proving
Franks innocence nv putting your
self. say. in Franks position, and
reasoning thus.
Il. Leo Frank, shortly after 1
o'clock I'm the afternoon Of April 26,
killed g fifteen -year-old white girl.
for some sinister purpose, not quite
clear / did Il. Notwithstanding my
previous good character, my bust
ness reputation. my wife at home
my people. and my every sense %
deCency and humanity. Noverthe-
less. 1 did IL, crafty and SECRET
LY. After I had consummated my
crime. l went forth deliberately.
searched out an ignorant. drunken
negro. acquainted him with many
circumstances Of my crime. and got
him 20 write some cunning notes
tending TO turn away from me sus-
picion that likely never would have
been directed toward me positively
except for the Negroes knowledge OF
rrfrsae furnished by me
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Governor S Appeal
Cooled Passion.

Quick Co appreciate the signih-
canoe and the timelmcss Of this,
the Governor Of Georgia, in "A ring
ing interview given 60 The Sunday
American, approved The Georgian's
attitude 81 fair play and added his
voice o. that ~ The Georgian In its
effort ,o hold fast 20 the LAW
Sine, then the Phagan investiga-
ton has progressed with an ever
growing demand from the public
for fair play fair play for every
body. defense and prosecution
And yet, 10 be strictly truthful,
I must say that the man in the
street believes Leo NJ Frank guilty
Of the murder OF Mary Phagan
All that he has 20 base this be-
lief upon are statements published
in the newspapers. and some OF
these are worthless upon their face.
Many of them are absurd Many Of
them could not be introduced IN
court az an Many Of them are the
mere opinions ~ unimportant peo-
pie that would have no standing
anyway
The developments in the week
just passed while not distinctly
favorable Co Frank were not unfav-
orahle Various aGdavits made by
Conley. af1davts and reputation
at afidavits made by Franks cook,
MinOla Mcknight viii ] feel rea-
sdnably sure have uo weight before
q jury IL indeed the court ever per-
mifs them TO 40 to "a Jury
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
BANDIT is WOUNDED
IN REVOLVER BATTLE

CHICAGO, June IA f6-year-old
bandit. Michael Yanahan. was shot
and probably fatally wounded In a re-
volver battle with the police in East
Sixty Second Street, after having
robbed 4 saloon.
Homer Scott, %, the youths COM
panion, was run down and captured
unhurt.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
SPEEDS HIS RACER FOR
LONE, DEAD SPECTATOR

DANVILLE. June Thinking It
peculiar that a solitary spectar in the
grandstand made no comment as he
exercised his PAGER on the track here,
Dick Beard investigated and found
the spectator was dead. He was
identified as Dell Jones' aged So. of
Indianapolis.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Secret Deliberately
Given To Negro.

Il hired this negro, with money I
never gave him, 20 help me hide the
dead body. already as effectively
hidden as the immediate necessity
Of the occasion required, and when
he had helped me carry the dead
body downstairs that ! might just
as well have carried myself. 7 told
him good bye. and said ! would see
him Monday aut fix things up
maybe After a while, however. l
decided that ? had not been thought
ful enough in securing only ONE
witness against myself SO ! con-
cluded, along about z o'clock, 20 get
up "A few more. Il had Gawned upon
me that perhaps the State MIGHT
need seven or eight Witnesses I'm or
der 20 accomplish my conviction.
SO between and 10 that might.
I called up a notorious woman, by
me suspected Of being known well
% the police. and upon whom I
thought / might depend 20 put the
police wise promptly and ] told
said notorious woman that I de-
sired. on a matter Of life and death.
10 bring a girl 20 her house. not
WithStaudinE the fact that ] knew
said girl was dead. and had been
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
AMERICAN NATIONAL
FEDERAL DEPOSITORY

Through action OF the United States
Treasury Department. the American
National Bank has been designated q
depository for funds Of the United
states The American National long
has been a depository for the State
Of Georgia. city Of Atlanta and Fulton
County.
Information that the American had
been added to the list of bankers for
Uncle Sam" came in a letter Satur-
day TO Robert F. Maddox, vice presi-
dent. There is Considera Bile cOmpeti-
ton among national banks for this
honor.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Dorsey Represents All
People in the Case.

Dorsey. | am sure. believes in fair
play for the public and fair play for
anyone accused Of the murder OF
Mary PEagani
Mrs Frank, through weeks Of in
tense trial and suffering. has held
her peace. She permitted things to
be said OF her husband that TO her
must have seemed cruel In the ex-
treme-and she never murmured.
Finally, In passionate outburst,
she DID break her silence, and
pleaded, for WHAT For fair play
just for fair play. that's all For
her statement amounts only to that
stripped of its naturally emotional
construction
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Phagan Case Shows
People Are Fair.

! find thar most people ARE fair.
] believe there is In the hearts OF
nine people IN every ten one meets
a desire 20 see his fellow man get
"a square deal" And I believe It
more nowadays than / ever be-
lleVed % before. for the progress OF
the Phagan investigation has reaf-
nrmed my faith In my fellow man,
The Atlanta Georgian was the first
newspaper TO give pause To the riot
of passion misunderstanding. mis-
information and rank prejudice pri-
marily set in motion by the Staying
of little Mary Phagan.
Before the story had grown 70
large proportions The Georgian.
with an the emphasis at It's COM
mand. begged for calm, and poise.
and fglrness 1t invoked the SU-
FREMACY OF THE Wand
think it is entitled 10 have that said
of a.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Woman s Refusal
Causes Chagrin.

Il tried three times to get this
woman's permission 20 bring the
girls dead body there and natu-
rally my Chagrin was great when
she refused. / have noticed with
pride that the de- c-i-tiffs have
solemnly from time TO time, pro-
nounCed me guilty Of doing all the
foregoing things, as / hoped they
would, and | would now confess
the entire crime, except for the fact
that | just naturally like to tease
de-tec-i- tiffs, and am OF a some
what mean and contrary dispose
ton, anyway. To further establish
my devillsh ingenuity. however, II
seems that / did all the things Con-
ley says / did when | WASN'T
EVEN THERE-Which is a fact
that should not be overlooked"
Now, If you believe this you must
find the murderer Of Mary Phagan.
Who comes first to your thought?
Conley, Of course.
Here's what MIGHT have hap
pened on that fateful Saturday aft
prupDDF
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
ATLANTA IS THANKED
BY FLOOD SUFFERERS

The Sunday American has received
communication from the Citizens
Relief Committee OF Hamilton. Ohio
to thank the people OF Atlanta for
generous contributions TO the flood
sufferers
l.. p. Cl1wson, treasurer Of the
committee, said that because so many
Of the contributions came from per-
sons who would not give their names
he could only take this means of &C
knowledging thanks.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08

II was a tactical mistake to as
sail Dorsey. He represents all the
people. He should be, and / be-
lieve he has tried TO be- prosecu-
tor-not a prosecutor!
Dorsey, representing all the peo-
pie. has a perfect right to get his
evidence in any way he sees 1T.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Negro Knew
1t Was Payday.

The negro Conley was sitting at
the foot of the stairs. near the open
elevator shaft, when Mary Phagan
came I'm TO get her pay. He may
have seen her go up the steps, and
he did see her come down He must
have known that she had Just been
paid some amount Of money. and
probably had fl in her little mesh
bag, dangling from her wrist. As
she came DOWN the steps. and
passed toward the front door, her
back was turned 20 the half drunk
en- negro The passageway was
dark, for the gas was not burning
and the front doors were closed, be-
cause Of a holiday. The negro may
have seized the girl from behind,
chokcd her noiselessly into insen-
sibility. snatched her purse-rob-
berry probably being his primary
impulse-and then chucked her
body over into the open elevator
shaft and down into the cellar
below. He may then have passed
down the ladder beside the eleva-
tor shaft, for II will be established
that the elevator did not run the
day Mary Phagan was killed and
into the cellar
He may have dragged the body
back 10 its last resting place In the
factory, loosening the girls hat and
one Of her shoes as he went.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
DR.. {. M. POTEAT TO PREACH
AT TABERNACLE SUNDAY

DR.. r. NJ. Poteat will MI the pull
pit of the Tabernacle Baptist Church
both morning and night Special mu-
sic has been prepared.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08

for many hours.
"Of course, my idea was to &C
quaint the notorious woman with
my crime, and maybe a half dozen
others who might see me bring in
the dead body, including the hack
man likely employed to haul us.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Noticed Shoe +;
Forgot Parasol.

Noticing the shoe and the hat
along the way. he went back and
got them. and threw them over on
the trash pile by the furnace-but
HE DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE
GIRLS PARASOL WAS LEFT AT
THE FOOT OF THE ELEVATOR
SHAFT. INTO WHICH HE TOP
Piled HER FROM ABOVE, and
there il subsequently was found
Mary Phagan, hat, shoe and para
sol may have been ChuCIed down
the elevator shaft The hat and the
shoe might come down from the
second floor above. attached to the
dead body. as the negro says, but
the parasol could not have come
down in the dead girls hand
How, then, DID the parasol get
20 the bottom OF the elevator shaft.
where IL was found? II II didn't
get there when Mary Phagan was
first thrown there. how did IL get
there? II looks as II Conley may
have overlooked telltale bet in the
parasol After the murder had been
consummateG. the negro may have
looked around for a means Of es-
cape. He need not hurry. for the
factory was practically empty. and
he. with his victim alone, was in the
cellar
First. he picked up a piece Of
cord, Of which there was plenty in
the cellar, and put that around the
dead girls throat. then he wrote
those stupid, ignorant, negro-like
notes, hoping 10 avert possible sus-
piCiou from himself-and. finally.
be pulled the staple from the back
door. only a few feet away from the
dead body and made his escape
from the factory The girls purse
never has been found.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Guilt of Conley
May Be Defense's Task.

And thus Analysing and theo-
rizing. my readers will see il would
not be a very difficult matter for
the Frank defense to take up this
line Of reasoning Il seems or
DERBY and rational Il may prove to
be worthless
Mrs Frank and her relatives must
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08

Mrs Leo Frank public Saturday the folowi
which explains itself:
Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-06
Couldn't Examine The Protocol.

Couldn't Examine The Protocol.
Helsingfors, Jan. 6.-Intense in,
dignation has been aroused here by
the latest example of Russ1a's bure.
aucratic methods. The Russian ex-
aiming magistrates visited Vibor9
to obtain a protocol drawn up by the
town council regarding a request
based on the Equality Law to carry
on trade In Finland, Russia of1ciala
having no right to examine the pro.
tocol books of Finnish state institu-
tons, the mayor refused to grant
them access to the document, and
they departed.
Later, however, the chief of policd
appeared, armed with an order from
the provincial governor, to inspect
the protocol, and as soon as he had
got the document in his possession,
he produced another order, authors
izing him to take it to the examin-
ing magistrates, which he did despite
the protests Of the mayor and count
Gil. The Supreme Court is to be
invoked.
Further dissatisfaction has been
caused by the appointment OF an in
experienced Russian colonel to the
post of Director of Public Buildings
in Finland, a position which requires
considerable technical Knowledge.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-06
SWISS SCHOOL
MEN TEACHERS
Nearly go Per Cent Of In
structors Arc Males.

Nearly ninety per cent of the
teachers In Switzerland are men"
said w. X. Tate, supervisor of rural
schools in South Carolina, to a con-
ference of educators at the United
States Bureau of Education. Mr..
Tate has Just returned from a three
months investigation in Switzer-
land under the auspices of the Bu-
reau.
give hundred dollars is consid.
cred a good salary for a teacher.
After a lifetime of service he may
go as high as 500. Living is cheap
err there than here, however, and in
addition to his salary he is furnished
with a dwelling, a certain amount Oh
garden land and wood for fuel. His
dwelling is generally in the same
building with the school. His posi-
ton Is of considerable local import
ance. Aside from his duties In the
school room he Is often secretary OF
the local creamery association, lead
er Of the village band, organ1st In
the church, and general intellectual
guide for the community
when a teacher is engaged for a
position 1t is for life or a long term
Of years. He settles down with the
people whose children he teaches,
and generally expects to make that
particular Job his life work. And
he stays. Changes are rare. Twelve
new teachers in one year in a sys-
tenn of 240 was considered very UNI
usual. The record for continued
| service in the same village Is held
by a teacher in Thurgau, who has
occupied the same position for sixty.
five years One teacher that I Wis
tied has held his position for TWEEN
| ty-four years and his father held the
same position fer thirty-fiye year:
before him.
Zone of the most attractive feat
ures of the Swiss schools Is the cor
dial relation that exists between
eacher and pupils. There Is nothing
of the military in the discipline OF
the school; no lining up; no march
ing to classed. When the children
go to the class room, they shake
hands with the teacher, greeting him
as if they had not seen him for a
long time and are really glad to see
him. The whole relation is one OF
charming naturaliness and kindli-
ness on both sides.
I'm the Swiss cantons school is in
| session from s to 4 in winter time
with an intermission of two hours
at noon (three hours for the young
or c%hildren). In summer the chill
dren have to be at school at 7 a. m.
Failure to be promoted Is rare.
After the four years of. elementary
Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-06
Must Pay For Operators Death.

Paris, Jan. 6.-The courts have
awarded Nine. Louise Fiere, widow
Of a cinematograph operator an ans
nuity of $125 for herself and $215it
for her three children, for the loss OF
her husband who was killed by a
buffalo in Central Africa. Fiere waa
sem to Africa with a German hunts
ing party, and he was taking a Pic
ture when a wounded buffalo char
ged one of the hunters. Leaving his
machine he rushed to the rescue.
and was killed by the enraged anti
NAL. The moving picture company
denied liability, declaring that
Fiere's BUSINESS was to take PICTURES
and not to risk his life in the role OF
"heroic rescuer." They Tf7MH~Aeai
the liability on to an lnsuranct>
pany, but the courts have FecIued
that they must pay.