Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-12
FACE CONLEY.
AND FRANK,
LANFORD
URGES
Detective Chief Ready to Have
ACcuSer Confront Prisoner
Before Grand Jury.

New sensations are expected ln-the
Phagau mystery Friday morning
wnen the petition Of Solicitor Dorsey
for the revocation Of the order hold
Ing James Conley as material wit
ness is heard before Judge l.. s. Roam.
Luther u, Rosser, attorney for Leo
Frank. will be afforded his first op-
portunity formally TO present his rea-
sons for the holding Of James Conley,
not only as a material witness in the
battling murder mystery. but as an
actual suspect.
While Il is not anticipated that the
attorney will disclose his hand too
freely, It is to be supposed that he
will present every argument he be-
Heves necessary TO keep the negro in
the custody Of the state.
Lanford Agrees to Test.
Chief Of Detectives Lanford Thurs
day replied to the demand Of Luther
u Rosser that Jim Conley be taken
before the Grand Jury by making the
startling proposition that he would
take the negro 10 be questioned by
this body the instant that Rosser as
scented 10 having Frank before the
Grand Jury at the same time.
That this dramatic situation is not
beyond the pale Of possibilities with
in the next few days is indicated by
the attitude Of Franks friends, who
have been suggesting Just such an
arrangement.
Chief Lanford Is Willing.
Il am perfectly willing that Conley
should be taken before the Grand
Jury" said Chief Lanford Il think
it only fair. however. that Rosser per-
NIT his client to go there at the same
time, where he may be confronted by
the negro and where the negro may
tell his story right before Frank
Just the instant that Rosser con-
sents TO an arrangement Of this sort,
] will be prepared 10 have Conley on
his way to the Grand Jury room.
There will be no delay Il is irregu-
lar. of course. but am perfectly will
ing to waive that phase Of the mat
ter The fact that Frank already is
indicted makes IL unnecessary for
Conley to be called before the Grand
Jury 10 give testimony against him"
Chief Lanford. referring to the ef-
ton house to the Jail. said that he
would hold the negro at police head
quarters until there was a court or
der TO the contrary He said that II
Solicitor Dorsey's petition was sue
cessful and Conley was freed from the
present court order, that he would
still be held at the station as a ma
terial witness.
Attorney Rosser would make no
comment for publication on the prop
osition made by chief Lanford, ex-
Cept 10 say that ne stood on his open
letter published earlier in the week.
In this letter he made an emphatic
demand that the Grand Jury investi-
gate Jim Conley. with view Of in
dieting him as the possible murderer
Of Mary Phagsn
Little Chance for Bargain.
d has been the attitude of the de-
Tense from the start THAI it has no
reason go trade with the detective
force. and FOR this reason it is regard
cd as doubtful if the appearance of
ConIey and Frank before the Grand
Jury viii come as the result of a bar
gain between Chief Lanford and At
torney RCsser.
Attorney Rosser however. will con
tinue TO insist that il is within the
province and the duty of the Grand
Jury to probe Jim Conley's story and
to indict him as the suspected muir
derer. if the evidence warrants. n
this investigation Leo Frank, as an
indicted suspect. is in the hands Of
the Grand Jury and can be called at
any time. This makes it entirely pos
sible. if Chief Lanford consents 10
let ConIsy 90 before the Grand jury,
to confront Frank by the negro at any
time in the discretion of the jurors.
Rosssr Suspects Conlsy.
Rosser's attitude toward ConIey has
been publicly expressed as one Of sus-
piciou Ii has been said that the at
torney for Frank is So certainly con-