Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-11
GEORGIAN s
STORYST|RS
OFFICIALS
Mincey Affidavit Leads to Another
Characterization of Phagan
Case Suspect.

AS a result of the publication by
The Georgian exclusively Thursday of
the sensational affidavit of W. N.
Mincey, the insurance agent, which
declared that Jim Conley had con-
fessed on the afternoon of the Phagan
murder, that he had killed a little girl,
the negro sweeper was again put on
the grill late Friday afternoon. The
cross examination was conducted by
Solicitor General Hugh NJ. Dorsey
personally at the police station and
was attended by utmost secrecy.
Conley was taken into the Police
Commissioners room on the second
floor of the station house by a cir
cuitous route to avoid being seen. In
the room awaiting him were the So
icitor, his assistant, Frank j. Hooper,
and Chief of Detectives Lanford. The
negro was questioned for more than
an hour. The result of the inquiry
was not made known.
That Mincey's affidavit is of the
utmost importance became obvious
with this latest move by the prose-
cution. Undoubtedly its startling ac-
cusations, directing guilt at the negro.
have shown themselves 10 the State
to have foundation of more strength
than Mr.. Dorsey and his colleagues
have so far cared to admit.
Police Deny Being Told.
Interviews with the detective heads
brought denials that Mincey ever had
told them the story that was print
ed in The Georgian. Attorneys for
the Defense however corToborated
the published details of the affida-
Wit.
1T is correct in every detail" said
one of the lawyers TT was not the
intention to make any of our impor-
tant evidence public, but now that
Mincey's story has found its way into
print there is nothing to do but ad-
NIT that we have the affidavit and
that it makes the assertions which
The Georgian printed yesterday
at is only natural that an attempt
will be made to discredit Mincey's
story. But we are assured of its
truth and are confident that it will
stand the test of all the investigation
that can be made"
j. S. Dukes, manager of the Ameri-
can Insurance Company, by whom
Mincey was employed until two weeks
ago. was seen Friday and was dis
posed to discredit Mincey's affidavit.
He declared that Mincey was some
thing of a braggart and that on the
Monday following the crime had as
serted his belief in the guilt of Newt
Lee. When Conley was arrested, said
Dukes. Mincey at once became just
as certain that Conley had committed
the crime.
"Mincey was wondering how much
money he might make as witness
and seemed more concerned with this
phase of the case than with the iden-
tity of the murderer" said Dukes.
Coney Indictment Likely.
The speedy indictment of Jim Con-
ley on the charge of numbering Mary
Phagan was the strong possibility dis
cussed in court circles Friday follow
ing the sensational turn given the
strangling mystery.
For nearly two months a self-con-
fessed accessory after the fact of the
murder of the little factory girl, Con-
ley has been allowed to go without an
attempt at bringing an indictment
against him. The startling new evil
dence which indicates most strongly
If the credibility of the defenses wit
ness can be established. that Conley
was not the accessory after the fact,
but the actual principal in the crime,
is expected to result in thorough in
vestigation by the Grand Jury Of all
the rumors and stories which have
been in circulation of the negro's con-
Continued on Page 2. Column 4.