Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-02
Flock to the Atlanta Court
house to Hear Testimony
Against Frank.
MARY PHAGAN STRANGLED
IS VIEW OF PHYSICIAN
Declares Death Occurred Within
Half an Hour After She Had
Eaten Luncheon.

ATLANTA, Ga, August 2-Woman
spectators today were permitted to take
the choice seats at the trial of Leo M.
Frank. charged with the murder of four
teen-year-old Mary PhaEan. AS a result
Of yesterdays unusual testimony. during
which DR.. H +. Harris collapsed, the
number Of women clamoring for admit
lance was the largest since the trial be-
gan.
When the courtroom doors were thrown
open fully fifty women were present The
court deputies restrained all man specta-
tors from entering until every woman in
the crowd had been admitted and was
seated
Interest in the proceedings today was
enhanced by the belief that Jim Conley.
the negro who is expected to be the
states star witness, would be placed on
the stand Much of the testimony of DR..
Harris in regard to the death Of Mary
Phagan was corroborated today by DIR.
J. w. Hurt. the coroner's physician.
Says Frank Was Nervous.
He was preceded on the witness stand
by r. L. Waggoner. a city detective. who
was present when Frank was arrested at
the pencil factory where the Phagan girls
body was found.
He testified that Frank was very ner-
vous and trembled during the ride from
the factory to the police station. Helen
Ferguson, girl employee at the factory,
also testified today. She told of trying
to get the Phagan girls wages on the
Friday before the girl disappeared and
testified that she was told Mary Phagan
would have to call in person to obtain
the money.
thing evidence yet produced by the state
DR.. Harris collapsed late yesterday. He
recovered somewhat in a few minutes,
but was unable to again take the stand.
Killed Soon After Luncheon.
DR.. Harris testified that the girl must
have been killed in less than an hour
after she ate her luncheon on the day
before her body was discovered in the
basement OF the pencil factory.
Dr. Harris said that he had made a
careful examination Of the contents of
the Phagan girls stomach. and that he
found the food she had eaten had not
been more than partially digested- He
produced some Of this food in court in
cased in q glass jar, together with an
other jar containing fully digested food
Of similar kind. The witness said that
he was positive that the girl was muir
of an hour after she ate the food he ex-
hibited.
This, it was contended by the state.
proved that the girl never left the factory
after calling for her pay on the after
noon of April 26.
Death Due to Strangulation.
DR.. Harris, after further questioning
said that he had made a careful ex-
animation OF the Phagan girls physical
condition, and that there were unmis-
taxable evidences Of violence shortly be-
fore death.
He stated positively that death was due
to strangulatiOn. 1t was shortly after
this that the witness, who has been Ill
for several days. collapsed and had to be
assisted from the stand.
At the opening of the afternoon SEES
sion Judge Roam reversed his previous
ruling, which excluded testimony tending
to show whether others connected with
the pencil factory, aside from the defend
ant were nervous and excited at the dis
covery Of the crime
Several witnesses of minor Importance
were called by the state after DR.. Harris
left the stand. None of these was able to
relate anything not already disclosed.