Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-11
Staying CHARGE
FOR CONLEY IS
EXPECTED
Speedy Indictment of Negro Is
Likely Following Publication
of Mincey Affidavit,
Continued From Page I.

Continued From Page I.
Mincey was employed until two weeks
ago. was seen Friday and was dis
posed 10 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 a witness
and seemed more concerned with this
phase Of the case than with the iden.
tity Of the murderer" said Dukes.
Conley 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
strangllng 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,
II the credibillty 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 a thorough in
vestigation by the Grand Jury Of all
the rumors and stories which have
been in circulation of the negro's con-
nection with the pencil factory trag-
edy.
Dorsey Makes No Comment,
Solicitor Dorsey Friday morning
would make no comment on the new
evidence.
The detectives openly declared their
disbelief in the statements of Mlncey
They said that he told a different
story when he was az police head
quarters and that he asserted after
the negro that Conley
was not the man with whom he talked
the afternoon that Mary Phagan was
murdered.
Chief Lanford. of the city detec-
lives, and Harry Scott, of the Pinker.
tons. said that II Mincey had related
to them the story told in his sensa,
tionai affidavit they would have made
an immediate investigation in an at
tempt to verify 1t and would have
sworn out a warrant charging Conley
with the murder If a basis for tht
story could have been found.
Denies Police Assertions.
Mincey's statement, In so far as 4
provides an answer to the detectives
was that he did tell the same story L
them; that he did Identify COnley al
the man he talked with on Saturday
afternoon, and that the detectives
told him they didn't care to take hi
evidence.
"Conley told me Saturday Afternoon
that he had killed a girl, and didn'
want to XIII anybody else" Mince,
swears he told the detectives.
This man Mincey never made men
ton of having heard Conley say tina
he had killed a girl, and Mincey neve
even Identified Conley," is the repl.
of Detective Scott to this assertion.
Detective headquarters were thrown
into excitement by the publication
of the startling developments With
in a few minutes Scott was in con
ference with Chief Lanford and
was said that II had been decide
10 make a search for Mincey with
view of bringing him before Solicito
Dorsey for a grilling in regard to hi
story accusing the negro.
News Disturbs Dorsey.
Solicitor Dorsey was evidently dis
turbed by the new turn in the mys
| terry, bat would make no announce
ment OF his intentions in respect t
quizzing Mincey, providing Mince,
can be found. The witness is said I
| be in Chattanooga at present teach
ing school Leo Franks lawyers,
they know Mincey's whereabouts, ar
keeping Il a profound secret. The
had not intended even that the con
tents of his affidavit should be mad
public They declared, however, tina
he would be on hand for the tria
prepared TO repeat everything he sal
| In the affidavit
The latest rumor in connection witt
the Phagan mystery is that the girl
mesh bag pocketbook which she car
ried TO the factory on the day sh
met her death has been found an
has been examined for finger prints
This rumor could not be confirmed a
police headquarters.
Lee Hearing Saturday
The habeas corpus proceedings II
behalf of Newt Lee, night watchrnal
at the pencil factory, will be Tough
out Saturday forenoon at 10 o'clocl
before Judge Ellis. Bernard l.
Chappell, representing the negro, salt
that he would issue subpenas for a