Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-30
DEFENSE PLANS
To TEAR DOWN
CONLEY TALE
Expect to Prove Frank Innocent
by Discrediting Negroes Story
Of Phagan Crime.

Warned that the State is baslng
practically all of its expectations of
sending Leo NJ. Frank to the gallows
on the dramatic story told by Jim
Conley, the defense this week is COM
pleting the collection Of a strong line
Of evidence with which it is planned
! utterly to discredit the negros state
ments and his testimony in court.
Conley again has insisted on con-
fronting Frank. He says he is GER
tain if he can meet the factory super
intendent face to face he can make
him tell the whole story" The ne
gro has told the detectives he not only
is willing, but is eager to repeat in
the presence of Frank the story of the
disposal of Mary Phagans body just
as he has related it a dozen times
since he first made the sensational ac-
acknowledgement that he had a part in
the crime.
1t Is regarded as most unlikely that
che two will be brought together
Luther 2. Rosser, attorney for Frank,
has refused to make any definite
statement of his attitude in the mat
ter, but 1t is known he looks with
suspicion on every word and every
act of the negro. He has given the
impression that he is not unwilling
for his client to face the negro, but
that he regards the court room as the
proper place for the meeting and the
actual trial of Frank as the proper
time. For this reason. the dramatic
moment when acCuser and accused
confront each other in all probability
will be saved for the time when the
legal battle is in progress for Franks
life.
Attack Planned on Negro.
At this time, it is the intention of
the defense to begin with the first
statements by which Conley connect
ed himself with the case after he had
remained silent for two weeks follow
ing his arrest. Franks lawyers will
take the separate details of the ne
gros affidavits, one by one, and seek
to show that in the light of proba-
bilities they are utterly absurd and
ridiculous.
Particular emphasis will be placed
on the fact that the negro has lied
deliberately many times in the stories
he has told of his connection with
the crime. The defense will take the
position that 1t is most unreasonable
for the State, after the negro has
made two affidavits admittedly per-
juries, to base It's case on a third am
davit which it holds is absolutely
true.
In the firm belief that Conley's re-
Nn - e,
face with Frank is a mere subterfuge
by which the negro is seeking to shift
the blame for the crime, Attorney
Rosser is expected to give him a most
merciless grilling when he is called to
the witness stand by the State. The
defense makes no secret of it's expec-
tation of breaking down the Negroes
tale. An open court confession would
not surprise them, they say.
Believes Conley Won't Break.
Solicitor Dorsey and his associate
in the prosecution Frank A. Hooper,
ridicule the possibility that the negro
will make a confession on the witness
stand. Mr.. Hooper said Monday
morning that he believed the. negro
would make an excellent witness,
probably the most valuable one the
State would call He did not believe
that Conley would break down under
the fire of questions from Attorney
Rosser and Reuben Arnold, both of
whom have a wide reputation for the
ra.ktng cross examination to which
they can subject a person in the wit
ness chair.
Il haven't any thought that ConIey
win falter," said Mr.. Hooper. He
has told me a clear, straightforward
story. The details are fresh in his
mind. He can not be confused. and
the court, of course. will not permit
him to be intimidated should there
be any effort of the sort on the part
of the cross examiners, which l do
not anticipate"