Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-06
COOK DENIES
AFFIDAVIT
GIVEN OUT
BYGOLICE

Utter reputation of the affidavits
which she was alleged to have sworn
to discriminating conversations in the
home Of Leo NJ. Frank. indicted for
the staying Of Mary Phagan, was
made Thursday by Minola Mcknight,
negro cook for the accused factory
superintendent and his wifes parents.
The woman denies absolutely every
statement attributed to her by the
police, and denies that she even
signed the paper made public by the
police.
The Georgian presented the Nc
knight affidavit to its readers with
the distinct admonition that it must
not be accepted as credible evidence
until passed on in a court Of law. The
affidavit was so full Of strange inco-
herencies and the need for some ex-
PLANTATION was so apparent that a
further Investigation was decided
upon
AAE AbDh , GAeANAAANAAAF 6AHAAA6 NA'N
case a new and startling turn, Is
therefore presented Just as the police
affidavit was-for what it is worth
and not as evidence. It is an utter
and absolute Reputation Of the am
davit printed Wednesday and which
purported to have been signed and
sworn to by her.
She denied unequivocally that she
had made the startling statements IN
the alleged affidavit which might send
Leo Frank to the gallows could their
truth be established beyond a doubt
Regulates Whole Affidavit.
She repudicated the alleged affida-
Wit as a whole and in detail. She
made her denials willingly and en-
phatlcalIy. There was no hesitation
in her replies. Her first comment on
the alleged affidavit constituted a
complete and absolute denial Of its
truth.
Her statements were made at her
home in the rear Of S51 Puliam
Street. Only her husband Albert
Mcknight, and the Georgian reporter
we're present. No member of the
Frank family was about to influence
her replies in any manner II any
influence could have been exerted IL
would be supposed to have been in
the opposite direction, as II was her
husband who was said indirectly 70
have furnished the information which
resulted in her arrest and the three
hours third degree" in the office Of
Chief Lanford.
Mcknight, however, furnished an
other sensation by declaring that he
never had heard his wife say those
things which he is reported to have
told at the hardware shop Of Beck &
Gregg, and which resulted in her
grilling.
Says She Had No Attorney.
The Mcknight woman even went so
far as to say that she had no atter-
ney. Yet the affidavit she is alleged
to have signed said:
@. You make it Of your own free
will and in the presence Of Mr.. Cor
don, your attorney?
"A. Yes, sir.
To The Georgian, the Mcknight
woman declared that she did not
know who Mr.. Gordon was.
Il amt got no lawyer, 'cept God;
H. ...- $780, sI. g~faF -agp3v-
her right hand toward heaven. You
JUS put that in the paper. You jus
tell them 1 amt got no lawyer, 'cept
Cod"
Did you sign any affidavit in the
office of Chief Lanford ?" was the
first question that was asked the Nc
Knight woman.
no. sir. I never had a pen or pen
Gil in my hand" she replied.
Most All Jack Of Lies"
Have YOU read what this affidavit
says as it was published in the pa
pers?"
Tt was read to me; can't read"
is there anything in there that you
said p
mo. sir it's most all a pack OF
lies"
Where did they get all that STUFF.
them"
Il don't know. sir. I don't know"
The remainder OF her statement. fl
effect was
old not say that Frank was In the
house only about ten minutes when
he came home about 1850 on the sat
urEay Of the murder.
did nor say that I understood that
Continued on Page 2, Column 4.