The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-24
His Political Opponents
Using Phagan Muir
der as Club.
FIELDER VICTIM
OF DICTAGRAPH
Alleged Conversation of Attorney
Recorded on Device Similar to
One He Used Against Cole
Blease-Police Department
H d Denounced as
Grafters and Thieves.

Atlanta Ca, May 2s.-The Mary
Phagan case took new and liecidediy
interesting turn to-day. While the
Fulton County grand jury was con-
ridering the evidence so far secured
as 10 the murder Of tho pretty little
fourteen year old factory girl, there
were developments tending TO show the
case has become entaneled In a local
political fight. involving the war mat
has been waged against Chief OF Po-
lice Beavers, who recently identified
himself with the reform movement
which wiped out the segregated district
in Atlanta.
1t is alleged the political opponent,
OF Chief Beavers and hls assistants in
the police department have endeaYorcd
10 make the Investigation OF the Pha-
gan case "A factor In the fight against
him. On the other hand. It is claimed
the local police have resented what
they regard as aspcrsions against them
In the efforts TO bring outside detec-
tives to the city to solve the baffling
murder mystery. II is also claimed
they have endcavored TO entraD Colonel
Thomas Il. Fielder. a local attorney. who
recently raised fund to bring detcc-
tive OF international reputation to At
lanta to Investigate the murder OF the
Phagan girl. Colonel Fielder is widely
known throughout the South. He was
the attorney for Charles w Morse, the
New York banker. when the latter OBJ
tained his release from the Federal
penitentiary here.
Their Conversation Printed.
The Atlanta Journal printed late to-
day what purported to be a steno-
graphic record of a conversation be-
tween Colonel Fielder and g. G. Feb
ruary. secretary TO y. a. Lanford, local
chief OF detectives. with a third party
present The conversation is alleged
10 have been secured by means az a
dictaEraph installed in local hotel
room al the direction of local detec-
tives, The device is the one made IA :
nous by the detective whom Colonel
Fielder himself employed against Gov
ernor Cole Blease, OF South Carolina
during controversy with that execu-
tive, which nearly resulted I'm duel
between the two hot-tempered South
erners
The stenographc record In the local
nephew OF Colonel w. T. Gentry. presi-
dent OF the Southern Bell and Cum
berland Telephone Companies.
The journal further presented r Sc
ries OF affidavlts from local detectives
and city employees. including February
which assert that Colonel Fielder Of
fered them $1,000 II they would place
In his hands certain papers in the
PhagSn case. which, he declared. the
local police had manufactured. or
framed" and which he believed would
be sufficient ITO drive Beavers and
Lanford from Office
One of the .afiidavits in question was
made the detective said. by J. w. Cole
man. stepfather OF the Phagan girl
who denied tina; he had ever employed
Fielder to represent him in the prose-
cution OF tho case. This affidavit also
declares that the "affiant is thoroughly
satisfied with the great work done by
Chief OF Police Beavers and Chief of
Detectives LRnford," and urges the
citizens of Atlanta ito stand behind
the Alta nta police department" Cole
man Is also a city employe. in the
sanitary department The detectives
say the papers Colonel Fielder wanted
were In the safe OF the chief OF de-
tectives. They declare they told the
attorney they might be prosecuted il
they abstracted them, but he replied
they gould not be put in the peniten-
tiary as long as his friend. Hugh Dor
sey, was SolicitorGeneral." They also
declare that Fielder said he could con
troi'' the Criminal Court Judge. Mayor
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