The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-05-27

ed in a local hotel room at the dlrec-
ton of local detectives. The device
is the one made famous by the de-
tectives whom Col. Fielder himself
employed against Gov. Cole Blease,
of South Carolina, during contro-
versy with that executive, which
nearly resulted in duel between the
two hot-tempered southerners.
The stenographic record in the local
case was made by George M. Gentry,
nephew of Col. w. T. Gentry, presi-
dent of the Southern Bell and Cum
berland Telephone companies.
The Journal further presented
series of afidavits from local detec-
tives and city employees, including
FEBRUARY, which assert that Colonel
Fielder offered them $1,000 if they
would place in his hands certain pa
pers in the Phagan case which, he
declared, the local police had manu-
factured, or framed" and which he
believed would be sufficient "to drive
Beavers and Langford from office"
Coleman's Affidavit.
One of the afidavits in question was
made, the detectives said, by J. W.
Coleman, stepfather of the Phagan
girl, who denied that he had ever
employed Fielder to represent him in
the prosecution of the case. This
"afiant is thoroughly satisfied with
the great work done by Chief of Po-
lice Beavers and Chief of Detectives
Lanford,' and urges the citizens OF
Atlanta "to stand behind the Atlanta
police department" Coleman is al
so a city employee, in the sanitary
department The detectives say the
papers Col. Fielder wanted were IN
the safe of the chief of detectives.
They declare they told the attorney
they might be prosecuted if they ab-
stracted them but say he replied they
could not be put in the penitentiary
so long as "his friend Hugh Dorsey
was solicitor general" They also de-
clare that Fielder said he could CON
troll the criminal court judge, Mayor
Woodward and Solicitor Dorsey. One
OF the affidavits asserts Fslder said
he could get Gov. Joe" Brown, or
Gov.-elect "Jack" Slaton to release
any of the men involved if an at
tempt were made to Jail them.
Denounced Beavers.
FEBRUARY. and A. S. Colvar, an in
vestigator, in affidavits, declare Fefder
denounced Chief Beavers and Lam
ford as "grafters" and said:
"I can call mass meeting tomor-
row afternoon and have 10000 of the
best citizens in this town meet at
Five Points tomorrow night and go
to the stationhouse and hang Beavers
and Lanford to telephone poles, the
two corrupt grafters and thieves"
Colonel Fielder tonight said he had
positively declined to pay any money
for the evidence mentioned in the af1-
davits.
81 stated to them that I would in
troduce gentleman, namely, E. q.
Miles, who might be interested in Sc
curing possession of this evidence. I
am informed that Mr. Miles, after
meeting the party, introduced Mayor
Woodward and several other gentle
men who are interested in probing
the police department. I will later
make a complete reply to these safi-
davits and in addition to this I will
undertake to show to the people of
Atlanta a condition which exists in
respect to the so-caIled detective de-
partment that will be as appalling to
them as it was to me"
Fielder said he interested himself
in the Phagan case at the request
of neighbors and friends of the Cole
mans, parents of the murdered girl.
"Mr. Coleman" he said, personally
approved the employment.
The grand jury adjourned until to-
morrow for further consideration of
the case against Leo NJ. Frank, super
intendent of the pencil factory, where
Mary Phagan worked, and Newt Lee
negro night watchman there, who
had been held by the coroner's jury.