Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-12
FACE CONLEY
AND FRANK,
LANFORD
URGES
Detective Chief Ready to Have
Accuser Confront Prisoner
Before Grand, Jury

New sensations are expected in the
Phagan mystery Friday morning
wncn the petition Of Solicitor Dorsey
for the revocation Of the order hold
Ing James Conley as a material wit
ness is heard before Judge L. S. Roam.
luther u. Rosser. attorney for Leo
Frank will be afforded his first op-
po~tunity formally to present his rea-
sons for the holding of James Conley,
not only as a material witness in the
battling murder mystery, but as an
actual suspect.
While it is not anticipated that the
attorney WIN disclose his hand too
freely, 1t is TO he supposed that he
will present every argument he be-
lieves necessary 10 keen the negro in
the custody Of the State,
Lanford Agrees to Test.
Chief of Detectives Lanford Thurs
dav replied 20 the demand Of Luther
~. Rosser that Jim Conley be taken
before the Grand Jury by making the
startling proposition that he would
take the negro TO be questioned by
this body the instant that Rosser as
scented to having Frank before the
Grand Jury at the same time.
That this dramatic situation is not
beyond the pale Of possibilities with
in the next few days is indicated by
the attitude of Franks friends, who
have been suggesting just such an
arrangement
Chief Lanford Is Willing.
Il am perfectly willing that Conley
should be taken before the Grand
Jury" said Chief Lanford. Il think
it only fair however, that Rosser per-
nit his client TO so there at the same
time, where lac may be confronted by
the negro and where the negro may
tell his story right before Frank.
Just the instant that Rosser con-
sents to an arrangement of this sort,
] will be prepared to have Conley on
his way to the Grand Jury room.
There will be no delay. II is irregu-
lar, of course, but 1 am perfectly will
ing to waive that phase Of the mat
ter The fact that Frank already is
indicted makes it unnecessary for
Conley to be called before the Grand
Jury TO give testimony against him"
Chief Lanford, referring to the ef-
fort to remove Conley from the sta
ton house TO the jail. said that he
would hold the negro at police head
quarters until there was a court or
der TO the contrary He said that If
Solicitor Dorsey's petition was sue
Cessful and Conley was freed from the
present court order, that he would
still be held at the station as ma
terial witness.
Attorney Rosser would make no
comment for publication on the prop
osition made by chief Lanford, ex-
cept to say that he stood on his open
letter published earlier in the week
III this letter he made an emphatic
demand that the Grand Jury investi-
gate Jim COnIey. with a view of in
dieting MIN as the possible murderer
of Mary Phagan.
Little Chance for Bargain.
Tt has been the attitude Of the de-
Tense from the start that it has no
reason 90 trade with the detective
force. and for this reason il is regard
ed as doubtful if the appearance of
Conley and Frank before the Grand
Jury will come as the result Of bar
gain between Chief Lanford and At
torney Rosser.
Attorney ROsseT however will con-
tinue to insist that # is within the.
province and the duty Of the Grand
Jury 10 probe Jim Conley's story and
e indicI him as the suspected muir
derer. if the evidence warrants. In
this investigation Leo Frank. as an
indicted suspect, is in the hands Of
the Grand jury and can be called al
, any time. This makes il entirely pos
sible, if Chief Lanford consents to-
let Coniey 50 before the Grand Jury
Continued on Page 2, Column I.