Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-10
EYEWITNESS TO
PHAGAN KILLING
NOW SOUGHT
Story That Companion Of Con-
ley Saw Him Strike Down
Girl Opens New CIews.
! ssUd moJI psnu!6uoo

combed with a fne-tooth comb
and a like combing has been APP
piled to Brooklyn. the city Of his
birth, to find something against
his moral character with what
result? The silence Of the detec-
tive department gives the answer.
"DriveI and Nonsense"
Lanford's conduct in connec-
ton with the woman Formby and
the negro Conley shows that he
was stung by Felder's charge that
he was favoring Frank, or that
for some other reason he was
temporarily out Of his head.
He swallowed whole the state
ments OF this Formby woman,
bearing upon their face the clear
proof that they were by no means
20 be believed
This woman was not unknown
10 Lanford. She did not entrap
him BY appearing under the guise
81 a truthful sober virtuous
woman But so absorbed was he,
either in trying to disprove Eel
dor's charge or in the foolish pride
Of opinion, that he accepted with
out doubt or fair investigation
the driveI and nonsense Of this
woman
So far beside himself did he
become that he had the folly TO
furnish TO the papers. based upon
this woman's statement the the
DRY that Frank, during the night
OF the murder. wishing to rid
himself Of the body, was seeking
10 do so In a room rented from
this woman
The folly and difficulties Of the
theory did not disturb Lanford.
They would have disturbed any
body hut Lanford. His insane
desire 10 Justify himself cleared
the matter OF all difficulties and
foilies.
conIey's Actions.
II the case OF the Fomby
woman did not clear Lanford Of
Felder's charge. that OF the Con-
ley negro ought TO have done so.
Conley rs a very ordinary ig-
norant, brutal negro. not unac-
quainted with the stockaGe. His
actions Immediately after the
crime were suspicious So much
SO that they attracted the atten-
tion of the employees Of the fac
tory and ocoasioned general
comment. In spite Of these facts,
Conley was not taken into Custo-
dy until several days after the
crime, and not then until the em-
ployees Of the factory caught him
suspiciously washing a shirt and
a. a result reported him 10 the
police He was not brought be
fore the Coruner's Jury. and praC-
ically no notice was taken Of him
in that investigation. So swiftly
were I.anford and his associates
pursuing Frank that they ran
over this negro standing In their
path with the marks Of guilt
clearly upon him,
Finally the pressure Of public
suspicion brought this negro to
Lanford's attention. Conley be-
gan to talk. and negro like. 10
talk so as TO protect himself, and
as a means thereto 10 cast suSpi-
cion upon some one else. Drdi-
narily the detectives could he
trusted not 20 aid the negro In an
effort to clear himself 10y placing
the crime on white man. but In
this case IL is 10 be feared that
the negro was not discouraged.
Lanford had finally banked all his
sense. all his reputation az man
and a policeman upon Franks
guilt. and Il would be remarkable
II he discouraged this negro from
involving Frank II Lanford and
his followers had acted wisely,
and kept open minds seeking only
the murderer and not seeking 10
vindicate their announced opin-
ions, the negro would have by this
time told the whole truth
Varying Affidavits.
Conley made one statement II
did not meet the announced opin-
ions Of Lanford. He made anoth-
sr. This second was not up 20
the mark IL did not sufficiently
show Franks guilt. Another was
made which was supposed 10 be
nearer the mark Whereupon
there was great rejoicing For
getting an others. this last state
ment-reaChed through such
great tribuiatiuns- proclaim
ed the truth the last truth. and
that there would be no other
statement
The detectives had az last got
the statement which they thought
sustained their views saved their
regulations and insured their
places
But what q statement, So fun
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