Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-12
Staying CHARGE
FOR CONLEY IS
EXPECTED
Speedy Indictment of Negro Is
Likely Following Publication
Of Mincey Affidavit,
Continued From Page 1.

Mincey was employed until two weeks
ago, was seen Friday and was dis
posed to discredit Mincey's affidavit
He declared that Mincey was some
thing Of a braggart and that on the
Monday following the crime had as
serted his belief in the guilt of Newt
Lee. When Conley was arrested, saic
Dukes, Mincey at once became just
as certain that Conley had committed
the crime
'Mincey was wondering how much
money he might make as a witness
and seemed more concerned with thi,
phase Of the case than with the iden.
tity of the murderer" said Dukes.
conIey Indictment Likely.
The speedy indictment of Jim Con
ley on the charge of numbering Mary
Phagan was the strong possibility dis
cussed in court circles Friday follow
ing the sensational turn given the
strangling mystery.
For nearly two months a self-con-
fessed accessory after the fact Of the
murder of the little factory girl, Con
ley has been allowed to go without ar
attempt at bringing an indictment
against him. The startling new evil
dence which indicates most strongly
IL the credibility of the defense's wit
ness can be established, that Conley
was not the accessory after the fact
but the actual principal in the crime
is expected to result in a thorough in
vestigation by the Grand Jury of al
the rumors and stories which have
been in circulation of the negro's con
nection with the pencil factory trag-
edy.
Dorsey Makes No Comment.
Solicitor Dorsey Friday morning
would make no comment on the new
evidence.
The detectives openly declared theil
disbelief in the statements of Mincey
They said that he told a different
story when he was at police head
quarters. and that he asserted after
confronting the negro that Conley
was not the man with whom ne talked
the afternoon that Mary Phagan was
murdered
Chief Lanford Of the city detec-
tives, and Harry Scot, of the Pinker-
tons. said that If MinCey had related
to them the story told in his sensa
tional affidavit they would have made
an immediate investigation in an at
tempt to verify II and would have
sworn out a warrant charging ConleN
with the murder If a basis for the
story could have been found.
Denies Police Assertions.
Mincey's statement in so far as il
provides an answer to the detectives
was that he did tell the same story tc
them that he did iden ify Conley as
the man he talked with on Saturday
afternoon, and that the detectives
told him they didn't care to take his
evidence
"Conley told me SatuI day afternoon
that he had killed a Eirl and didn't
want to kill anybody else Mincey
swears he told the detectives.
This man MinCey never made men.
ton of having heard Conley say tina
he had killed girl, and Mincey nevei
even Identified Conley." is the reply
Of Detective Scott to this assertion.
Detective headquarters were thrown
into excitement by the publication
of the startling developments. With
in a few minutes Scott was in con
ference with Chief Lanford and /
was said that II had been decided
to make a search for Mincey with
view of bringing him before SoliC;tO
Dorsey for a grilling in regard 10 hi
story accusing the negro.
News Disturbs Dorsey.
Solicitor Dorsey was evidently dis
turbed by the new turn in the mys
terry, but would make no announce
ment of his Intentions in respect I,
quizzing Mincey providing Mince,
can be found. The witness is said t
be in Chattanooga at present teach
| ing school Leo Franks lawyers, i
| they know MinCey's whereabouts, ar
| keeping II a profound secret. The,
| had not intended even that the con
tents of his affidavit should be mad
| public They declared, however, tina
/ he would be on hand for the tria
prepared to repeat everything he sal
in the affidavit
The latest rumor in connection witt
! the Phagan mystery is that the girl
| mesh bag pocketbook which she car
rjed to the factory on the day sh
met her death has been found an
/ has been examined for finger prints
/ This rumor could not be confirmed a
! police headquarters.
Lee Hearing Saturday.
| The habeas corpus proceedings il
/ behalf of Newt Lee, night watChmal
/ at the pencil factory. will be Tough
out Saturday forenoon at 10 o'CloCl
/ before Judge Ellis. Bernard L
| Chappen representing the negro SAT-
( that he would issue subpenas for a
| least so witnesses whose testimon,
| he would rely upon to obtain the free
| dom Of his client
Among them will be Leo NJ Franl
and Jim Conley. The appearance o
! both Of these men. the first accused
of murder, the second held as a ma
terial witness. will be bitterly con
/ tested. Reuben r. Arnold, of coun
sci for Frank. has declared that M
/ law on earth can force Frank to ap,
pear as a witness at the hearing.