Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-09
PHAGAN PAY
ENVELOPE
FOUND
Discovered Shortly After Trag-
edy by Detectives, but Find
Was Kept Secret.

Two sensational developments
marked the Phagan case Wednesday.
One was the testimony of Miss Mat
tie Smith. an employee of the Ma
tional Pencil factory, that she had
seen a negro sitting on the first floor
Of the factory between and 10 o'clock,
at a time when Conley had denied be-
ing there. The second was the an
nouncement Of the finding of a part
OF a pay envelope declared to be the
envelope Of Mary Phagan.
A piece of an envelope bearing
Mary Phagan's number was found on
the first floor of the National Pen
ell factory behind a radiator, only
a few feet from where Jim C0Aley,
negro sweeper at the plant, wee zst-
ting on the day the little factory girl
was murdered, according to informa-
tion made public Wednesday after
noon.
Robbery Again Suspected.
This startling development in the
strangling mystery is believed more
strongly than ever to point to rob
berry as the original motive for the
attack upon the girl and to turn sus-
picion more directly upon Conley.
One corner of the envelope was
found behind a radiator where the
person who attacked Mary Phagan
presumably threw it to do away with
any evidence against him. Her num-
Der was found upon it. according to
the men working on the case.
Miss Smith told a Georgian report
er that she saw a negro there that
morning and believed it was between
9 and 10 o'clock. She thought she
might be asked to identify Conley. If
she Identifies the negro, it will dis
prove Conley's statement that he did
not go to the factory until after he
mad met Frank Saturday.
Judge w D. Ellis Wednesday morn
ing postponed Indefinitely the hear
ing on the application for a writ of
habeas corpus TO liberate Newt Lee.
material witness in the Phagan muir
der mystery.
The action came as the result of an
agreement reached between Graham
& Chappeu, attorneys for Lee, and
Solicitor General Hugh NJ. Dorsey. 1t
is believed to mark the end of all eff
forts to gain the negro's freedom be-
fore the trial Of Leo NJ. Frank July
Is.
The most unconcerned person in
! the courtroom was Newt Lee. He
was brought before Judge Ellis by
Deputy Sheriff Miner
Lee Is Unconcernsd.
1T don't make no difference to me
whether l am inside or outside the
JAIL" he said to a reporter. TITS
just as the white folks say. l don't
know what all this is that's going on.
know that my church offered to get
me a lawyer. I guess this Mr.. Chap
pell must be the one"
Chappell did not appear in the
courtroom. Lee was represented by
c. ]. Graham, Chappells law partner.
Graham and Arnold had conference
half an hour before the hearing, and
after it was announced that the judge
would be asked for a postponement.
Solicitor Dorsey arrived shortly be-
fore the hearing began and shortly
afterward William NJ Smith, attorney
for Jim Conley. and Herbert Haas,
associated with the defense, entered
the courtroom.
Attorney Chappel was opposed in
his move to obtain the liberty of Lee
not only by the lawyers for the de-
Tense, but by those of the prosecution.
II have cdvised against this ac-
ton" said Solicitor Dorsey, land
have no idea that it will be success
full The State will be able to pre-
vent the liberation Of the negro, as
We regard him as a most important
witness in our case against Leo
Frank. BY permitting him TO go free
would be taking serious chances Of
losing him az a witness Whsn the case
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