The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-05-22
Atlanta Jurist Characterizes
Sleuth as Alleged Great
Detective-"IS a Men
ace to Peace of the
Community"
Tuesdays Atlanta Georgian)


by the Burns agency was delivered
Monday by Judge Ben Hill in spe-
cial charge to the new Fulton county
grand jury which is ITO probe the
charges of bribery, coerSion and 9th
er Irregularities in connection with
the recent hearing on the extraordi-
nary motion for a new trial for
Frank.
"A menace to the peace of the COM
munity, to the State and to the ad-
ministration of justice" and "an al
legged great detective" were two of
the characterizations applied by the
judge to the famous sleuth.
Demands Deep Probe.
The judge demanded most thor
ough probe of every activity in which
agents for the defense and prosecu-
tion had been engaged in the investi-
cation of the case, and declared that
it was necessary once and for all to
clear up and quiet the charges that
were being made.
He demanded the indictment of
every person concerned with the
Ragsdale and Annie Maude Carter
confession" affidavits, if it should
and improper influence were we'll
founded.~ He mentioned by name Ar
thur Thurman, the\ lawyer, who,
Ragsdale said, paid over the money
for the afiidavits of R. l.. Barber and
"It is not amiss to say" said the
judge, "that the people of this sec
tion and of all Georgia have been
wrought to high pitch by the ac-
tions of a detective, alleged to be a
famous sleuth.
I doubt the wisdom of having
sleuths from other States, noted and
great, or Infamous, as they may hap
pen to be, coming here and CRITICS.
: ing our officials and our courts as
has been done.
"Here Seeking Notoriety."
They come here under the pre-
tense of seeking truth, aid they an
nounce that their sole aim is to find
the guilty and to uncover the truth,
but they are here seeking notoriety.
We don't want them here.
ave believe it is right for those
who issue licenses to private detec-
tives to deny such men the right to
come here and operate. They do not
detect crime; they encourage it. They
State and an obstruction to the ad-
ministration of law"
Judge Hill introduced his attack
upon Burns by reviewing briefly the
later history of the Pi,agan case and
the fight in the courts conducted by
the attorneys of Leo Frank. He did
not call Burns by name, but referred
to "the alleged great detective" and
made it unmistakable just whom he
was attacking.
"The court wishes to call your at
tention to a case which has been on
trial in our courts" said the Judge.
at was terrible murder and a man
has been accused of the crime, tried,
convicted and sentenced.
"The lower court was affirmed. 1t
was said to have committed no error.
The higher court ruled that the ver-
dict was supported by the evidence.
IAN extraordinary motion for a
new trial was made. A number of
witnesses them declared that the tes-
timony they had given on the stand
was false. They said they had been
led into giving the false testimony by
the city detectives.
Demands Indictments.
81 charge you diligently to investi-
gate these charges, and, if they are
true, to return indictments not only
",
but against the officers as well.
Later several of them repudiated
the affidavits they had made retract-
ing their trial testimony. They said
that the affidavits had been obtained
by agents for the defense by the use
Of bribery, coercion, threats and even
by forgery. instruct you to find out
which is false and which is true, and
then return indictments against the
men who were responsible. Indict de-
ton or perjury.
cial familiar with every intricata de-
tail of the case, will call your spe-
cial attention to two points.
dale, made a remarkable affidavit in
which he related having heard a ne
gro, later identified as Jim Conley,
confess to the murder of Mary Pha-
gan. And then, in three days, he de-
clared the affidavit was false and that
he had been paid 5000 for making it,
and that another man had been paid
500 to support him in the story. He
said the money had been paid them
by Arthur Thurman when a detective
in the employ of the defense was
present.
"Indict Man Who Paid It,"
"Find out if the money was paid,
and, if the minister's story is true,
indict the man who paid it. and if YOU
believe a detective for the defense
knew to what use it was to be put
indict him also.
"Annie Maude Carter, a totally dis
reputahle and who1Iv x.ovthlo.. -.