Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-18
PL AIN TRAIL
Of SLAYER
FOUND

Indications that William ]. Burns
is rapidly approaching climax in
his investigation of the murder of
Mary Phagan are seen in statements
by the famous detective made to The
Georgian Wednesday. Burns declar-
ed that there is no question that he
will be able to clear up the element
of mystery that has surrounded the
case from the beginning.
THE track of the murderer OF the
little girl is plain the famous detec-
tive said. Every criminal, especially
a murderer, leaves track, some trace
of his operations that point TO him as
unerringly as would the blood stained
finger of his victim. In some cases
s.sitss--@Sssta is palmer ana the tran
easier to follow than in others but
in all Of them the track is there.
TN the Pragan case | have found
that the murderer left a plain track;
there are many things that point to
the murderer. ! have found the trail
and my work now will be to follow
it to it's conclusion, where we VIII find
the murderer"
Don't Discuss Details.
Mr.. Burns declined to discuss the
details of the case, nor would he di-
vulge the nature Of new evidence
which It is believed he has unearthed
within the past few hours. He de-
clared, however. that he attached
great importance to the discovery
that the signature OF II. F. Becker is
plainly discernible on the notes that
were found by the side of Mary Pha-
gan's body.
The detective refused to express an
opinion on the possibility Of Leo
Frank having had SINE OF Becker's
blanks on his desk in the pencil fac
tory Office.
RIrns expressed his satisfaction
at the published statement Of Chief
OF Detectives Lanford that the de-
tectiye department will cooperate
with him IN his efforts to solve the
mystery of the murder.
Il never had any doubt" he said.
that Chief Lanford would aid me, or
allow me to aid them, n the inves-
tigatiaon IT is to their interest. ana
to my interest. TO work together"
Think Dorsey Was Honest.
The detective also took occasion 20
express his belief in Solicitor Dor
sey's honesty of purpose in prosecut
ing Leo Frank for the crime.
81 believe that Mr. Dorsey was hon
est and sincere in his work. said
Mr.. Burns Il don't believe he would
have prosecuted Frank unless he had
really believed the man guilty Of the
murder. The one fault that could be
found with the prosecution, in my
opinion, is that they possibly made
the mistake that is so often made.
One man is seized upon as the per-
petrator Of the crime, and all the
work is done with a view to con-
Meeting him with It rather than get
ting at the real truth OF the case, |
have known detectives-apd there are
thousands OF the knd-who formu
late theory Of a crime and who dis
tort Incidents, and almost commit
murder sometimes to make the facts
OF the case ut the theory. Their mo-
tives are excellent, no doubt, but their
zeal Is mlsdrected.'
New Motion Ready.
Counsel for Frank, in announcing
Wednesday that the extraordinary
motion for new trial virtually is
completed and will be filed the latter
part Of this week or the first OF next
intimated taht far more sensational
grounds than those already made
public will be cited.
The grounds generally known in
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