Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-16
SCANS TRAIL
Of NEGRO IN
FACTORY
Great Detective Is Confident That
He Can Clear Up Mystery
of Girls Death.

Step by step over the same trail in
the National Pencil Factory that Jim
Conley led the city detectives nine
months ago. William J. Burns, master
detective, went through Monday aft
ernoon.
Conley made the dramatic trip
through the factory, meanwhile reel
ing or glibly a remarkable story OF
his part in the crime, in what he as
serted was a re enactment OF the
tragedy Of last April IS.
Detective Burns, already cognizant
Of every detail of the negro's story,
went over each separate move that
Conley said he made that day, check
ing up TO determine II he could dis
cover any discrepancies or improba-
bilitfes in the tale which was the chief
cause of Franks conviction and sem
tence to hang
Thinks He Will Lift Mystery.
When he had finished he had no
comment to make, except to explain
that his first move was to become
acquainted with the physical fea-
lures of the factory and to photo
graph the Negroes story in his mind.
II am here merely to make a com
nonsense and impartial investiga-
ton Of the crime do not think that
there viii be any mystery to it when
all the facts are known.
81 do not intend to hazard any
opinion as to the guilt Of any person
until | have completed my investiga-
ton and am ready to make my report
public. To do so would be impracti-
cal and improper"
With Detective Burns while he was
making his tour OF the pencil factory
were c. w. Burke, special detective
for Franks counsel. and Leonard
Haas, one Of the defendants LAWYERS
Burns was taken to the spot in the
rear of the metal room where Conley
told the officers ne found the huddled
AMI lifeless form Of Mary Phagan
shortly before o'clock the afternoon
Of April 28
Goes Over Ground Carefully.
The Inspection took the three men
along he narrow passageway through
which Conley said he carried the bodv
OF the slain girl to the elevator in the
front Of the building.
The place was pointed out where
the negro related that the body had
become too heavy for him and that
Frank came, cursLng, from the front
of the building to help him carry 1t.
Burns went to the basement and
back through the dim light to the
place where the body OF the girl Jay
when 1t was discovered by the negro
night Waterman. Newt Lee. and later
by the city police.
The detective asked numerous
questions and made careful inspec-
ton OF Franks office, particularly
with the idea of ascertaining what
could be seen from Franks desk and
how easy or difficult it would be to
see Frank sitting at his desk when
the SAT edoor in the outer office was
open and swung into the office door
way.
Invites Frank Interviews
Or B. Wildaeur and Milton Klein.
friends of Frank who were active in
getting the assistance Of Burns, ap-
peared at the session of the South
ern Newspaper Publishers Associa-
ton At the Hotel Ansey Monday and
extended an invitation to the publish
ers to send representatives OF their
pa pers at any time they wished TO
interview Frank in the Tower.
Mr.. Frank is easily accessible and
will converse on any phase OF his
case" was the effect Of their message
to the newspaper men
Mcknight Not Out Of County,
Albert Mcknight making a STATE
ment to q representative y tia