Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-26
STORY
BY WOMAN
CALLED
FALSE

Chief of Detectives Lanford
Thursday planned to investi-
gate, along with his probe into
the Albert Mcknight affidavit,
the statement of Mrs. Nina
Formby that she was piled
with whisky by detectives to
get her to make false affidavit
against Leo NJ. Frank.
Mrs. Formby's statement
charges a deliberate plot on the
part of detectives to get fake
evidence against Frank, and
goes into full details.
However, chief L.anford. Chief
Beavers and all the detectives who
talked to Mrs. Formby when the af
fidavit was made denounce Mrs.
Formbys assertion as false Chief
Lanford does not consider the wom
ans statement of much Importance,
because she was not called as a Wit
ness a the trial
The negro Albert Mcknight sull is
being sought by the detectives, and
his affidavit stating that he testified
falsely against Frank IS being inves
tigated
whole Affair Ridiculous"
Meantime Attorneys Rosser and Ar
mold for the defense are going ahead
with the preparation OF their detailed
reasons for n new trial. which they
will present for decision before Judge
Ben H. Hill in the lower court soon,
following the Supreme Courts denial
Of rehearng on the original evil
dence.
This whole affair about false affi
dayits and new evidence in the Frank
case is ridiculous" said Chief Lsnford
Thursday. There is nothing new in
ward The statement that detec-
tives coerced or gave whisky to Mrs.
Formby TO gel false evidence from her
against Frank is fairy tale concoct-
ed to muddy the waters.
This Mrs Formby called me on
the phone. and said she had informa-
ton against Frank that might be
used. l sent Detectives Vickery, Ros-
ser, Chewing, Norris and Handy to
see her. All these men say Mrs.
Formby was offered nothing TO make
an affidavit against Frank.
after these men reported on their
visit, ! sent for Mrs Formby, and she
came to my Office. In the presence %
Chief Beavers, Solicitor Dorsey, Pro-
baton officer Coogler, Recorder
Broyles and myself Mrs. Formby
made her statement, which was taken
by D. c. FEBRUARY and sworn to by
her
Says Woman Was Sober
Mrs. Formbys statement was vol
untary, and she was sober when she
made It. We thought she was lying
at the time. She never was called as
q witness at the trial"
THE published reports OF Mrs.
Formby's confession in New York
come as news to me- said Luther
Rosser. Il didn't know she was in
New York even. ! haven't anything
to say at present on the possible
bearing of her admissions on our
case"
Mrs. Formby. pleading repentance
over having given false evidence
against Leo NJ Frank" "Wednesday
called UP a New York paper and ask
ed to be permitted to make public
denial Of her affidavit.
Mrs Formby said she was piled
cd her to make the statement against
of delirium tremens.' that she was
headquarters and forced to state that
she had made discriminating state
ments against Frank"
Here is Mrs Formby's story
Il remember quite well the day
that Mary Phagsn was murdered 1t
was on April rs, and | remember it
because it was my birthday l re-
member also quite well that day that
Mr.. Frank was arrested. and / re-
member too that it was only about
a week afterward that Detectives
Norris and Chewing called me up
over the telephone and asked me it
/ had any booze, ! told them | didn't
have any and they said they would
bring some around TO my house,
"They called around that evening
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