Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-17
.SLEUTH GOES
INTO PLOT
!. EVIDENCE
Famous Detective Holds Confer
ence With Accused Prisoner.
Formby Affidavit Probed'

A half-hour talk with Leo Frank,
at which Don c. Seitz, manager of
The New York World, was present,
a discussion of certain phases of the
Phagan murder case with G L. Sears,
manager of the local Burns Agency,
and a conference with Luther Rosser,
chief of counsel for Frank, occupied
Detective William J. Burns Tuesday
forenoon and part Of the afternoon.
Later in the day he intended to re-
turn to the Tower for a private in
terviev with Frank
Burns already is reported to have
uncovered several important leads on
<hich he viii put his operatives to
work at once. His work so far, how
ever, has been with a view of get
ting the various angles of the muir
der case Well in his mind so that his
investigation may be made to the best
advantage
Regulations investigated.
The detectives investiga ton is eX-
pected to throw light on some of the
mysteries Of the case which were in
c.denta to the main features. such as
The Formby affidavit and the testi-
mony of a number of the witnesses
for the State who since the trial have
repudiated the most vital part of their
evidence.
Operatives are said to be working
already on this phase Of the case and
10 be quietly investigating all charges
and rumors of periured testimony and
of efforts unduly to influence wit
nesses who were called to testify both
by the prosecution and the defense.
Burns has assurance from Newport
Lanford, Chief Of Detectives, that al!
the assistance his department could
furnish would be at the famous de-
tective's disposal, and that e, or any
member of his department, would be
ready to answer any questions Mr..
Burns might desire to ask
Offers Burns All His Aid.
81 will throw open TO Mr.. Burns
all the information available to my
department" said Chief Lanford,
land if there is anything in this case
that the Atlanta department has
overlooked, we win be glad to have it
shown to us. We want to solve the
mystely-if it has not already been
solved, as, of course, we believe it
has. But if there is any uncertainty
remaining we are as eager as anyone
else can be to clear it up, and we will
p 10 all in our power to help Mr. Burns,
if he needs our help"
1t is probable that Mr.. Burns will
talk with quite a number of the At
,anta detectives. The idea is that he
especially wishes to confer with Pat
Campbell and John Starnes named is
prosecutors in the Frank bill Of in
dictment, and }. A. Chewing and w.
H. Norris, who are charged by the
defense with framing up the affidavit
Of Nina Formby prior to the first trial.
II was understood Tuesday that the
detective department had quietly col
lected quite mass Of new evidence
that would be used to oppose the
motion Of the defenes for a new trial
Has Long Talk With Frank.
Burns plan includes the intention
to have a long talk with Solicitor
Dorsey and the private investigators
attached to his staff. lie had a long
talk Monday night with Frank in his
cell at the Tower and most Of the
afternoon he was closeted with Leon
ard Haas, of counsel FOR the defense,
when he went over the brief submit
ted by Franks counsel in the appIi-
cation to the Supreme Court for a
new trial.