Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-04

mind Of the falsehoods ] have told IN
this case. ] am willing and nope tina
this sworn statement will be delivered
to Mr.. Rosser, who was the attorney
for Mr.. Leo NJ. Frank, as II Is every
word true -. ..,,..
FRANK Wednesday read the
published accounts Of Luther Rosser' $
statement to New York newspapers
and proceeded to make the Formby
womans latest affidavit public.
Il received the affidavit late yes
terday," he said. and a careful read
Ing Of it throws much light on one
phase of my case that mas puzzled me
from the beginning.
Understands Attacks Now.
Il never have been able to under
stand how all at once vile rumors anu
the most vicious type Of Islander be-
gan to be circulated about me. Never
before in all my life had | been made
the subject of any kind of gossip.
This is not strange, for my whole nc
has been clean. But all of a sudden
TIE most horrible stories were circu-
lated, and It was those charges of I'M
speallable vileness that turned the
public against me. OF that am
sure.
Now. / begin to see the light, and
this affidavit is the source.
For example, chief Lanford is
quoted as saying that Harry Latham
was responsible for this very affidavit,
being in New York and not in New
Orleans | am curious to know what
Chief Lanford will say when he is
handed the very affidavit made by
Al NnW Work
Times, and duly authenticated, The
Times assuring itself of her identity
before giving credenCe to the docu-
ment.
THAT may be taken as sample of
detective methods in this case.
Reads From Affidavit.
Now, let me read from this atti-
davit:
1--WE know that man is guilty and
you know he Is guilty, and We have
got to get him, and we are going TO
get him.
That is what Nina Formby swears
two detectives from Lanford's office
told her, admitting freely that they
had to get me- and that she was to
be used as a tool in getting me-
rs it not a marvellous thing that
these detectives knew ! was guilty
within ten days after my arrest, when
the whole investigation was in its
most chaotic state, and long before
Conley had made his alleged confess
sion. duplicating himself and fur
nishing the basis of the so-called eVl-
dence on which l was Convicted
repeat. is it not a marvellous thing
that these detectives knew | was the
guilty man?
Exposes Detectives"
Il might say a good many things
about detective department some
OF the members of which used meth
DDS such as are outlined in this afii-
dayit; in fact. the principal signifi-
canoe of this feature Of the cases in
its exposure Of the weapons with
which the department fought to con-
viCt me.
IF they were at such pains to make
out a slanderous charge TO turn pub
lie opinion against me, is it not rea-
soma BILE to assume they would go even
further in framing up evidence for
use i'm the trial?
"a true case, based on real evil
dence, requires no 'bolstering. The
fact that this case was so carefully
bolstered and propped up makes 1t
certain that ii was no true case.
AS to the detective department, |
don't know # the public approves of
its methods, as exhibited in this case.
But / don't believe the public is IN
favor Of these methods. used by men
paid by the citizens Of Atlanta, and
sworn to protect their lives, their
honor and their property
when a citys detective depart
ment construes its sworn duty into
= l. 10 10 hn1
ster an impossible case in court, it
seems to me that thinking people will
deem it time to look into the matter,