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 ]. Burns, master
detective, went through Monday aft
ernOon
Conley made the dramatic trip
through the factory, meanwhile reel
ing off glibly a remarkable story of
his part in the crime, in what he as
serted was re- enactment Of the
tragedy of last April 26.
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 if he could dis
I cover any discrepancies or improba-
bilities N The tale which was the chief
caus Of Franks conviction and sem
ten4e 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 negro's story in his mind,
q am here merely to make a com
nonsense and impartial investiga-
ton of the crime. l do not think that
there will be any mystery to 1t when
all the facts are known.
II do not intend to hazard any
opinion as to the guilt Of any person
until I have completed my investiga-
ton and am ready to make my report
public To do so would be ii1practi-
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
and )ifeless form Of Mary Phagan
shortly before 1 o'clock the afternoon
of April IS
Goes Over Ground Carefully.
The inspection took the three men
along The 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, cursing from the front
Of the building to help him carry It.
Burns went to the basement and
back through the dim light to the
place where the body Of the girl iay
when it was discovered by the negro
by the city police.
The detective asked numerous
questions and made a 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 De 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.
DR.. 3. Wildaeur and Milton Klein,
friends of Frank who were active ir
getting the assistance Of Burns, APP
peared at the session Of the South
ern Newspaper Publishers Associa-
ton at the Hotel Ansley Monday ana
Extended an invitation to the publish
ers to send representatives Of their
papers at any time they wished 10
Interview Frank in the Tower
mir. 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 representative of the
Continued on Page 2, Column l.