The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-04
KNOWS GUILTY MAN
IN PHAGAN MURDER
Burns Says There Is No Mystery
as to Identity OF Girls
Slayer
THINKS FRANK WILL NOT HANG
Complete Report OF Investigation
Made to Lawyers Of Con-
dcmned Man.

Chicago. III. April s-wnliam j. Burns
the detective. declared late to-day that
he knew who murdered Mary Phagan. the
Atlanta. Ca. girl for whose death Leo NJ
Frank is under sentence OF death Whether
the murderer war Frank one -is,
Ia his opinion. Burns would not say. but
he intimated that from his Investigations
and comparing their results with tho CON
clusions OF the coron-rs jury no did not,
think Frank the sort OF man capable of
making tho attack on the girl alleged TO
have preceded her murder.
Burns on his arrival today from Kansas
city. related the story of his investtst.
ton. lie said his attention first had been
caieh TO IL by Young man from Atlanta
who was passenger on steamer on
which Burns WAS returning from Europe
The young man expressed his regret that
Burns had not become Interested in the
case before tho arrest ana conviction OF
Frank. Through him Burns read in news-
papers Of tn. trial! and conclud.d from
the accounts he saw. ,hat pa, WI.
guilty. Later. while he was In Key West,
three citizens o; Atlanta. Including two
personal friends OF Frank. the dctec-
tive and asked him to undertake. an IN
vestisa;ion OF the ease.
AT hrst, Burns said. he refused on tho
grounds that II Frank were guilty his In .
vestisation and final conclusion to that
Eject could only hurt tho defendant. Will.
IL th- investigation tended TO throw doubt
Of guilt on him. II might serve TO thwurt
Justice Franks friends declared that they
that he was Innocent OF the crime I'M,
mat II guilty they wanted indsputable
evidence Of his guilt
Burns then took the case His investi-
CATION soon showed him. he said. first tha I
pubic clnnor. after crime wave" had
resulted In the police making extraordinary
efforts TO adduce evidence tending TO con-
wei FRANK. and second. that report
making out Franl; a man OF abnor,n Il. |
chhracteristcs was commonly circulated
through the city, putting public opinion
strongly agaIns; him.
HIS Inquiries then convinced Burns that
FRANK was perfectly normal man on
the other hand, the testimony Of the
physicians was TO the effect that the one
VINO attacked Mary PhaGnn was abnor-
mai. Then Burns interviewed many wit
nesscs who testified I'm the case 4, IN.
conclusion of this phase OF hts investiga-
lion he said he was convinced that he knew
the murderer.
There was no mystery about the muir
der of-AIory Phasan." said Burns. 'Th,
tracks Of the murderer were plain and
there is no doubt to his Id entity.
The story will all clear in few DAYS
have made complete report to Franks
attorneys in Atlanta, and ii Will be given
out soon.
Il cannot anticipate my report. and.
therefoTe' cannot say moro definitely
The murderer OF Mary Phagan is known
TO me and he can't get away
II VIII ray that, in my opinion. Frank
VII not hang on April Il for the murder
gathered"
Hearing OF an extraordinary motion for
new trial in Franks case Is set for
April i6. the day preceding that on which
FRANK Is sentenced to die
Frank was superintendent OF n n,Dcu
factory In Atlanta On April q. 1918 Mary
fhagan. employed in the factory. was found
a n'e. In the basement OF The plant. Frank
convicted mainly on the testimony Of law
Noniey negro empioye OF the factory