The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-04
Noted Detective Tells of In- vestigation of Atlanta
 Murder Mystery
REFUSES TO PLACE
 THE GUILTY PARTY
All Will Re Known in Few Days, Declares Detective, Intimatine Condemned Man Is
 Innocent

Chicago. Apri 3. William ]. Burns. the detective declared lats today that he knew who murdered Mary sPhagan. the Atlanta, Ga, girl. for whose death Leo NJ. Frank Is under sentence of death. Whether the murderer was Frank or someone else, in his opinion, Burns would not say. but he intimased that rom his investigations and comparing their TO- ! suits with the conclusions of the coroncrs 1ury, that he did not think Frank the sort of man capable of making the at- tack on the girl alleged to have preceded her murder.
 Burns, on hls arrival voday from Kaa- Sas City. related the story of his invests gation. He said his attention first had Leen called to Il by soung man froni Atlanta, who was passenger ou steamer on which Burns was returning from Europe. The young man expressed his regret that Burns had not become interested in the ease before the arrest and conviction of Frank Through him Burns read in newspapers of the trial and concluded. from the accounts he saw. that Frank was guilty. Later. while he was In Key West three citizens of Az lanta including two pvrsonal friends of Prank saw the detective and asked him to undertake an investigation of the case.
 At First Refused
 At first, Burns said. he refused on tho ground that if Frank were guilty his investigation and final conclusion to that olfect could only hurt the defendant. while if the investigation tended to throw doubt of guilt on him 1t might serve to thwart justice Frank friends declared that they believed he had not been given a fair trial, that he Was innocent of the crime. but that if guilty they wanted iu- Gisputable evidence of his guilt.
 Burns then took the case. His ihVesu- g1tions soou showed hun. he said, first. that public clarnof. afte- ''crime wave, had resulted in the police making ex- traordinary efforts to adduce "evidence tending to convict Frank" and second. .llat a report making cat Frank man of abnormal characteristics was common ly circulated through the city, putting public opinion strongly against him
 His inquiries then convinced Burns that frank was perfectly normal man. On the other hand, the testimony of phy- sicians was to the effect that the one who attacked Mary Phagan was abnor- nal
 Interviewed Witnesses
 
 Then Burns interviewed many of the witnesses who testified in the ease At the conclusion of thls phase of his lu- Xestigation he said he was convinced that he knew the murderer
 There was no mystery about the mur- der of Mary Phagan." said Burns. "The tracks of the murderer were plain and there Is no doubt as to Ais identity.
 The story will all clear in a few days l have made oompete report to Franks attorneys in Atlanta and in few days it will be given out.
 q cannot anticipate my report and therefore, 1 cannot say more definitely than l have what tho report will con tam. The murderer Of Mary Phagan is known to me and he can't get away
 T will say that in ny opinion Fran6 will not hang on April r for the murder of Mary Phagan. I believe the supreme court cannot ignore thN. evidence we have ssthered'
 Hearing of an extraordinary motion fof new trial in Franks case is set for April 16 the day precearng that on which Frank is sentenced to die.
 Frank was superintendent of pencil factory In Atlanta. On April P. 19l3 Mary Phagan, employed in the factory, Mas found dead in tho basement of the plant. Frank was accused of the crlna arrested and convicted mainly on the tes- ---~~---~~~-~>>---~-~--->-