Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-05
Continued From Page /.

for what he declares was his perjured
testimony.
The lad goes into great detail as 10
the manner in which his testimony
was built mp, and asserts that he told
Black repeatedly that ii was lie. but
that the detectives inYariable reply
was that It would be "al right and
that he would give Epps some money
to get out Of town after the trial II
he wished TO go.
Black is the witness who wilted an
der the trrible fire Of Luther Rosser's
cross examination during the Frank
trial and became 80 confused that he
was compelled 20 leave the stand
Here is the Epps' affidavit in fun
Epps Boys Affidavit
Estate Of Georgia-County Of Bald
Now comes George Epps, who,
upon his solemn oath. deposes ana
SAYS: | am Is years Of age. ] reside
at No. 246 Fox street, In the city OF
Atlanta, but at present | am the re-
formatory a. Mnledgeville Georgia.
In August, 1913. | was witness Tor
the State against Leo M. Frank, VINO
WAS at that time on trial for the muir
der Of Mary Phagan
Il was also called as a witness by
the Solicitor General before the Cor
oner's inquest over the death OF Mary
Phagan
Il now state that Mt both the Cor
oner's inquest and the trial Of Leo NJ.
Frank | swore falsely. ! now state
that was persuaded TO give the false
testimony in both OF the before men
toned hearings by Detective John
Black. I am glad Of the chance TO
tell the truth and relieve my nina
and conscience and clear myself OF
the perjured testimony given at both
hearings. ! have prayed TO God Tor
forgiveness and ! now want to eH-
plain all Of the circumstances ana ~
fuences that made me swear ialseiy
at both Of those hearings VIII say
that the only statements in my lestl-
mony that Is Of trrth Is that | knew
Mary Phngan and that ! rode on the
street car witch her on April 26, 1913,
which was the last time | ever saw
Mary Phagan alive.
ITO explain all of the particulars as
TO how / become to be lead 10 give
false testimony in the Mary Phagan
case. | will begin with my first meet
ing with Detective John Black OF the
police force My home is in the
neighborhooI in which Mary Phagan
lived. and | knew her and most OF the
neighborhood knew her. and It was
known throughout the neighborhood
that John Black was making IN
ouiries there for boys and girls or
neighhors that knew her.
Tells of Black Seeing HIM
1T was known generally IN the
neighborhood that played with Mary
Phagan and talked with her around
the streets Of the neighborhood. IN
Nav. 1913, / was employed at Hlrsch-
Spits Bed Factory In the city OF At
lanta. and one day in May ! was told
bv my boss IN the factory there was
somebody out at the front VINO want
ed to see me. and ! went out ana the
man who was there ana who wanted
to see me was Detective John BACK.
He then told me that he understood
that ] knew something about the
Mary Phagan case. told MN !
didn't know anything about me MARY
Phaehan murder case, but In reply 10
his further questions, admitted 'hdt
knew Mary Phagan.
Il also told him that ! rode down
town on the same car with Mary Pha-
gan on April 20, 1918. lie asked me
what time | boarded tn ecar ana l
told him IL was between 10 ana 10
minutes to IL. He asked me how J
knew the time. and | told him ! had
seen the time on a clock that Is In
Mr. Rryan's store There is in this
store clock, and while standing IN
the door Of this store ! noticed that
clock The minute hand was then
between the hours Of and 10 and
the hour hand was nearly to Il
o'clock. ! know that this clock Is not
l
doesn't run at all, but Il is the only
clock that / saw; that Is how ! knew
the time that ! was boarding the car.
Il had been playing ball, and. being
Saturday, | did not work at the lac
tory. but went downtown and sold
newspa pcrs, and 7 generally left home
90 go downtown about II O'Clock, but
was afraid / would be late this day
April %. Black further questioned
me II l saw Mary Phagan on the car
and ] told him | did; that she sat In
the front seat on the left-hand side,
facing forward and / sat three seats
behind her
Spoke TO Her on Street.
Il did not speak to Mary Phagan on
the car but when we got on the car
at Marietta aud Forsyth streets Mary
got off ahead OF me, and ! said. Hell
10. Mary Where are you going y
Mar,- answered and said, I'm going
10 get my money and go TO see the
parade this day being Decoration
Day and a holiday. This was an OF
the conversation that had with Mary
on that day last saw Mary as she
was going over the yiaduct south on
Forsyth street. and / went under the
viaduct TO The Journal building,
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