Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-22

Interested In the famous case, he kept
his doubts carefully hid Saturday
night.
will Burns fix the terrible crime
upon the guilty person so positively
that there can be no chance for a
mistaken" is the question that has
been asked probably by thousands
since the advent of the detective in
Atlanta.
Here is the way Burns answered
this question Saturday night:
when my associates and | get
through with this investigation, am
confident that there will not be a
scintilla of doubt as to the person
that killed Mary Phagan. | will
demonstrate so conclusively the gull
ty man, ! believe, that no reasonable
person can be dissatisfied.
Takes Rap at Smith.
What little reputation William
Smith and these private detectives
about the country are willing for me
to enjoy, I will stake on the outcome
l do not wish to speak with bragga-
docio or bombast, but | must say
that the way looks clear to me and
the solution comparatively easy.
This does not mean that / am
overlooking any detail that may serve
to point to the guilty person. l did
not expect to come to Atlanta and
solve the whole mystery by a cas-
ual survey of the situation. I knew
1t meant work, and careful work.
knew that nothing would be accom-
plished by superficial investigation.
1t has been plain to me from the first
that trained minds were required to
uncover facts and circumstances that
were ignored in the turmoil and eX-
element of the first few weeks fol-
lowing the tragedy.
ITO the end that no dark place in
| the whole case may go uneXplored,
have decided to bring here to work
with me two Of the ablest detectives
in the United States-Dan Lehon, OF
New Orleans, and Guy Biddinger, OF
New York. Both of these men have
made regulations for themselves
Both of them worked in the McNa-
mara case, and both also were en-
gagged in the famous Musica case
which involved more than 100000
worth of gems.
Tells of Their Work.
"Biddinger was the man who went
down from New York to investigate
the charges that seats were being sold
in the United States Senate in the
Legislature of West Virginia. He
posed as a Standard Oil man with
all kinds of money, and it was not
long before he had bagged the whole
gang of bribers and grafters. Bid
dinger was sergeant of detectives
sixteen years in Chicago.
"Lehon handled the graft investi-
cation of the Illinois Central, and has
been on scores of other big Eases
Both men are clean, straightforward
and reliable. Besides this, they have
intelligence, which can not be said Of
all detectives
Burns declared that he had accom-
plished much more in his first week
of work than he had expected. Out
lining his general mode of operation
he said ne had familiarized himself
with all of the details of the crime
and that, for all practical purposes, he
was as well acquainted with the cir
cumstances as though he had been
here at the time of the tragedy.
His practice has been to arise about
1880 in the morning a the Georgian
Terrace and prepare for a leisurely
breakfast, in the course OF which he
chats with the newspaper men and
tells them only what he wishes to tel
them. A mere tyro of a reporter finds
ii rough going when he attempts &c
wiring any sensational tip or bit of i'm
portant information from the mar
who is reputed to be one of the best