The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-18
BURNS HOPESTO
CLEAR Up MYSTERY
Visits Pencil Factory, Where
Frank Is Alleged to Have
Killed Girl.
WANTS TO TALK TO CONLEY
Records and Evidence OF Atlanta
Detectives Will Be Placed
at His Disposal.
WANTS TO TALK TO CoMLEY
I Especial to rho Timcs-pispatch.l

Especial to The Times Dspatch.l
Atlanta. March l1.--FoilowinE visit
to the pencil factory where Mary .Pha
gan was found slain. and examining
every inch of the trail that Jim Con-
ley, the negro Waterman, pointed out
as the route over which he dragged
the girls body for Leo Frank, Dctcc-
tive William j. Burns made the an
nounccmcnt that he had picked certain
evidence which he believes Will clear
UP the mystery
Of his find, but from his close inspec-
ton OF the lathe room, where the girl
was supposed to have been murdered.
1t is believed that he is of the opinion
mcnt.
Detective Chief Langford. OF the
local department, declared to-day that
there Will be no conflict between the
Atlanta detectives and the Burns men.
He said his records and the evidence
In the case are at the disposal of
Burns said to-day that he has not
received permission to confront Conley.
But ! believe I'll get to him before
very long" he said.
Burns docs not expect TO break Con-
ley down at this late date, but he hopes
TO gather from the lips OF tho negro
an mat he Knows OF the murder of the
girl.
II do not intend to hazard any opin-
ION as TO the guilt of any person until
lave completed my investigation and
Gin ready to make my report public.
10 q" so would be impractical and i'm
proper lie said.
making his tour OF the pencil factory
were G. 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 room where Conley told the officers
he found the huddled and lifcless form
OF Mary Ehagau shortly before l
o'clock the afternoon of April 20.
Verdict ls Defended.
., Inc verdict die, OF guilty in the trial
National Pencil Company. charged
with the murder OF Mary Phagan, four
teen Years old, was defended here to-
night in statement issued by j. I.
Ozbnrn. one of the jurors.
Pleas by three Atlanta ministers on
sunday ior new trial for Frank. nov
called for the Jurors statement Tie
ministers asked a new hearing for the
convicted man on the ground that, ac-
opinion was intlamed against Frank at
the time and tho evidence was subject
TO doubt. The statement of the jury
follows in part:
Three men, speaking from as many
pulpits in Atlanta last Sunday. arc
quoted as charging that the trial of
ing r that the verdict be set aside.
The jury heard all the testimony,
and claims to have sufficient intelli-
evidence without prejudice not
withstanding the opinion of the holicr-
tham-thou gentlemen TO the contrary.
We were not trying yellow dogs
sheep Killing. dogs nor dogs OF any
other character, but white man
charged with heinous crime, and,
speaking for myself, and. as ] believe,
Tor every member of the fury, we
realized the solemnity or He respon-
sibility resting upon us.
The testimony was strongly COR
roborated by sworn witnesses as we'll
az ny circumstantial evidence in every
point which influenced the mind of the
jury" .
Franks death sentence has been or-
hrmcd by the State Supreme Court and
ms attorneys now arc making prcpara-
lions TO Tile an extraordinary motion
Tor new trial on the ground OF newly
discovered evidence