Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-24

defense with entirely new evidence
which viii be Incorporated In the mo-
tion.
Woman Now Denies Story.
The affidavit alleged 70 have been
made by Mrs Formby is the latest
development On the case. It IS IN
derstood 10 have been secured by G.
W. Burke, a private detective at
tached 70 Mr. Rosser's office. who
obtained the affidavit from Albert
Mcknight Saturday attacking Roy
Craven. The wOman's latest aft
davlt. it is minated by the defense.
declares that her previous statements
made to Chief Beavers and Chief
Lanford, are untrue and that she was
forced to make them by detectives
who threatened her with arrest and
expulsion from the city.
The original ahidavit Of Mrs Form
by, made before chief Beavers, chief
Lanford, and Solicitor Dorsey. Judge
Broyles and Sidney j. Coogler. stat
ed that shortly before O'Clock on
the evening Of the murder Of Mary
Phagan, Leo Frank called her on the
telephone and asked her II he could
bring a girl to her apartments on
Piedmont avenue. She stated that
Frank had been there before with
women. but that this time she refused
20 let him come on pretense that she
was going 10 leave her apartments
for an automobile ride and would not
be at home
Little Credence Given Tale.
The police from the start placed
little dependence upon Mrs. Formbys
affidavit. ana she was never called to
the witness stand Police declared
that her record is bad and that she
had been the keeper OF a disreputable
resort.
The defense attaches considerable
importance to the affidavit made Sat
urday by Albert Mcknight, who
branded as false his previous affidavit
declaring that he had seen Frank on
the day Of the murder. and that his
wife Minola Mcknight, had told him
Of Franks actions on the night fol-
lowing the murder.
Mcknight asserts. In his late am
daVit, that his statements damaging
10 Frank were made at the request or
white man employed by the Beck
Il Gregg Hardware Company and
that they were the result Of con
spiracy TO obtain the reward offered
for the arrest and conviction of the
murderer OF the little girl.
Calls Frame-up Charge Bunk"
Bunk was chief of Detectives
Lanfords brief hut expressive char
acterization Of charges Of "frame-up"
against the detective and police de-
partments In the obtaining OF evl
dencc against Frank,
There is nothing To the charges
that are reported TO be contained In
ahidavits in the possession Of the de-
Tense he said. IT'S all bosh and
nonsense. There was nothing crook
ed or improper in the methods tina
were used by the detectives / wish
the public could know how cleanly
the entire case was conducted by this
department
Everything was fair and above
board Everything that we did is
open TO the world. The anldavits
that we took all were given us vol
unfairly, or with very little urging
There was no coercion
Formby Wonan's Story.
As to the Nina Formby affidavit.
II was the fformby woman who called
up the detective department and told
US she had some information OF
value to us. We sent "A man out
there. lie reported her statement
that Frank had called up repeatedly
on the night of the murder and had
made desperate efforts TO obtain her
permission 10 bring girl TO her
house
We thought there might be some
thing to her story, and Chief Beavers.
Solicitor Dorsey and myself went out
there, We told her il her story was
true to come TO the police station and
swear to it. She did this the next
day. There was no frame-up or any
thought OF a frame-up II she lied
she did u on her own account"