The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-08
Consolidated Aug. 3, 1881.
WON'T HANG, SAYS BURNS.
DETECTIVE DECLARES HE
KNOWS WHO KILLED MARY
PlIAGAN.
says No Mystery I'm Case; That Guilty
Party Is Known and Can't Get
Away-Iiearing to BE Had on 10th.

Chicago. April 3.-William j. Burns.
the detective. declared late today
that he knew who murdered Mary
Phagan. the Atlanta, Ca, girl, for
whose death Leo M. Frank is under
sentence Of death. Whether the mur-
derer Is Frank or someone else. in his
opinion, Burns would not say. but ne
intimated that from his Investigations
and comparing their results with the
conclusions Of the coroner's jury that
he did not consider Frank the sort of
n man capable OF making the attack
on the girl alleged to have preceded
the murder.
Burns, on his arrival today from
Kansas City. related the story of his
investigation. He said his attention
first had beon called TO II by a young
man from Atlanta, who was a passen-
ger on n steamer on which Burns was
returning from Europe. The young
man expressed his regret that Burns
had not become interested i'm the case
before the arrest and conviction of
Frank. Through him Burns read in
newspapers of the trial. and conclud-
ed, from the accounts he saw, that
Frank was guilty. Later, while he was
In Key West, three citizens of At
lanta. including two personal friends
OF Frank, saw the detective and ask
ed him to undertake an investiga-
tion OF the case.
AT first, Burns said. he refused, on
grounds that IL Frank were guilty his
investigation and final conclusion to
that effect could only hurt the de-
fendant. while II the investigation
tended to throw doubt of guilt on him.
IL might serve to thwart Justice.
Franks friends declared that they be-
lisved he had not been given a fair
trial, that he was innocent OF the
crime. but that, IL guilty. they want
ed indisputable evidence OF his guilt.
Burns then took the case. His in
vestigGtions soon showed him, ne
said. first. that public clamor after
crime wave" had resulted In the
police making extraordinary efforts to
adducc evidence tending to convict
Frank" and second. that a report
making out Frank a man of abnormal
characteristics was commonly circu-
lated through the city. putting the
house open strongly against him.
His Inquiries then convinced Burns
that Frank was IA perfectly normal
man. On the other hand. the testi-
mony of physicians was to he effect
that the man who attacked Mary
Phagan was abnormal.
Then Burns interviewed many of
tho witnesses who testified In the case.
At the conclusion he said nc was con-
vinced that he knew the murderer.
There was no mystery about the
murder of Mary Phagan." said Burns.
The tracks of tho murderer were
plain and there Is no doubt as to his
identity.
''The whole story will be clear in Il
few days. | have made a complete
report To Franks attorneys in Allan
ta and In u few days II will be given
out
II cannot anticipate my report. and.
therefore. I cannot say more definite
ly than have what the report will
contain. The murderer of Mary Pha-
gan Is known 10 me and he can't get
away"
l viii say that. in my opinion,
Frank will not hang on April II for
the murder of Mary Phagan. l be-
lieve the Supreme Court cannot ig-
more the evidence we have gathered"
Hearing OF an extraordinary mo-
tion for new trial In Franks case is
set for April 16. the day preceding
that ON which Frank is sentenced 10
die.