Evening journal., 1915-06-21

overwhelming character could be
found in support OF claims of his in
nocence.
Persons familiar with his friends
views were of the opinion. however
that the latter would make deter
mined attempt to save him from a
long term of Imprisonment.
Their judgment was that his law
yers would undertake simultaneous
~ TO find stronger evidence. as basis
LOT asking pardon, and to get the
case again into the courts.
The murder. whoever committed il.
was a brutal one. Mary Phagan left
her home on the afternoon of Satur
day April 26, 1918. The Confederate
Memorial Day was being celebrated
and The child expected to participate
in the celebration. She went TO the
factory to collect a small sum which
was due her for work there. not
knowing that the other employees had
been notified to call the previous day
for their pay. She arrived at the
factury shortly after noon. Accord
ing to Franks story he gave the girl
her money and she left
But she did not return home that
night and her body was not founu
until $3.50 o'clock the following morn
ing. Newt Lee, a night watchnan.
found the girls body in the cellar OF
the factory. She had been beaten
about the face, her clothing was
torn and a cord was wrapped tightly
around her throat.
Frank being the last person to see
the girl alive, was closely questioned.
Then Conley finally declared that
Frank killed the girl on the second
floor of the factory and finding him
in the building compelled him TO dis
pose of the body.
Conley was cross-examined by
able lawyers, but his story was never
discredited in court. The defense
held to the theory that he had killed
the girl himself and implicated
Frank in order to save his own
neck.
One interesting incident ~ the case
was the investigation made by Detec
tive William ]. Burns. Burns de-
clared his belief in Franks innocense.
There was much Indignation aroused
at the methods which Burns and his
operatives are said to have employed.
They we're charged with intimidating
witnesses and framing evidence.
! The varied features of the case
have attracted the attention Of the en-
tire nation.
Frank is New Foremost in his
behalf have been the Hebrew people
of the United States. They have work
ed for his release in many ways, pro
viding funds for his great legal fight
throwing the sentiment of their
strong organizations in his favor and
making a unanimous appeal that he
be spared.
Not the least spectacular incident
of the long fight has been the con-
tinued insistence of his innocence.
made by Frank himself
81 am being made a blood sacri-
flee" he declared dramatically. when
he was sentenced the second time
"The State of Georgia wills that my
/ life be taken as a blood atonement
/ for the poor little girl who was ruth
! lessly killed by another" Frank has
maintained at all times that he did
not kill the girl
The principal witness against
Frank was James Conley, negro, EN-
ployed as a sweeper in the pencil fac
tory. Conley told the story that Frank
had compelled him to help dispose OF
the girl's body after he had seen
Frank knock the child unconscious
and strangle her. Conley was con
victed of being an accessory and
served one year in the Georgia peni-
tentiary. Conley declared Frank was
guilty of many immoral practices and
declared he was a degenerate.