The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-02-02
CLAIMS HE WAS D4ZE0
5000 Bribe Is Alleged But No
One Accused of Giving Il
RosSer Says The Preacher
Talked Fluently and WiIHng-
ly and Was Not Asked Z
Come To His Office

Atlanta, Ga, Jan 30.-The defense
rested late today in the trial Of Dan :
Lehon, manager Of the Burns Detec-
tive Agency: c. C. Tedder a forner
Burns employe, and Arthur Thurman.
a local lawyer. charged with suborra-
ton OF perjury in connection with -h4
Leo NJ. Frank case. Immediately aft
erwards counsel for the State n he
defense began their arguments 10 Inc
jury.
Lawyers. preachers and grand j.
rors were non today's witnesses
called by the defense in an effort =
refure testimony Of the Rev. {. +
Ragsdale and r. L. Barber that they
had been bribed by employees of the
Burns agency to make false affidaVlts
favorable TO Frank. The three de-
also went on the stand and
entered a general denial OF the charges
against them. Tedder stated that aft
er ne entered the employ OF the Burns
agency, which vas working on the
Mary Phagan murder at the instance
Of Franks friends, he asked the ad-
vice of an attorney engaged by the
solicitor generals office. This attor-
ney. he said, later told him he had
seen the solicitor and the latter had
aid
$3.50 1iS - 80 III IN W.
for the Burns people"
Doesn't Remember the Bride.
L. H. Hirsch, member of the pres
n county grand jury. which had
under consideration alleged new
chargs against tn accused. testified
that last Monday Ragsdale told tbs
grandjury his mind was in a daze
when he made the AFFIDAVIT and that
he did not recall how or where ne
got the alleged $500 bride.
Thurman stated that Ragsdale ard
Barber visited his Office where they
were introduced TO Tedder. The Gues-
ton OF afidavits was not discussed
there, he said. and he immediately
went with them TO LehOn's office and
left them. This, he stated, was the
END OF his connection with the mat.
ter.
Burns Disbelieved Ragsdale.
Lehon related TO the court how
he had been called to Atlanta by
Burn in an effort to unravel the
Phagan mystery. The employment q
Tedder was urged, he said, by one o.
ranks friends, though he stated h.
was not impressed with the plan.
When told Burns about IN.
preachers story" said Lehon, as re.
lated to me by Tedder, he laughed
and a he did not want any NOR.
alley stuff He advised me. however
!, to look into It on the chance that j
!, might develop something important.
;, ROSSer Defends Lehon.
Luther Z. Rosser. who was one @
, Frank principal attorneys in his tria
= on the charge of numbering Mar,
Phagan was the first witness for tn
defense today. He testified tha Rags
! dale n Barber came TO his Office IN
: solicited by him TO make the afidayite
Others IN the room at the time. h
= said, were Morris Brandon. his la
partner, and LehOn.
'Ragsdale did most Of h talking.
Rosser testified. He spoke huentls
tho any Fronting or ~suggestio.
from me OF from Lehon. Occasional
Barber added some details. VII.
they finished their statement [ die
tated the substance of them to a ste
~nographer. After reading the write
statements, Ragsdale and Barber mad
= oath TO them and signed them
= The testimony Of Mr.. Brando
tended TO c~orroborate that Of u,
RoSser.