davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
SHOWS MOTIVE FOR
MOVING BODY.

DuranI was the librarian; he didn't
want to leave II there In the library.
he wanted II in the belfry. This man
Frank wanted 1t off the second floor.
Tell me, if you will, men of common
sense and reason. tell me where was
any motive In this man to have moved
Blanche Lamont from the library. he
being librarian, except the same mo-
tive that prompted Frank in moving
that body from his office floor down
into the basement?
That, gentlemen OF the jury, is the
case that Mr.. Arnold says the jury
went wrong In convicting. They
didn't. The Judge that tried 1t ap-
proved the verdict: the high court ap-
proved the verdict; the community
and the civilized world, notwith-
standing he was a professed Chris
tlan and member of the church and
societies, and 1t isn't true that any
man ever confessed it, because the
dastardly deed was done by Theodore
Durant.
Before I get down to the discussion
OF the States case ! want to clear out
the underbrusE, and let you under
stand the legal principles, because His
Honor has got to charge you, and I'm
not going to mislsad you either. LIN
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

They put Newt Lee into a room
and hhdcuffed him to chair. 1
spoke him at some length In there,
but l couldn't get anything addi-
tional 1T Of him. He said he knew
nothin albout couples coming In there
at niSt and. remembering the in
structils that Detective Black had
given e, ! said: Now, Newt. you
are hei and | am mere and you had
better pen up and tell all you know.
and tie the truth and tell the full
truth, ecause you will get us both
into los of trouble il you don't tell
all yorknow." and he answered like
an oil negro: Before God, Mr..
Frank, am telling you the truth and
l have told all | know" And the
conveiation ended right there.
with minute or two afterward
Detect,es Scott and Black came back
into IT, room and began questioning
Newt he. and then it was that I had
my firs initiation into the third de-
gree the Atlanta police depart
ment.
The way that fellow Black cursed
at tina poor negro. Newt Lee, was
somethlg awful. He shrieked at him;
he YIELD at him; he cursed, and did
everything but beat him. Then they
took Nwt Lee down to a cell and L
went t. my cot in the outer room.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
ANSWERED DETECTIVES
Freely. He SAYS.

Now. ,efore closing my statement,
I want to touch upon couple in
sinuatios and accusations not on the
bill of Indictment which have been
leveled me so far during the trial
The FRS is the fact that l would not
talk tothe detectives: that | would
moi see linn Conley. Well. lets look
into the facts a few minutes and see
whether there was any reason Tor
that, or IL there be any truth In that
StatemeH.
On Suntay morning | was taken down
to the uniertaker's. to the Factory, and
went &c police headquarters. l Went
to the headquarters, the second Time,
going there willingly without any one
coming for me.
On eacn occasion | answered them
freely and unreservedly. giving them the
benefit OF the best of nay knowledge
answering all and any Of their ques
tiors and discussing the matter gen
orally with them.
On Monday they came for me again
I again answered their questions and
gave them a statement, which they tool
In writing, because l thought it was
right, and 7 was glad to do it.
Tuesda( I was at the station sgair
and disclosed the matter not only with
the police, but with the reporters. ant
talked to any one who wanted to tall
TO me about it, and / have even talked
TO them at midnight when | was aDou
TO go to bed
Midnight was the time they chose Il
talk to me but even at such an out
landish hour l was willing to hell
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
PAYS TRIBUTE TO
HEBREW RACE.

| say to you here ard now that the
race from which that man comes is
as good as our race. His ancestors
were civilized when ours were cutting
each other up and eating human flesh.
His race Is just as Eood as ours-just
30 good. but no better. I honor the
race that has produced Dsraeli, the
greatest Prime Minister that England
has ever produced; | honor the race
that produced Judah =. BENJAMIN,
as great lawyer as ever lived
in America or England, because he
lived in both places and won renown
in both places. | honor the Straus
brothers. Oscar the diplomat, and the
man who went down with his wife
by his side on the Titanic. I roomed
with one Of his race at college; one
of his race is my partner.
But. on the other hand. when Becker
wished to put to death his bitter
enemy, ii was men Of FRANKS race he
selected. Abe Hummel, the lawyer,
who went to the penitentiary in New
York, and Abe Reuf, who went to the
penitentiary in San Francisco:
Schwartz. the man accused Of stab
bing girl in New York, who COM
mitted suicide. and others that I could
mention, show that this great people
are amenable to the same laws as you
and I and the black race. They rise
to heights sublime, but they sink to
the depths Of degradation.
Now, gentlemen. Mr.. Arnold spoke to
you about that Durant case. That case
Is celebrated case. 1t was said that
that was the greatest crime OF the CEN
tury. | don't know where Mr.. Arnold
got his auth ority for the statement that
another person had confessed to the
crime; 7 would like to know it.
Mr.. Arnold; | got it out of the pub
lie prints at that time. Mr.. Dorsey,
published all over the country. I read
It in the newspapers. that's where
got 1t.
Mr.. Dorsey: Ny information is that
nobody has ever confessed to the muir
der Of Blanche Lamont and Minnie Will
liams. But, gentlemen of the jury, as
I'll show you by reading this book, II
was proved at the trial. and there can
be no question about the fact, Theodore
Durant was guilty. the body OF one Of
these girls having been found in the
belfry OF the church in question. and
the other in the basement Here's the
book containing an account OF that
case, reported in the forty-eighth Pa
cinc Reporter. and tins shows, gentle
men OF the Jury. that the body Of that
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

and l say 1t with no disrespect, be-
cause l like him-is "as mild hammered
a man as ever cut a throat or scuttled
ship" And their conduct through
out this case has been extraordinary.
They have maligned and abused me;
they have abused the detectives: they
have heaped calumny on us to such an
extent that that good lady, the mother
Of this defendant. was SO wrought up
that she arose. and in this presence de-
nounced me as a dog. An. there's an
old adage and it's true,
when DID any thief feel the halter draw
With good Up MON Of the law;
don't want your good opinion in this
case. ] neither seek it nor ask II. If
you put the stamp OF your approval on
me In this case I doubt II / would be-
leve in my own honesty.
"Prejudice and perjury" says Mr..
Arnold. and tfey use the stereotyped
phrase that i. "fatigues their indig-
nation" An gentlemen. don't you let
this "purchs sed Indignation" disturb
your nerves or deter you from your
duty. 'ru, chased ind! d!gnation" You
ought 80 have been indignant (ad-
dressing Franks lRwyers); you are
paid to be SO. Prejudice and perjury.
Gentlemen, do you think that l, or
that these detectives are actuated by
prejudice? Would we as sworn offi-
GERS OF the law have sought to hang
this man on account OF his race and
religion, and passed up Jim Conley.
negro?
Prejudice! Prejudiced, when they
arrested CAN'T and released him?
Prejudiced. when they had Newt Lee?
No. But when you get Frank. then
you have got prejudice at the same
, time.
Now. let's SEQ about this thing
These gentlemen were disa ppointed
because this case wasn't pitched on
that theory. Not a word emanated
from this side, not a word indicating
any feeling against, any prejudice
: against, any human being. black or
white. Jew or Gentle. We didn't feel
; ii, We would despise ourselves If We
had appeared in this presence and
asked you to render a verdict against
any man. black or white. Jew or Gen
tile. on account Of prejudice. Now,
: mark YOU, they are the ones that
: mentioned it, not us; the word never
: escaped our mouth
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

in the papers. He was an unknown
quantity.
The police were not looking out
for him; they were looking out for
me. They didn't want him and had
no inklinS that he ever said he
couldn't write.
was sitting in a cell in the Fulton
county jail-it was along about April
1o-April IL or 14--when Leo Gott-
heimer. a salesman for the National
Pencil Company. came running over
and said: Leo. the Pinkerton de-
tectives nave suspicious OF Conley.
He keeps saying he can't write and
these fellows over at the factory
know we'll enough that he can write,
can't he" | said: Sure. he can
write"
Gottheimer said: I'VE can't prove
IT. the Niger says that he cant write
and we feel that he can write
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
READS RECORD OF
DURANT CASE.

(Reading from Book).-"Upon April
Is. the defendant was arrested and
charged with this murder. At that time
1'nrant was young man, "a years of
age, student OF the Cooper Medical
College of San Francisco, and a men,
her OF the Signal Corps OF the National
Guard of the State. He was inter-
ested in religious work, was an attend
ant. II not member of Emmanuel
Baptist Church. was a member Of the
Christian Endeavor Society, was As
s.stant Superintendent Of the Sunday
school and was librarian of the church
library.
"As Is abundantly testified to, he
bore the esteem OF his fellows as a
Jealous. earnest and upright young
man. OF commendable character and Of
sincere Christian life. When arrested.
ne was upon service Of the Signal
Corps. to which he was attached. Upon
the trial his defense was an alibi---
the last resort Of the guilty man. He
declared that he had seen Blanche
Lamont In the morning Of April 8.
when she was on her way to school. but
never again thereafter: that ne himself
had gone to his medical college and
there had attended lecture at the time
when, under the contention Of the
prosecution. the girl had been by him
murdered in the church.
'Ry the prosecution It was shown
that Blanche Lamont was a regular at
tendant Of the Emmanuel Church and
belonged to the Society OF Christian
Endeavor, OF which Durant was also a
member. The two were we'll acquainted !;
indeed. they seemed to have stood in
their intercourse upon terms of cordial
and trusted friendship They met at
religious and social gatherings. to and
from which Durant frequently escorted
the girl in company with her sister and
others OF their social circle. Durant
had a key to the side door Of the
church. and was thoroughly familiar
with the building and premises.
George King was a member Of the
church and It's organist He knew de-
fendant. and the two were very friendly.
At 5 o'clock on the afternoon of April 3
ne entered this church by the front door.
letting himself in with his key. He no.
ticed a strong smell of gas. and went
forthwith into the library to see If it
was escaping there. He failed to find
the leak. Thence. closing the library
door, he proceeded directly to the Sun
day school room, and, sitting at the
piano, began to play.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
DIDN'T WITHHOLD
FACTS ABOUT CONLEY,

Now tnat is the reason. gentlemen,
mat l have kept my silence-not be-
cause ] didn't want to talk, but be-
cause didn't want to have things
twisted.
Then that other implication-the
one OF knowing that Conley could
write and Withholding that informa-
non from the authorities. Let's look
INTO that. On May was taken to
the Tower.
On the same date, as ! understand
II, the negro Conley was arrested.
didn't know anybody had any suspi-
cions about him. His name was not
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
PARENTS SACRIFICED
PROPERTY TO SAVE HIM.

have no rich relatives in Brooklyn.
New York My father is an invalid.
My father and mother together are
people Of very limited means. My
father is not able to work. l have
no relative who has any means at all
except MIR. N. Frank. who lives in
Atlanta. Georgia. Nobody has raised
a fund to pay the fees of my attor-
neys. These fees have been paid by
the sacrifice in part OF the small
property which my parents possess.
Gentlemen, some newspaper men
have called me the silent, man in the
tower" and ] kept my silence and my
counsel advisedly until the proper
time and place. The time is now
the place is here. and ! have told you
the truth---the whole truth.
AS Frank concluded his long
talk to the jury an affecting scene
took place. The young Mrs. Frank,
who mad borne herself with re-
markable fortitude throughout the
trial, at last was conquered by
her emotions and sobbed unre-
strainedly leaning her head on
Franks shoulder.
He put his arm about her and
comforted her, appearing the least
concerned person in the courtroom.
Tears were running down the
cheeks of his mother. Mrs. Rae
Frank sitting on his other side.
The spectators remained in COM
plete silence deeply touched
No word was spoken for several
minutes and then Judge Roam, in
n husky voice, ordered court ad-
journed.
The jurors rose to their feet
but stood for some time with eyes
fixed on the figures Of the wife
and mother OF Frank in their sor-
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

Here is the address OF Solicitor
General Dorsey to the jury. He
began Friday afternoon, August
~ aud concluded Monday. August
25 making the longest address to
a jury ever given in criminal
case in Georgia:
May it please Your Honor:
want to thank you for the courtesy
YOU have granted us in giving us unllm-
tied time in which to argue this case
and ] desire, gentlemen Of the jury, TO
commlserate YOU. But, AS His Honor
has told you. this is an important case
II 10 important to society. important 70
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

In reply to the statement OF Miss
Irene Jackson, she is entirely mistaken
in supposing that | ever went to the
ladies' dressing room for the purpose OF
making improper gaze into the girls
room.
| have no recollection o! the oCca sions
of which she speaks, but | do know
that that ladies' dressing room on the
fourth floor IS mere room In which
the girls change their outer clothing.
There is no bath or any other equip
ment there. and 1t has windows opening
onto the street. There was no lock on
the door and ] know that never went
into that room at any hour the girls
were dressing.
These girls We're supposed TO be at
work at o'clock. Occasionally ! nave
had reports that the girls were flirting
with men through the windows OF this
room. 1t also Is true that some times
the girls would loiter in this room when
they ought to be at work.
IT is possible that on some occasions
I looked into this room to SEQ II the
girls were doing their duty and were
not using this room as a place 10 loiter
and u fiirt.
These girls were not supposed to be
dressing in that room after O'Clock.
and know that l never looked in there
at any hour when l had reason TO sup
pose there were girls dressing therein.
The statement Of the negro Conley
is tissue OF lies from first to last.
know nothing whatever of the cause
OF the death OF Mary Phagan. and
tonley's statement as to his coming
up and helping me dispose or the
body, or that ] had anything to do
with her or to do with him that day. is
a mOnstrous lie.
The story as to women coming into
the factory with me for immoral pur-
poses Is base lie, and the few oc-
casions that he claims to have wit
messed immoral conduct on my part Is
a lie so vile that | have no language
with which htly to denounCe 1t.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
WANTED HIM TO QUERY
WATCHMAN LEE.

I went with them to a little room on
the top floor Of headquarters. In that
room were Detective Black and Detec-
tive Scott and myself They discussed
the possibility Of couples having been
let into the factory at night by the
night watchman. Newt Lee.
told them I didn't know anything
about it and that II had certainly
should have put a stop to 1t a long time
before. They said "Mr. Frank. you
never have talked along with Newt Lee
You are his boss and he respects you
See what you can do with him. We
can't get anything more out Of him see
il YOU can" I said: "All right, ! un-
derstand what you mean. l will do my
best" for I was entirely willing to help.
Black said: "Now. put it to him
strong: put 1t up strong to him and tel,
him to cough up and tell all he knows.
Tell him that you are here and he Is
here and that he better open up and tell
all he knows about happenings at the
pencil factory that Saturday night, or
you will both go to hell"
These were the detectives exact
words. I told Black I caught his mean
ing, and a few minutes afterward De-
tective Starnes brought up Newt Lee
from the cellrOom.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

III remember correctly, that Is what he
said. Detectives Scott and Black then
opened the package hey had and dis
closed the full shirt Of that material.
which had all the appearance of being
freshly stained with blood and had a
very distinct odor. Newt Lee was taken
back to the cell.
After a time Chief Lanford came over
to me and began an examination OF
my face and of my head and OF my
hands and arms. I suppose he was
trying to see If he could find any
scratches.
stayed in there until about noon
when Mr.. Rosser care In and spoke 10
the detectives and to Chief Beavers
He then came over to me and said:
"Chief Beavers thinks II better that you
be detained at headquarters. but II you
desire you don't need to be locked up
IN cell: you can engage super
numerary policeman, who will guard
you and give you the freedom OF the
building" Immediately acduiesced.
suppoeing that I couldn't do anything
else, and Mr.. Rosser left.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

Solicitor Dorsey's scathing
arraignment of Leo NJ. Frank.
which marked the last hours
OF the famous trial. will be
continued in next Sundays
installment.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
GIVES THEM SPECIMEN ,
OF HIS HANDWRITING.

1t was about this time, after MIR.
Rosser left. that they took me from
up stairs down to the sergeant's desk.
and Detective Starnes came In and dc
tated from the original notes that were
found near the body-dictated to me, TO
get a sample Of my handwriting.
Have you got those photographs there? ?
photographs are handed to the Defend
anti Now. l had no hesitation in CIV
ing him a specimen Of my handwriting.
the note.
You see -. NJ s." in the corner
there? That Is Detective Starnes.
myself. so / would be able to recognize
or anything like that.
Detective Starnes then took me to the
desk sergeant. where they searched me
and entered my name on the book un-
der charge Of suspicion"
They took me back into a small room
while my father-in-law was arranging
for supernumerary policeman to
guard me for the night They took me
then to a room on the top OF the build
ing. and I sat in the room there, either
reading magazines or talking to my
friends. until / was about to retire, at
midnight.
had the cover Of my cot turned back
and was going to bed when Detectives
Scott and Black. at midnight Tuesday.
April 20. came in and said: "Mr. Frank.
we would like to talk to you little bit.
Come in and talk to us" l said Sure.
l will be only too glad to-
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Continued from Preceding Psse.) }

~ tConkinued from Preceding Pase.)
NouHd on the back Of her head
and accounting for the presence
OF the strands OF hair on the
lathe handle, according to the
theory Of the State. The de-
fense made much Of the probaJ
bility that blood would havJ
been found at this place more
-thah any other IL the states
theory was correct.
i toox Mr.. Scott all through the
building to the third and fourth hoors.
and theh ! took him to the basement
and he rlade a thorough search that in.
ciuded sn examination Of the elevator
well. Which was at the bottom of the
elsvat tor shaft.
noticed that Mr.. Scott was for
aging abund down there. and he picked
un TWO or three, or maybe four, .rti-
cles AM put them in his pocket, and
one OF hem that espec ally notice
was a. hece of cord exactly like tina,
which Dad been found around the litt!e
sirfs nck.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
OPENlD BACK DOOR;
SEARCHED ALLEYWAY.

We Vent back, and showed him
wnere to officers said the slipper had
oeen lQnd. the hat had been found
ana IN little girls body had been To-
Gated. 1 showed him. in fact. every
ming Tat the officers had showed us.
InenI opened the back door and We
MADE thorough search OF the alley
way all went up and down the alleH-
way ad down to Hunter street, ard
up Hufer to Forsyth. In front OF the
pencil actory. In front OF the rae
tory ad quite a little talk with him
as to te rates Of the Pinkertons.
He I'd me what they were, and
had NJ Schiff telephone Mr.. Montaz
to sect they were satisfactory. M.
Montaesaid that he would engage him
for a Nv days. at any rate.
Mr.. SOFT then said: well. I don't
need aything more" and he added:
The hkertons in this case. Accord
ing to cir custom in ferreting out tine
perpetror of a crime. will work hand
in hanavith the city officers" I said:
"All rht; that suits me-" And hs
went o his way.
AIRED home Monday night about
$50. l hould Judge, and found there
my moter-in-law. my wife and Minola
-HHst' anu we nau supper. wy WIG
and rfred about 10 o'clock Tuesday
mornin,I arose some time between Z
and 1."Oleisurely dressed and took my
breakfa, caught the $40 car and ar
rived the pencil factory about $50
o'clock.
l imndiately entered upon my rou-
tine wNk. and at about $50 o'clock !
went olmy usual trip over to MontaH
Bros. see the general manager
After styling over there short time
returnef and I was working along in
the reRlar routine Of my work in the
office al about the factory when Detec-
tives bck and Scott came up to the
factory nd said, "Mr. Frank. We want
you to )me down to headquarters with
U.S. an went with them
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
DECLARES "I'VE BEEN
IN PRfON EVER SINCE"

We vat down to headquarters. and
] nav been incarcerated ever since
We wet to the station in an automo-
bile ar they took me up to Chief Lam
iord'sff1ce. I sat there and answered
eny rstions that he desired.
| hi been sitting there some time
when Detective Black and Detective
Scott lne back with a bundle. They
showe' me a piece OF material from
some 'rt and asked me II had a shirt
or ths material. I looked at it and
told tim I didn't think I ever had a
shirt othat description.
In u meantime they brought in
Newt lie. the night watchman. brought
him uprom cell and showed him the
same snple. He looked at 1t and i'm
mediatv recognized it. He said he
had a art like that but didn't remem-
Der OF taving worn it for two years
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-12-09
MAY
GIVEUP Plans
FOR CENTENARY

BUENOS AIRES.-Plans for the
elaborate celebration next July of the
Tooth anniversary of the establish
ment of the Argentine Republic have
been largely curtailed because of the
world-crisis now prevailing, and it has
even been suggested that the celebra.
ton be postponed for several years
unless there IS early relief from the
general trade depression
Congress- has cut down considerably
the sum Of money which was deemed
necessary to carry out the original
plans, so there is little likelihood that
the centenary of the constitution will
be observed on such an elaborate
scale as was the centenary of the
war of independence, which was eele,
brated in May, 1910.
Although a gradual recovery in
trade and commerce generally is no
ticed, and the prospects for the com.
ing year are favorable, there is wide
spread protest against drawing heavily
from the national excheQuer for any
patriotic celebration at this time.
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-12-09
a RARRARous CUSTOM.

Through the recent mutiny at the
Boys Industrial school at Waialee,
Oahu. it was brought to light that six
of the boys had been shackled with
steel chains around their ankles to
keep them from running away. Thus
they were forced to hobble about as
best they could.
No wonder the boys mutinied. Such
barbarous treatment alone would have
been sufficient reason. One would
imagine they were hardened criminals
of the worst type instead of young
boys placed in the reform school for
petty offenses. The moral effect Of
such cruelty borrowed from former
ages may readily be imagined.