0566 Slide – Georgia Supreme Court Leo Frank Appeals Documents, 1913, 1914

Visible Translated Text Is As Follows:

Mr. Brent didn't get in the wardrobe, he was too big. He went to wardrobe and we eliminated the time he was supposed to be there. A small man could have got in it. They did not write out the notes. We eliminated that also. Standing in the wardrobe and writing the notes was not included in the sixteen and a half minutes it took. It was said that Conley's testimony was to the effect that he was in the wardrobe eight minutes. The notes were supposed to have taken from 12 to 14 minutes to write, but we didn't add that in our estimate. Mr. Watson and I set our watches together when the performance started. The only thing that we omitted from the entire performance was writing the notes and concealing Conley in the wardrobe. Yes, I wrote that letter. I wrote it partially at the instance of myself, and partially at the instance of Mr. Leonard Haas, my personal attorney.

REDIRECT EXAMINATION. I wrote that letter as a matter of conscience. It is as follows: "To the Grand Jury of Fulton County, W.D.Beattie Foreman: Gentlemen: Among a number of people with whom I have discussed the unfortunate Phagan affair, I have found very few who now believe in the guilt of Leo M.Frank, and I have felt a deep conviction growing in my heart that a terrible injustice might be inflicted upon an innocent man. While we are all still mystified by the published evidence now at hand, I am impelled by a sense of duty to ask that you carefully weigh the testimony of all persons connected with the crime, and the acc-mulating evidence, and if further indictments are warranted, that the Honorable Body, of which you are the Foreman will not hesitate to find them. If I am exceeding the privilege which perhaps might be accorded citizens in thus addressing your Honorable Body, it is your privilege to ignore what I have said. Whatever may be your conclusion in the matter, I wish to assure you in thus addressing you, that I am discharging a duty which has weighed heavily on my conscience, the performance of which I could not forego. I do not even know Mr. Frank, and have no personal interest in the case whatever. Very truly, your fellow-citizen, William Owens."