Sunday, 17th August 1913: Frank To Tell His Own Story Monday Afternoon To Jury, The Atlanta Constitution

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Which Will Decide His Fate

That Leo Frank will take the stand Monday afternoon is the statement of his attorneys Saturday afternoon, who predicted that the defense would be able to close its side at the end of the Monday session.

It is now a settled fact that the accused man will make a statement. Heretofore, there has been much speculation over this prospect. Some were inclined to think that no statement would be made by the defendant, while scores of others, who gave attention to his story at the coroner's inquest, felt assured that he would take the stand.

Under the Georgia law, he cannot be examined either directly by his own attorneys or indirectly by counsel for the prosecution. His own story will be told without effort at support or contradiction, and he will come from the stand immediately upon its completion.

150 Girls to Testify.

Another important development was made public yesterday when it was learned that the defense will examine every girl and woman employee of the pencil factory, 150 or more in number. This will occupy all the morning session Monday and part of the afternoon proceedings. A large number of employees already have been placed upon the stand.

They will be asked regulation questions regarding Frank's character and scenes they have witnessed in his office; whether or not they have gone to his office or elsewhere with him for immoral purposes.

It is also hinted that a strong effort will be made to impeach Jim Conley on the testimony of pencil factory employees. A majority of these workers who have already testified have declared that they would not believe the negro on oath.

Case May Reach Jury Wednesday.

Both counsel for the defense and state express the belief that the case will go to the jury not later than Wednesday night.

The prosecution, it is rumored, will put more than fifty new witnesses in rebuttal to evidence produced by the defense. Chief of this new testimony, it is reported, is the statement of the little Hewett girl who was recently brought from Cincinnati by Mrs. Mary Bohnefeld for the express purpose of testifying in the Frank trial.

The girl has been an inmate of the Home of the Good Shepard for several months, having been sent there by her parents. She was once an employee of the pencil factory, it is said, and will testify in rebuttal of character testimony submitted by the defense. She is now being held in the matron's ward at police headquarters.

A large number of girls and women, it is rumored, will testify for the prosecution. The identity of these new witnesses and the nature of their statements, however, are being kept closely secret.