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The Atlanta Constitution,
Sunday, 17th August 1913,
PAGE 1, COLUMNS 1 AND 7.
GIRL SAYS FRANK OFTEN LOOKED IN DRESSING ROOMS
Miss Irene Jackson Testifies That Superintendent Stood in Door While Girls Were Partially Disrobed.
PINKERTONS ACCUSED OF DOUBLE-CROSSING
Mrs. Cora Barnes, Factory Employee, Declares Frank Was Soul of Honor-Asserts Belief in Innocence.
The unexpected happened in the Leo M. Frank trial Saturday when Miss Irene Jackson, daughter of County Policeman A. W. Jackson, was placed on the stand to testify to the good character of Frank.
Miss Jackson is quite a pretty young girl and was formerly employed at the National Pencil Factory, leaving there the Monday following the murder of Mary Phagan. The attorneys for the defense had evidently not questioned her closely prior to her appearance in court. One of her very first answers to Reuben Arnold's questions was sufficient to give him pause and to cause him to hesitate before asking further questions.
"Is his character good or bad?" was the question.
"So far as I know it is good," was the reply.
Instantly Mr. Arnold saw that a mistake somewhere had been made, and he asked the court if the reply could go in that way. Judge Roan ruled that it could.
DORSEY QUICK TO SEE OPENING.
Solicitor Dorsey was quick to see the opening and when the witness was turned over to him for examination he drew from her the statement that on several occasions Frank had opened the door of the girls' dressing room while they were disrobing and had looked in. She stated that this had been reported to the forewoman of their department and the matter had been generally discussed among the girls. At one time, Miss Jackson stated, her sister had started to quit on account of these occurrences.
The witness stated that Darley had told several of the girls that if they would stick by the company during the trouble following the murder of Mary Phagan they would not lose anything by it. She said she had quit her job because her father had insisted on her so doing.
The defense endeavored to show that Frank's visits to the dressing room, which has windows on Forsyth street, were made because he had heard of girls flirting with men on the street.
WOMAN DECLARES FRANK GUILTLESS.
In sharp contrast to the statements of Miss Jackson, which, when analyzed, have but an indirect bearing on the case, was the passionate outburst of Mrs. Cora Barnes, who works on
PAGE 6, COLUMN 1
the fourth floor of the pencil factory.
Before the stereotyped questions could be put to her she asserted her absolute faith in the innocence of Frank, and said she would be willing to die almost to prove his innocence. She said she had heard slighting remarks made about him after the commission of the crime, but that she did not care-that she knew him to be the soul of honor and kindness.
The witness caused considerable merriment by her vehement outburst of enthusiasm in behalf of her employer.
PINKERTONS AND POLICE.
During the cross-examination of W. D. Mac Worth, a Pinkerton detective, who worked on the Phagan case, Solicitor Dorsey endeavored to show that the Pinkertons had not "toted fair" with the Atlanta police in regard to the finding of the bloody club and the fragments of the pay envelope containing the letters "M. P."
These were the main features of the proceedings Friday.
At the morning session Mrs. Rae Frank, mother of the accused, was again placed on the stand. Her testimony was of minor importance, and on cross-examination she was questioned principally as to her husband's financial affairs.
Many of the girl employees of the National Pencil factory took the stand Saturday and testified to Frank's good character.
MAY LAST WEEK LONGER.
As stated in The Constitution of Saturday, the trial may last fully one week longer. Frank will doubtless take the stand Tuesday at the latest. Following this will come many witnesses in rebuttal by the state, and then will come the argument which will take at least three days.
The generally accepted estimate is that the verdict will not be rendered before Sunday, one week from today.