Sunday, 10th May 1914: Burns Expected Back To Face Contempt Charge, The Atlanta Journal

Detective May Return Voluntarily If Wife's Condition Will Permit

William J. Burns will likely return to the city voluntarily to face charges of contempt of court, brought against him and his chief lieutenant, Dan S. Lehon, by Judge Ben H. Hill of Superior Court. At the office of his Agency here, it was stated he is now in New York City at the bedside of Mrs. Burns, who is critically ill. If her condition shows improvement, he will probably return.

The law firm of Little, Power, Hooper & Goldstein, one member of which, Frank Hooper, assisted the solicitor general in the original prosecution of Leo Frank, has been retained by the Burns Agency to look after its interests, and the firm will represent Burns and Lehon at the contempt hearing on Tuesday.

Burns and Lehon are charged with contempt because of the sending of Annie Maud Carter, a Negro witness, out of the state. Discussing the matter, Mr. Lehon says, "Our purpose in sending the woman away was told on the witness stand by Mr. Burns. We were not trying to keep her away from the courts, but simply away from third degree methods of detectives. The woman was in our care all of the time and we were ready to produce her whenever the courts wanted her. We proved this. When Judge Hill ordered her brought back to the city within five days, I immediately sent for her, and within three days, I turned her over to the sheriff myself."

Lehon, who is under a $1,000 bond to appear as a witness before the grand jury, will remain here and face the contempt proceedings, and it is probable the attorneys will acknowledge service on the Rule Nisi for Burns. If this procedure is followed, the contempt charge may be heard without Burns actually appearing in the court.