256 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

224 &. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

at the pencil factory; have never lation of Mr. Frank with any of

met Mr. Frank at any time or the girls at the factory. I have

place for any immx purpose. never heard of his putting his
Mra. J. J. Wardlaw. Worked arm around eny girls on the

eat the pencil faetory; Mr. street car, or going to the wooda

Frank’s character is good; have with them.

never heard of any improper re-

THE PRISONER’S STATEMENT.

Leo M. Frank. Gentlemen of the jury: In the year 1884, on
the 17th day of April, I was born in Quero, Texas. At the age of
three months, my parents took me to Brooklyn, New York, and I
remained in my home until I came South, to Atlanta, to make my
home here. I attended the public schools of Brooklyn, and pre-
pared for college, in Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, In the
fall of 1902, I eniered Cornell University, where I took the course
in mechanical engineering, and graduated after four years, in June,
1906. I then accepted a position ss draftsman ‘with the B. F.
Sturtevant Company, of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, After re-
maining with this firm about six months, I returned once more to
my home in Brooklyn, where 1 accepted a position as testing en-
gineer and draftsman with the National Meter Company of Brook-
lyn, New York. I remained in this position until about the middle
of October, 1907, when, at the invitation of some citizens of Atlanta,
T came South to confer with them in reference to the starting and
operation of a pencil factory, to be located in Atlanta. After
remaining here for about two weeks, I returned once wore to New
York, where I engaged passage and went to Europe. I remained
in Europe nine months. During wy sojourn abroad, I studied the
pencil business, and looked after the erection and testing of the
machinery which had been previously contracted for. The first
pert of August, 1908, I returned once more to America, and im-
mediately came South to Atlanta, which has remained my home
ever sinee. I married in Atlanta, an Atlanta girl, Misa Lucile Selig.
The major portion of my married life haa been spent at the home
of my perents in law, Mr. and Mrs. Selig, at 8 East Georgia Ave
nue. My married life has been exceptionally happy—indeed, it
hhas ‘been the happiest days of my life. My duties as superintend-
ent of the National Pencil Company were in general as follows:
I had charge of the technical and mechanical end of the factory,
looking after the operations and seeing that the product was turned
out in quality equal to the standard which is set by our competitors.
I looked after the installation of new machinery and the purchase
of new machinery. In addition to that, I bad charge of the offica
work at the Forsyth Street plant, and general supervision of the
lead plant, which is situated on Bell Street. I looked after the pur-
chase of the raw materials whieh sre used in the manufacture of
pencils, kept up with the market of those materials, where the prices
fluetuated, so that the purchases could he made to the best possible
advantage. (After deseribing what he did on Friday.) Sat-