Author: Mary Phagan

Monday, 2nd June 1913 Frank Asked Room to Conceal Body Believes Lanford
Atlanta Constitution Monday, June 2nd, 1913 Detective Chief Forms New Theory as to Reason Why Prisoner Is Said to Have Phoned Mrs. Formby. HER DISAPPEARANCE PUZZLING TO OFFICERS Lanford Says He Will Find Her in Time for Trial, But Does…

Monday, 2nd June 1913 Franks Defense is Outlined
Atlanta Journal Monday, June 2nd, 1913 Mary Phagan Met Death on First Floor, Is Claim Defense Will Endeavor to Show That Conley Struck Her in Head and Threw Her Down Elevator Shaft ELEVATOR WAS NOT MOVED APRIL 26, IT IS…

Monday, 2nd June 1913 Grand Jury Ready to Investigate Charges
Atlanta Journal Monday, June 2nd, 1913 Foreman Beck States Position, Probe Awaits Request From Chief Beavers The Fulton county grand jury will investigate the Felder-Beavers controversy if any of the interested parties ask an investigation, according to Foreman L.…

Monday, 2nd June 1913 Negro Cook at Home Where Frank Lived Held by the Police
Atlanta Georgian Monday, June 2nd, 1913 Woman Questioned by Dorsey, Becomes Hysterical; Solicitor Refuses to Tell Whether She Gave Important Information; Alibi for Defense. Minola Mcknight, the negro cook in the household of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Selig, 68 Georgia…

Monday, 2nd June 1913 Negro Girl is Arrested in Phagan Murder Case
Minola McKnight Atlanta Journal Monday, June 2nd, 1913 "I Am Going to Hang and I Don't Know a Thing About It," Shouts Viola McKnight When Questioned by Solicitor Viola McKnight, who lives in the rear of 351 Pulliam street, a…

Tuesday, 3rd June 1913 Attorney Retained for Negro Servant at Franks Home
Atlanta Journal Tuesday, June 3rd, 1913 George Gordon Represents Minola McKnight as Attorney and May Seek Habeas Corpus During Afternoon NEGRESS DECLARES HER HUSBAND HAS LIED She Swears Leo M. Frank Was at Home at Time He Testified Before…

Tuesday, 3rd June 1913 Bitter Fight Certain in Trial of Frank
Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, June 3rd, 1913 Defense Prepares to Show Glaring Discrepancies in Affidavit of James Conley. "Developments of a startling nature may be expected from day to day in the Phagan case," said Chief of Detectives Lanford Tuesday morning.…

Tuesday, 3rd June 1913 Felder Says He Will Lay Bare Startling Police Graft Plans
Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, June 3rd, 1913 Attorney Ready to Go Before Grand Jury, but Has Not Been Called; Hutcheson Summoned in the Airing of the Dictograph Controversy. Colonel Thomas B. Felder appeared before the Grand Jury Tuesday morning at 10…

Tuesday, 3rd June 1913 Grand Jury Calls for Thos. Felder and Police Heads
Atlanta Constitution Tuesday, June 3rd, 1913 Subpoenas Served Monday Night on the Principals in Dictagraph Case and in Charges of Corruption. GRAND JURY TO HOLD INVESTIGATION TODAY Mayor Woodward, Col. Felder, Chief Beavers, Chief Lanford, Carl Hutcheson and Jno. Black…

Tuesday, 3rd June 1913 Grand Jury Told of Vice Conditions
Atlanta Journal Tuesday, June 3rd, 1913 Carl Hutcheson Names 30 Places In His Testimony He Declares He Obtained Information First-Hand by Visiting Places Mentioned and Registering LENGTHY LIST GIVEN JURY BY COL. FELDER He Declined to Make Public His Information—Grand…

Tuesday, 3rd June 1913 Leo Franks Cook Put Under Arrest
Atlanta Constitution Tuesday, June 3rd, 1913 Reported That She Is Being Held as Witness—Defense of Prisoner in the Tower Outlined. Another arrest was made yesterday in the Phagan mystery. Minola McKnight, cook and servant in the Leo Frank household, was…

Wednesday, 4th June 1913 Cook Is Released on Signing Paper
Atlanta Journal Wednesday, June 4th, 1913 Minola McKnight, the negro cook at the home of Leo M. Frank, was released from custody by the police late Tuesday afternoon, after she had signed the sensational affidavit now in the possession…

Wednesday, 4th June 1913 Cooks Sensational Affidavit
Atlanta Georgian Wednesday, June 4th, 1913 Says She Heard Frank's Wife Tell Mother Frank Had Threatened Suicide Incoherent Statement by Employee of Frank Household That Must Not Be Taken as Legal Evidence Until Heard and Corroborated in Court. Another sensational…

Wednesday, 4th June 1913 Fain Named in Vice Quiz as Resort Visitor
Mayor James G. Woodward (left), leaving Grand Jury room after testifying in vice probe; Thomas B. Felder (middle), who exonerates Beavers of graft charges but declares war on Lanford; Carl Hutcheson (right), who gave Grand Jury list of "houses in…

Wednesday, 4th June 1913 Felder Exonerates Beavers, But Says Lanford is Corrupt
Atlanta Journal Wednesday, June 4th, 1913 Witnesses Summoned in Dictograph Controversy, Although Foreman Says Vice Probe Is Not Complete BEAVERS AND FELDER ASK INVESTIGATION Felder's Charges Against Lanford to Be Heard With Dictograph Case—Felder Says the Records Are Forged…

Wednesday, 4th June 1913 Franks Cook Was Counted Upon as Defense Witness
Atlanta Georgian Wednesday, June 4th, 1913 While police activities have been turned to this line of investigation, the negro sweeper, Jim Conley, has been given a rest. Chief of Detectives Lanford stated that the negro would be quizzed no more.…

Wednesday, 4th June 1913 L. M. Franks Trial Will Occur Week of June 30
Atlanta Journal Wednesday, June 4th, 1913 Although no definite decision has been arrived at by Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey, the indications are that Leo M. Frank, the pencil factory superintendent, who is under indictment for the murder of Mary…

Wednesday, 4th June 1913 Sensational Affidavit Made by Minola MKnight, Negro Cook at Home of L. M. Frank
Atlanta Journal Wednesday, June 4th, 1913 In This Affidavit Minola Tells of Conversation That Occurred Between Mrs. Frank and Mrs. Selig, In Which Mrs. Frank Is Alleged to Have Said Frank Was Drinking on Night of Tragedy, and That He…

Wednesday, 4th June 1913 Servant of Frank is Liberated After Long Examination
Atlanta Constitution Wednesday, June 4th, 1913 Despite Gruelling Third Degree, Woman Maintains Denial of Having Told Conflicting Stories. FACED BY HUSBAND, SHE CONTRADICTS HIM Her Release Came After Her Attorney Had Threatened to Take Out Habeas Corpus Proceedings. Minola McKnight,…

Wednesday, 4th June 1913 Vice List Wanted by Chief Beavers; Promises Probe
Atlanta Constitution Wednesday, June 4th, 1913 Head of Police Department Invites Carl Hutcheson to Furnish Him With List of Houses. MORE WITNESSES WILL GIVE TESTIMONY TODAY Grand Jury Determined to Go to Bottom of Vice Allegations, But Will Not Touch…

Thursday, 5th June 1913 Challenges Felder to Prove His Charge
Atlanta Georgian Thursday, June 5th, 1913 Attorney Reiterates Graft Accusations Following Lanford's Defiance—Offers More Proof. Newport A. Lanford, Chief of Detectives, issued a statement Thursday morning defying Colonel Thomas B. Felder, or anyone, to substantiate the charge of graft…

Thursday, 5th June 1913 Colyar Arrested Again on Knoxville Warrant
Atlanta Journal Thursday, June 5th, 1913 Deputies in Sheriff's Office Take Him in Custody When He Appears as Witness A. S. Colyar, waiting upon the grand jury's summons as a witness, Thursday morning at the court house, was arrested…

Thursday, 5th June 1913 Cook Repudiates Entire Affidavit Police Possess
Atlanta Georgian Thursday, June 5th, 1913 Utter repudiation of the affidavits which she was alleged to have sworn to incriminating conversations in the home of Leo M. Frank, indicted for the slaying of Mary Phagan, was made Thursday by Minola…

Thursday, 5th June 1913 Frank Wanted Gun to Take His Life, Says Negro Cook
Atlanta Constitution Thursday, June 5th, 1913 Sensational Affidavit Made for the Police by Minola McKnight, Servant in Leo Frank's Home. Fully as startling as the recent confession of James Conley, an affidavit purporting to have been sworn to by Minola…

Thursday, 5th June 1913 Grand Jury Probe of Vice Conditions Finished Thursday
Atlanta Journal Thursday, June 5th, 1913 Jury Adjourned Until Next Tuesday Without Drawing Any Bills—Inquiry Not Likely to Be Resumed, It Is Said LANFORD TELLS JURY OF COL. FELDER'S ENMITY Declares It Dates Back to Case He Made Against…

Thursday, 5th June 1913 I Know My Husband is Innocent, Asserts Wife of Leo M. Frank
Portrait of Lucille Selig Frank Atlanta Georgian Thursday, June 5th, 1913 Following the complete denial by Minola McKnight, cook in the household of Leo M. Frank, of the statements she is alleged to have made in the sensational police affidavit…

Thursday, 5th June 1913 Jury Will Probe Dictagraph Row
Atlanta Constitution Thursday, June 5th, 1913 A. L. Colyar, Jr., George M. Gentry and G. C. Febuary Summoned at Request of Chief Lanford An investigation of the separate phases of the row resulting from the dictagraph traps laid by city…

Thursday, 5th June 1913 Lanford and Felder Come Near Fighting
Atlanta Journal Thursday, June 5th, 1913 Deputies Step Between Belligerents Before a Blow Is Struck by Either A physical encounter between Chief of Detectives Newport A. Lanford and Colonel Thomas B. Felder, attorney, was averted narrowly by the interference…

Thursday, 5th June 1913 Mother Here to Aid Frank in Trial
Atlanta Georgian Thursday, June 5th, 1913 With the time when Leo M. Frank will go on trial for the murder of Mary Phagan rapidly approaching, perhaps no greater reinforcement to the accused pencil factory superintendent in facing his ordeal has…

Thursday, 5th June 1913 My Husband is Innocent, Declares Mrs. Leo M. Frank In First Public Statement
Atlanta Journal Thursday, June 5th, 1913 Wife of Accused Penil Factory Superintendent Arraigns Solicitor General Dorsey for What She Terms the Torturing of Witnesses Into Making Desired Affidavits—Says Treatment of Her Negro Cook by Solicitor and Detectives Taxed Patience DECLARES…