Author: Mary Phagan

Monday, 28th April 1913, J. M. Gantt is Arrested on His Arrival in Marietta; He Visited Factory Saturday, The Atlanta Journal
Arthur Mullinax, who seems to have established an alibi through statements of friends that he was at home on night of the murder. The Atlanta Journal Monday, April 28th, 1913 (Page 1, Column 1, Row 1) James Milton Gantt Protests…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Police Think Negro Watchman Can Clear Murder Mystery; Four Are Now Under Arrest, The Atlanta Journal
Mary Phagan Atlanta Journal Monday, April 28th, 1913 (Page 1, Column 2) Developments in Case Have Come Thick and Fast Monday but No Evidence Has Yet Been Developed Which Fixes the Atrocious Crime — Mullinax Seems to Have Proved Alibi…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Coroner’s Jury Visits Scene of Murder and Adjourns Without Rendering Verdict, The Atlanta Journal
The Atlanta Journal Monday April 28th, 1913 (Page 2, Column 2) Will Meet Again Wednesday Morning When Witnesses Will Be Examined—Five Hundred People Present When Inquest Was Begun For an hour Monday morning, a jury empaneled by Coroner Paul Donehoo…

Monday, 28th April 1913 “God’s Vengeance Will Strike Brute Who Killed Her,” Says Grandfather of Mary Phagan, The Atlanta Journal
The Atlanta Journal Monday, April 28th, 1913 (Page 2, Column 2) Calling upon God Almighty to visit speedy vengeance upon the murderer or murderers of his fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Mary Phagan, whose mutilated body was discovered Sunday morning in the basement…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Man Held for Girl’s Murder Avows He Was With Another When Witness Saw Him Last, The Atlanta Journal
The Atlanta Journal Monday, April 28th, 1913 (Page 2, Column 4) Arthur Mullinax, Trolley Conductor, Denies That E. L. Sentell Saw Him Saturday Night With Mary Phagan Arthur Mullinax, identified by E. L. Sentell, of 22 Davis street, clerk for…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Strand of Hair in Machine on Second Floor May Be Clew Left by Mary Phagan, The Atlanta Journal
1—Mary Phagan's own handwriting, as shown in her address she wrote for Sunday School teacher. 2—Written by Lee at suggestion of detectives for purpose of comparison. 3—One of notes found in cellar. 4—Also written by Lee at suggestion of detectives.…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Thousands Visit Morgue to View Girl’s Body, The Atlanta Journal
The Atlanta Journal Monday, April 28th, 1913 (Page 2, Column 4) Six thousand people, according to reliable estimates, visited P. J. Bloomfield's undertaking parlors Monday morning to see the body of Mary Phagan. It was the largest crowd, police say,…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Two Maundering Notes Add Mystery to Crime, The Atlanta Journal
1—Mary Phagan's own handwriting, as shown in her address she wrote for Sunday School teacher. 2—Written by Lee at suggestion of detectives for purpose of comparison. 3—One of notes found in cellar. 4—Also written by Lee at suggestion of detectives.…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Pinkertons Take Up Hunt for Slayer
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Investigate Story of Wife of Employee That She Saw Strange Negro Around Factory. The Pinkerton Detective Agency was brought into the Phagan murder mystery this afternoon when Leo Frank, superintendent of the National…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Playful Girl With Not a Bad Thought
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 "She was just a little, playful girl, without a bad thought in her mind, and she has been made the victim of the blackest crime that can be perpetuated," was the bitter denunciation…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Police Question Factory Superintendent, The Atlanta Georgian
STRAND OF HAIR CLEW IN KILLING OF PHAGAN GIRL Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Body of Mary Phagan Is Found in Basement of Old Granite Hotel in Forsyth Street—Mute Evidence of Terrible Battle Victim Made for Life WHITE…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Slain Girl Modest and Quiet, He Says
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Timekeeper at Pencil Factory Declares Mary Phagan Attended Strictly to Her Work. "She was a quiet and modest little girl," was the tribute paid Mary Phagan to-day by E. F. Holloway, a timekeeper…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Soda Clerk Sought in Phagan Mystery
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Weeping Girl Like Mary Phagan Seen Saturday in Company of Soda Jerker. The police late this afternoon began a search for a soda water clerk who was seen talking to a girl answering…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Story of the Killing as the Meager Facts Reveal It
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 (Page 5, Columns 2 And 4) A new turn was given the mystery to-day when strands of blood-matted hair were found in a lathing machine on the second floor of the factory. The…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Suspect Gantt Tells His Own Story
DENIES GUILT BUT IS IDENTIFIED AS MAN SEEN LEADING GIRL Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 The Georgian will pay $500 reward for EXCLUSIVE information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer of Mary Phagan. J. M.…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Where and With Whom Was Mary Phagan Before End?
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Page 4, Column 2 Detectives to-day are using all their resources to learn where Mary Phagan was every minute of Saturday and Saturday night, whom she saw, with whom she talked, and what…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 $1,000 Reward
Atlanta Constitution Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 Page 4 The assault and murder of 14-year-old Mary Phagan comprise the most revolting crime in the history of Atlanta Homicide is bad enough. Criminal assault upon woman is worse. When a…

Tuesday, April 29, 1913 Bartender Confirms Gantt’s Statement, Atlanta Georgian
Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 (Page 3, Column 8) Says Phagan Suspect Left Pair of Shoes In His Place Saturday Evening. Charles W. McGee, of Colonial Hills, a bartender in the saloon of J. P. Hunter at 35 South…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 Bloody Thumb Print is Found on Door, The Atlanta Journal
Atlanta Journal Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 (Page 4, Column 3) Murderer of Mary Phagan Probably Left Factory by the Rear Door A bloody thumb print, found Tuesday afternoon on the rear door to the basement of the National Pencil factory,…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 Charge is Basest of Lies, Declares Gantt
Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 John Milton Gantt, the accusation of a terrible crime hanging over him, from his cell at police headquarters, has made to-day a complete denial of any connection with the Mary Phagan murder in…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 “Every Woman and Girl Should See Body of Victim and Learn Perils”
Atlanta Constitution, Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 (Page 3, Column 6) A middle-aged woman, with signs of care and sorrow stamped on her features, pushed through the mob of people which crowded around the entrance to the Bloomfield undertaking establishment…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 Factory Employee May Be Taken Any Moment, Atlanta Georgian
Gantt reading murder warrant Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 A sensational arrest will be made in the Mary Phagan murder mystery within a few hours. It will be based on the firm theory of the police and…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 Factory Head Frank and Watchman Newt Lee are Sweated by Police
Leo M. Frank. Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 Mysterious Action of Officials Gives New and Startling Turn to Hunt for Guilty Man—Attorney Rosser, Barred, Later Admitted to Client. Has the Phagan murder mystery been solved? The police…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 Former Play mates Meet Girl’s Body at Marietta
Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 The little town of Marietta, Georgia, where her baby eyes first opened upon the light of day scarcely fourteen years ago, will to-day witness the sorrowful funeral of Mary Phagan, the sweet young…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 Gantt’s Release Asked in Habeas Corpus Writ, The Atlanta Journal
Atlanta Journal Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 (Page 1, Column 2) Petition Made to Judge George L. Bell and Will Be Heard at 4 o'Clock JAMES MILTON GANTT charged with the murder of Mary Phagan is seeking his release upon a…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 Guilt Will Be Fixed Detectives Declare
Mrs. J. W. Coleman, below, mother of slain Mary Phagan, and Ollie Phagan, sister of the murdered girl . Mrs. Coleman is prostrated by grief over the crime, and warns all mothers of working girls to watch carefully their loved…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 I Am Not Guilty, Says John M. Gantt
Atlanta Constitution Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 "I Was Not in Love With Mary and She Was Not With Me," Asserts Man Accused of Murder. "I did not kill Mary Phagan. I haven't seen her within a month. They accuse me…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 I Feel as Though I Could Die, Sobs Mary Phagan’s Grief-Stricken Sister
Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 Among all the hearts that are bowed down in sorrow over the murder of Mary Phagan, the 14-year-old factory child found dead in the National Pencil factory Saturday, there is none…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 Is the Guilty Man Among Those Held?
Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 Is the murderer of Mary Phagan among the four men who are being held at police headquarters, or is he still at large, either among those still unsuspected or among those who…

Tuesday, 29th April 1913 Keeper of Rooming House Enters Case
Atlanta Georgian Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 J. W. Phillips Thinks Couple Who Asked for Room May Have Been Gantt and Girl. Was the young woman who, in company with a young man, applied to John W. Phillips, keeper of…