Author: Mary Phagan

Monday, 28th April 1913 Girl’s Grandfather Vows Vengeance
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Standing with bared head in the doorway of his Marietta home, with tears falling unheeded down his furrowed cheeks, W. J. Phagan cried to heaven for vengeance for the murder of his…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Horrible Mistake, Pleads Mullinax, Denying Crime
This youth, formerly a street car conductor, is held in connection with the investigation of the slaying of Mary Phagan in the basement of the National Pencil Factory in South Forsyth Street. He stoutly denies any connection with the…

Monday, 28th April 1913 “I Could Trust Mary Anywhere,” Her Weeping Mother Says
Mary Phagan, 14-year-old daughter of Mrs. J. W. Coleman, 146 Lindsay Street, whose slain body was found in the basement of the National Pencil Factory, 37-39 South Forsyth Street. The girl left her home Saturday morning to go to…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Incoherent Notes Add to Mystery in Strangling Case
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Two mysterious notes—incoherent, misspelled and unintelligible—were found in the cellar of death; Were they written by the girl as she lay in delirium just before the end came, or Were they written by…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Lifelong Friend Saw Girl and Man After Midnight
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Edgar L. Sentell, twenty-one years old, a clerk employed in C. J. Kamper's store, and whose home is at 82 Davis Street, was one of the first to give the detectives a hopeful…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Look for Negro to Break Down
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Newt Lee, the negro-night-watchman arrested in connection with the Phagan murder, practically admitted to Detective John Black this afternoon that he knows something of the circumstances surrounding the death of the little girl.…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Mullinax Blundered in Statement, Say Police
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Mullinax was arrested by detectives late in the afternoon in Bellwood Avenue, near the viaduct, as he was on his way to his boarding house. His positive identification by E. L. Sentell,…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Mullinax Held in Phagan Case
National Pencil Co. Building at 37-39 S. Forsyth St. in which the Phagan girl was slain Atlanta Constitution Monday, April 28th, 1913 Page 1 Former Street Car Conductor Arrested as He Leaves the Home of His Sweetheart on…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Negro is Not Guilty, Says Factory Head
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Superintendent Leo M. Frank Is Convinced Newt Morris Was Not Implicated. Owing to a delay in receipt of metal shipment part of the plant of the National Pencil Company had been shut down…

Monday, 28th April 1913 Neighbors of Slain Girl Cry for Vengeance
Atlanta Georgian Monday, April 28th, 1913 Slaying of Mary Phagan Arouses Friends of Family to Threats of Violence. "I wouldn't have liked to be held responsible for the fate of the murderer of little Mary Phagan if the men…

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…