May 4, 1913, Mary Phagan's Murderer: Still Unidentified, Still Uncaught
Sunday, May 4th, 1913
The mystery of the death of pretty Mary Phagan enters upon its second week to-day with the police authorities admitting that they are still without a conclusive solution. So far as the public has been permitted to learn, the detectives are not even certain that they have in custody the person or persons responsible for her death.
In the light of present developments, the police believe that no more arrests will be made, but they admit that the entrance of another theory might entirely change the aspect of the case. The detectives base their present belief that they have the guilty man or men on the well-supported theory that Mary Phagan never left the National Pencil factory from the time she received her pay envelope on Saturday noon until her lifeless body was taken from the basement of the building.
If this police supposition is correct, guilt can rest only on one or more of the men who were …More
Sunday, May 4, 1913: Grand Jury to Take Up Phagan Case Tomorrow
Sunday, May 4th, 1913
The uncertainty that has marked every phase in the case of Mary Phagan probably will be somewhat removed when the new Fulton County Grand Jury for the May term of the Superior Court meets tomorrow. Definite action by that body is anticipated after the Coroner's jury, which also resumes its sessions tomorrow, has reached a decision.
The action, it is believed, will be the result of the efforts of a small army of private detectives retained by the authority of Solicitor General Dorsey. The number of the detectives could not be determined, but it is the opinion in official circles that the county and the State are ready, if necessary, to spend an unlimited sum to bring the murderer of Mary Phagan to justice.
The State has taken a hand in the investigation, co equal with the city, and every force at the command of the Solicitor General has been employed to unravel the mystery. It was at the request of …More
Sunday, May 4, 1913: Governor Brown on the Phagan Case
Let the Law Take Its Course, He Says
Guilty Will Be Punished, Innocent Free
Atlanta Constitution
Sunday, May 4th, 1913
I desire to commend, with all the emphasis at my command, the Hearst newspapers timely suggestion to the people of Atlanta and Georgia that they remember the sanctity and majesty of the law of the land, and the sure operation of justice through the courts, in contemplating a recent horrible and unspeakable murder in our midst. I desire to offer the Hearst newspapers a word of praise in that they, leading newspapers of the South, while being brave enough to print the news as it developed from day to day, still were brave enough to caution their constituency that it was, after all, merely the news of the day, and not evidence that might be considered competent in a court of law.
GOVERNOR JOSEPH M. BROWN
Georgia's Executive Gives High Praise to Hearst Newspapers for Their Stand for Law and Order and Fair Trial for …More
Sunday, May 4, 1913: Dr. John E. White Writes on the Phagan Case
Sunday, May 4th, 1913
Draws a Lesson From the Shocking Occurrence of a Week Ago, and Urges Confidence in the Courage of the Law.
By DR. JOHN E. WHITE
Pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Atlanta.
The proper study of mankind is man, but the conditions for this study are only occasionally favorable. Dressed up in his everyday clothes, thinking his ordinary thoughts, and his human impulses suppressed to the requirements of conventional life, a man throws very little light on the problem of humanity. The individual exhibits mankind neither at its best nor at its worst, and never at its deepest. The interesting things about folks are not the things that individualize and separate them in one mass. Therefore to obtain insight into humanity you must catch it off its guard and in the sway of some profound spirit of unity.
Whenever something occurs to startle, alarm or even amuse a whole community at a stroke, there is the …More
Saturday, May 3rd, 1913, Could Blood Evidence Hold the Key to the Phagan Case?
Three young women who previously worked at the National Pencil Factory are set to appear as key witnesses before the Coroner's jury in the Phagan case this coming Monday.
Meanwhile, Dr. Claude Smith, the city's bacteriologist, has been asked by police to conduct a chemical analysis of bloodstains found on a shirt recovered from the backyard of Lee's residence. The garment was handed over by Detective Rosser, and investigators hope scientific testing will reveal whether it was planted as false evidence. Dr. Smith indicated the analysis would not be completed until sometime next week.
Solicitor Dorsey and Chief of Detectives Lanford spent two hours in a closed door meeting today, though neither man made any public statement when it concluded.
$1,000 Investigation Fund Rumored
There are reports that efforts are underway to have the county set aside $1,000 to fund a private investigation into the case.
The inquest …More
Saturday, May 3rd, 1913 Detectives Meet With Coroner and Solicitor Dorsey
No Changes to Monday's Inquest Schedule
Evidence Said to Be Developing, Though Details Remain Undisclosed
The three key figures leading the Phagan murder investigation, Solicitor General Dorsey, the Coroner, and the Chief of Detectives, convened Saturday morning for a conference lasting over two hours. The officials reviewed the evidence gathered so far and considered the various theories put forward, but declined to share any specifics about what was discussed.
It is understood, however, that the officials have aligned on a central theory: that Mary Phagan never left the pencil factory alive. New evidence said to support this view was reportedly developed throughout the day by Detectives Black, Scott, Starnes, and Campbell, though they too refused to reveal its nature.
There are no indications that the legal process will be altered. The coroner's inquest remains scheduled to resume Monday at 2 o'clock in the …More
Saturday, May 3rd, 1913 Both Men Held in Tower Maintain Their Innocence
Leo M. Frank, speaking to a reporter from his cell at the Tower, was unwavering in his denial of any involvement in the murder of Mary Phagan.
"I swear I am not guilty," he stated. "I could not conceive of such a hideous murder, much less commit one. I am accused unjustly. The report that I have made a confession is totally and completely false. I have no confession to make."
Newt Lee, the night watchman also held in connection with the case, was equally firm in his denial.
"I am not guilty," he said. "If those detectives are any good, they will find out I had nothing to do with killing that little girl. I do not know anything except that I found her body. That was all. I swear before God it was."
Solicitor General Pushes Forward With Independent Inquiry
Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey has been conducting his own independent investigation into the Phagan mystery, conferring with several detectives from police …More
Dorsey Deploys His Own Detectives Into the Phagan Murder Investigation
200 Witnesses Summoned for Monday's Inquest; Frank and Lee Held in Tower; Grand Jury Tackles Only Routine Business
Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey moved Friday to hire private detectives to pursue leads in the Mary Phagan murder case that existing investigators have yet to fully explore. Dorsey met during the day with city detectives and Pinkerton agent Miss Hattie Barnett, signaling his growing personal involvement in the investigation.
Despite the activity, no major breakthroughs emerged Friday. Detectives continued running down numerous tips, the vast majority of which proved worthless upon investigation. The grand jury convened in the morning but addressed only routine matters, leaving the Phagan case entirely untouched. The newly formed jury set to meet Monday may take it up at that point.
Coroner Vows a Thorough Inquiry
Coroner Donehoo pushed back firmly against public pressure for a quick resolution. "A case …More
Police Remain Baffled as Phagan Murder Mystery Deepens
Friday, May 2nd, 1913
200 Witnesses To Be Called When Inquest Into Slaying of Factory Girl Is Resumed Next Monday—Felder to Aid State.
The exact facts in the Phagan case as this edition of The Georgian goes to press can be stated as follows:
First. The Coroner's inquest is not yet ended. It has been adjourned until Monday afternoon next; and until it is ended the State is not likely to take hold of the case except in so far as Solicitor General Dorsey may deem it necessary to acquaint himself with facts that may aid him when the Coroner's jury renders its verdict. After this is done the case is turned over to the Solicitor General, as the chief prosecuting officer of Fulton County.
SECOND—It is reported that a large number of witnesses—200—are to be subpoenaed by the Coroner's jury, and that both Lee and Frank will testify.
THIRD—The functions of a Coroner's jury consist of hearing preliminary testimony, and holding persons under …More
Frank and Lee Remain Jailed While Other Suspects Walk Free
Grand Jury May Enter Phagan Case; Coroner Resumes Inquest Monday With Over 200 Witnesses Summoned
Thomas B. Felder, a prominent Atlanta attorney, was retained Friday by a committee of Bellwood citizens to assist Solicitor General Dorsey in prosecuting the killer of Mary Phagan. Felder told reporters he expected to have convincing evidence within a day or two, confirming that a private investigation was already underway though declining to reveal its details.
A special session of the Fulton grand jury is widely expected to be called as the investigation intensifies. The first sign came when Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey summoned Police Chief Beavers and Detective Chief Lanford to his office for a closed door conference. Dorsey was direct about his purpose: "My only reason for calling them in was to ascertain what progress they had made and to see if I could assist them in any way." He assured both chiefs of his full cooperation …More
Thursday, 1st May 1913 Frank Tried to Flirt With Murdered Girl Says Her Boy Chum
On May 1, 1913, testimony at the ongoing inquest into the death of 13-year-old Mary Phagan centered on accusations of improper behavior by the factory’s superintendent, Leo Frank. George Epps, a 15-year-old acquaintance of the victim, testified that Mary had expressed fear of Frank’s persistent attempts to flirt with and pay attention to her. Epps stated that Mary had requested he meet her at the factory to escort her home, citing her discomfort with Frank’s behavior. The inquest also featured testimony regarding the factory's atmosphere and potential use for illicit purposes. Mechanics Harry Denham and Arthur White, who were working in the building on the day of the murder, provided accounts of their interactions with Frank, noting they were locked in the factory by him for a period. Other witnesses, including Edgar L. Sentell, claimed to have seen Mary Phagan near the factory late Saturday night, …More
Thursday, 1st May 1913 City Offers $1,000 Reward for Capture of Phagan Slayers
Atlanta's city council convened at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, passing a resolution to offer $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mary Phagan's killer or killers. The aldermanic board quickly approved the measure, and Mayor Woodward signed it into effect before noon. The reward is now active and available.
May 1, 1913: Last person to Leave the Factory Say Frank Showed No Nervousness
After machinist Barrett testified about two men working on the factory's top floor at noon Saturday, Coroner Donehoo sent detectives to fetch them for the inquest. Identified as Harry Denham and J. Arthur White, they were questioned immediately.
Denham took the stand first.
"Did you see blood on the lathing machine?"
"I spotted it Monday. I was on the top floor Saturday, never went down."
"Did you see Frank that day?"
"Yes. Around 1 p.m., he asked if we'd finish by then. He seemed normal—not nervous or agitated. At 3 p.m., he called from the stairs that we could quit. I borrowed $2 from him in his office afterward; he was writing at his desk. No one else around. I knew Mary Phagan by sight but didn't see her."
White's account matched Denham's, with added details:
"My wife visited after noon. Frank told her to leave as he was locking up, then asked if we'd be done soon. We said no, so he locked us in and left …More
Timeline Emerges: Mary Phagan Dead Hours Before Body Found
The headline you referenced, "Girl Was Dead Ten Hours Before Her Body Was Found," reflects the intense scrutiny during the 1913 investigation into Mary Phagan’s death. Mary Phagan was last seen alive on Saturday, April 26, 1913, when she arrived at the National Pencil Company to collect her wages. Her body was discovered by the night watchman, Newt Lee, in the factory basement at approximately 3:30 a.m. the following Sunday morning.
The forensic and investigative timeline of the case became a primary point of debate during the coroner's inquest, as officials worked to determine the exact hour of her death and the circumstances surrounding her final hours at the factory. The assertion that she had been dead for many hours prior to the discovery was a key element in establishing the timeline of the events that unfolded at the factory on that Saturday.
Thursday, May 1st, 1913 — Newt Lee Recounts His Account in the Morning Session
Thursday, May 1, 1913
Newt Lee Takes the Stand: Night Watchman's Testimony Raises New Questions in Phagan Murder Case
A troubling question emerged from Wednesday's coroner's inquest: was Mary Phagan's killer still hiding in the basement of the National Pencil Company when night watchman Newt Lee descended the stairs and discovered her body in the early hours of Sunday morning?
The question gained traction following Lee's testimony, which stood in direct conflict with that of every police officer who had visited the scene. Lee maintained that he found the body lying face up, with the head toward the wall. The officers, however, were uniform in their account that the body was face down, head pointing toward the front of the building.
Despite aggressive cross-examination, Lee did not waver. His composure and consistency left many observers with the impression that the killer may indeed have been lurking in the …More
May 1, 1913: New Testimony Shifts Theory in Phagan Murder Case
Letter to the Editor, Atlanta Constitution
To the Editor:
The reward your paper has offered in connection with the murder of Mary Phagan deserves recognition, and I commend the Constitution for its commitment to justice and to the welfare of this city and state. I share the hope that the perpetrator will be identified, prosecuted, and held fully accountable. Such an outcome would go some way toward restoring the reputation of Georgia in the eyes of the nation.
However, I believe it is worth asking a harder question: what steps are we taking to prevent such tragedies in the future?
In my view, the deeper issue at the root of this crime and of a great many crimes like it is the unchecked presence and influence of alcohol. It is my firm conviction that intoxicants played a direct role in enabling this act of violence. While much was made of banning the open saloon in years past, the establishments that replaced it are arguably …More
Thursday, May 1, 1913
Pearl Robinson Stands by Arthur Mullinax, Providing Key Alibi Testimony
Sixteen-year-old Pearl Robinson, Arthur Mullinax's girlfriend, took the stand late in the afternoon and delivered testimony that directly supported her sweetheart's alibi.
She confirmed without hesitation that she had spent Saturday evening with Mullinax, sharing supper and attending the theater together. She said she arrived home at around half past ten that night, with Mullinax at her side. He did not come inside, she noted, but instead left for his own home shortly after.
When asked about Mary Phagan, Pearl said she had never met the girl personally, though she was well aware of who she was. Mary, she explained, had been a subject of much admiration in the neighborhood, particularly after her appearance in a Christmas performance at the Jefferson Street Church the previous year, where she had played the role of Sleeping Beauty.
Thursday, May 1, 1913 Transit Official Confident He Spotted the Victim
Thursday, May 1, 1913
Terminal Station Official Believes He Saw Mary Phagan
O. H. Clark, who manages the check room at Terminal Station, has come forward with an account he believes places Mary Phagan at the station shortly before her death.
Clark says a young woman caused a disturbance at the station when the man accompanying her attempted to board a departing train and she refused to let him go. His account broadly aligns with testimony previously given by two station guards who had observed the couple behaving strangely, though Clark places the incident on Saturday rather than Friday.
According to Clark, after the man gave up on his travel plans following the girl's protests, he came to the check room and deposited his traveling bag. Clark says he remembers clearly that the identification tag attached to the bag bore the name of the National Pencil Company.
New Development Weakens Case Against Mullinax
Separately …More
Thursday, May 1, 1913 Investigators Move to Dismiss Conflicting Evidence, Maintaining Phagan Never Left the Factory
Thursday, May 1, 1913
Investigators Work to Discredit Witnesses Who Claim Mary Phagan Left the Factory
When the coroner's jury reconvened Thursday afternoon, city detectives made it their priority to undermine all testimony suggesting that Mary Phagan had left the National Pencil Company after entering it on Saturday to collect her wages.
The biggest obstacle to their theory had been Edgar Sentell, a grocery employee who swore he had seen and spoken to Mary on Forsyth Street between 11:30 Saturday night and 12:30 Sunday morning. That account was thrown into doubt Thursday when trolley motorman D. W. Adams told police Chief Beavers that he had heard Sentell privately admit, shortly after his testimony, that he was no longer certain the woman he saw was Mary Phagan. It may have been Pearl Robinson, Mullinax's girlfriend, who had been wearing a similar dress that same evening. …More
Thursday, May 1, 1913 Was the Killer Attempting to Burn the Body When the Night Watchman Interrupted Him?
Thursday, May 1, 1913
Was the Killer Trying to Burn the Body When the Night Watchman Interrupted Him?
A compelling new theory has emerged in the Mary Phagan murder case, one that assumes the innocence of night watchman Newt Lee and attempts to account for several details that have kept the mystery unresolved.
The theory holds that the killer brought Mary Phagan's body to the basement of the National Pencil Factory with the intention of burning it, and that he was still hiding down there when Lee descended and discovered the body lying face up, head toward the back door.
The Notes Explained
The theory does not clear Lee entirely on the matter of the notes found near the body. It assumes he did write them, but did so out of panic, hoping to deflect immediate suspicion from himself while trusting that a calmer investigation would eventually prove his innocence. Supporting this view is …More