The Leo Frank Case - open or closed?
The Leo Frank Case - open or closed?
On April 27, 1913, shortly before the Atlanta Journal had printed all the events of the previous day, 
a congratulatory article had already appeared in their pages: "Grand Opera Helped to Improve Atlanta's Morals...the records at the police station will show that the past week has been the most peaceful in the history of the city for this year....Even during the Memorial day parade no one was injured..."
But while Mrs. Leo M. Frank (Lucile) and her mother Josephine Selig were attending the last matinee performance by the visiting Metropolitan Opera -- of Lucia di Lammermoor -- a different script was playing out in a dingy and shuttered 4-story building on S. Forsyth Street. What occurred in the National Pencil Co factory on that holiday afternoon would become a permanent and dramatic part of American legal, social, and political history, much of which is still not adequately explained after 95 years.
This Site will present information and documents about the murder of Mary Anne Phagan (1899-1913) and possible solutions to the crime. We will analyze the Inquest testimony, the Court record, and much other original material in an attempt to finally explain what most likely happened at 37 Forsyth Street on Confederate Memorial Day, 1913. The basic books on the case will also be reviewed, including the most recent And the Dead Shall Rise. We welcome comments and suggestions, which may be sent to the Webmaster (Allen).
The first "new" document, shown at the right, is the letter (Def. Exhibit 42) that Leo Frank purportedly wrote to his uncle Moses Frank (then staying in a NYC hotel) on April 26, and which his lawyers argued showed his calm state of mind at the time ("anything startling..."). Reuben Arnold (pencil in hand in above sketch) would argue at the Trial that it was written by Leo literally between 12 - 1pm that Saturday. Almost without exception, every book on the case (Golden, Connolly, Frey, Melnick, Oney) has referred to the "thin gray line" and stated that Leo's "interested" uncle was himself once a Confederate soldier. However, extensive research reveals that Moses Frank never served in the US military, North or South, nor do any of his obituaries or eulogies (1841-1927) mention such a record despite a much later family belief. Moses Frank, an 1856 immigrant from Dudelsheim in Hesse-Darmstadt, had lived in Atlanta, on and off, since 1866 (when he married his first wife Jane Wilson Kelly), and had even been in that city the very week of April 21st (with his second wife Sara) - why was he being kept up to date so carefully about this regular annual event ("Today was Yondeff")? Moses was about 72 at the time and would hardly need to be reminded of his own mortality ("smaller each year")? In a Mar. 1914 jail-house interview, Leo Frank would not say that his wealthy uncle was a Confederate veteran, nor was this possibility ever broached at the Trial (it was suddenly offered - verbally and without proof - only in Oct. 1913, by Reuben Arnold). The location of that handwritten original, though shown in Court, is unknown and no photographic image of it survives. Solicitor Dorsey implied to the jury that this "exculpatory" letter was not sent at its apparent date or time, an issue entirely ignored in the extensive Leo Frank literature. Curiously, no one at the Trial (or later) ever referred to the fact, or the reason, that his uncle had been blind since 1907. And despite the mistaken claim of his presence in the Frey book ('The Silent and the Damned'), Moses Frank was continuously absent from Atlanta for over 3 years (Apr 21, 1913 - Oct 1, 1916). However, his exact whereabouts between Apr. 28 and mid-Sept of 1913, is still unresolved; he and his wife Sara were 'unavailable' for the Trial and Rae Frank (in Aug.) said he was already 'in Europe' from where she had been 'sent' Leo's "Apr. 26" letter (the outer envelope from 'overseas' was not produced). Moses did not register in Frankfurt until Sept. 15, 1913 and he may have been in Hamburg (with his wife) since May 9th.
One of the most intriguing circumstances in the pre-trial development of this case involved a document signed by the black cook in the Frank/Selig household (Minola McKnight). Frank's attorneys, would long argue that it was coerced by the police as a result of "third degree methods." Since 1913, it has never been shown in its entirety, and we are glad to present it here. Also unmentioned in the last 9 decades is the sequence of events that led up to its appearance. Minola would make three affidavits in all (May 3rd, June 2nd & 3rd), but her over-night incarceration was specifically caused by her husband Albert's statement made on May 26, and notarized on June 2nd (at the left). This description of events has never been cited, with only an oblique reference in the Samuelses' Night Fell on Georgia (1956). The most striking sentence (and odd omission) is shown here for the first time: "Mrs. Frank had a quarrel with Mr. Frank the Saturday morning of the murder she asked Mr. Frank to kiss her good bye and she said he was saving his kisses for _______ and would not kiss her." Readers may wish to consider its authenticity, as new light is shed on why Leo Frank "so thoughtfully" bought his wife a box of chocolates from Jacobs' Pharmacy just before returning home at 6:30 pm on April 26th.
In his first recounting of Saturday's events (with his lawyer's approval), Leo Frank made a formal statement on April 28th. This response is usually portrayed as a continuous document, but it was actually derived from a series of detailed questions and transcribed in the police station that Monday morning. Totally unmentioned, by accident or design, was the 'noontime appearance' (Sat) of Lemmie Quinn, the long-time Metal Room foreman and Mary's immediate boss in the Tipping Dept. Yet, in a surprise announcement on May 5th (at the Inquest), Leo Frank would claim that Mr. Quinn saw him at his office desk around 12:20pm, in a supposed (and failed) attempt to speak with (absent) head clerk Herbert Schiff about a baseball bet. Coroner Donehoo was surprised at this sudden revelation, and he did not apparently know of Quinn's previous statement to Mrs. Coleman (Mary's mother) that he had not been at the factory at all that day. Nonetheless, despite contradiction from several detectives, Quinn would also insist at the Trial that he was indeed at the factory's 2nd floor and saw no one inside but Frank (just minutes, presumably, after the murder). Leo had at first only said that he paid Mary her wages of $1.20 at 12:07pm - she was never seen again. How (and exactly when) Quinn's helpful information came to light was never adequately explained. Leo also was adamant (at the Inquest) that he did not use the 2nd floor bathroom all day; this assertive reply would be modified at the Trial.
Another remarkable element of this case involved the testimony of the black janitor, Jim Conley. There is much misinformation about him (both then and now), and even his age (27 or 29?) and (educational) background are given incorrectly by Steve Oney in his recent book. Jim was not born in Atlanta, he did not have two years of schooling (he was not listed as 'literate' in the 1900 Census), nor were his parents alive or working at Capital City Laundry in 1913. Although his own date of death is given as 1962 (by Harry Golden), no obituary or death certificate has been found for him. His last surviving sister, however, died in 1969 (from the original family of ten children). The report concerning a gun fired at Lorena Jones, Jim's common-law wife, cited on Oney's p. 120, is not factual and was based on a rumor deliberately spread (June 6) by Benjamin M. Brodie, in response to the recent Minola McKnight affair. Jim Conley's official Arrest Record (w/ 7 offenses) was offered as 'Exhibit T' at the Trial, and was accepted as accurate by both sides; it does not show any such episode. Nor was the "incident" ever mentioned by Frank's own lawyers, either at the Trial or during the numerous Appeals. How Conley was able to maintain his employment (despite his bizarre 'sprinkling') at the pencil factory for over two years (earning $6.05 per 55-hr wk) is an ongoing mystery, as well as why Leo Frank continued to review his many private watch-installment contracts.
Recently promoted to chief bookkeeper of the NPCo, Herbert George Schiff was only 20 years old at the time of the crime. The issue remains: was he truly expected to come in to work on April 26th? (such a previous arrangement would imply that no assignation between Leo Frank and any 'lady' was planned or likely). According to watchman Newt Lee, Mr. Frank reminded him several times on the day before (Fri.) to report for his own duties (on the Holiday) an hour earlier than usual, i.e. 4pm instead of 5pm, so that Leo could attend an afternoon ballgame with his brother-in-law. Yet when Newt appeared at the appointed time, he was instructed by Leo to leave the building until even later than usual (6pm), not take a nap inside, and "have a good time (at the Parade)." Mr. Frank had cancelled the game-date with Ursenbach by phone at 1:30pm. Schiff's long-time maid (Emma Beard) said she usually wakened Schiff on Saturdays, but did not do so that morning. Yet when a call was placed from the factory by Alonzo Mann, Emma later said she was "unable" to rouse him and Schiff never reported for work that day (or even called back). Emma and Schiff would later recall this 'summons' as occurring twice, at 10:30 and 11am, but Mr. Frank described it as a single call, at 11:30am. Alonzo also said 'once,' but did not specify the time. We are left with the puzzle of why any call(s) from the head office were essentially ignored that morning, although Schiff had stated that he knew he didn't finish all his weekly calculations by Friday evening. He was also proud that he had not previously missed one day of assigned work in five years (except for the Ohio Flood disaster in Jan.). To further complicate matters, there is some evidence that although a call was made, it was not about work but only concerned an early morning delivery of Schiff's forgotten clothing. If this interpretation is correct, then Schiff was never intended to come in that Saturday morning. Sorting out what really transpired in reference to these call(s) will probably result in a conclusion no one will want...
A Program on the Leo Frank Case (with new documents) was presented at Brooklyn College on October 18, 2006 (IRPE) and on Faculty Day in May 2009. Please email Allen (below), or write to him at the Classics Dept. in 2408 Boylan Hall for further details.
Much more to come, including the search for the lost 7-volume Transcript...
Those further interested in this intriguing case may wish to visit the following Site (despite its errors):
Leo Frank: Wrongly Accused by Prof. Donald Wilkes. The Website of Charles Pou is more accurate.
Many original documents and books are available for your own study, e.g. at The Leo Frank Research Library.
The first "new" document, shown at the right, is the letter (Def. Exhibit 42) that Leo Frank purportedly wrote to his uncle Moses Frank (then staying in a NYC hotel) on April 26, and which his lawyers argued showed his calm state of mind at the time ("anything startling..."). Reuben Arnold (pencil in hand in above sketch) would argue at the Trial that it was written by Leo literally between 12 - 1pm that Saturday. Almost without exception, every book on the case (Golden, Connolly, Frey, Melnick, Oney) has referred to the "thin gray line" and stated that Leo's "interested" uncle was himself once a Confederate soldier. However, extensive research reveals that Moses Frank never served in the US military, North or South, nor do any of his obituaries or eulogies (1841-1927) mention such a record despite a much later family belief. Moses Frank, an 1856 immigrant from Dudelsheim in Hesse-Darmstadt, had lived in Atlanta, on and off, since 1866 (when he married his first wife Jane Wilson Kelly), and had even been in that city the very week of April 21st (with his second wife Sara) - why was he being kept up to date so carefully about this regular annual event ("Today was Yondeff")? Moses was about 72 at the time and would hardly need to be reminded of his own mortality ("smaller each year")? In a Mar. 1914 jail-house interview, Leo Frank would not say that his wealthy uncle was a Confederate veteran, nor was this possibility ever broached at the Trial (it was suddenly offered - verbally and without proof - only in Oct. 1913, by Reuben Arnold). The location of that handwritten original, though shown in Court, is unknown and no photographic image of it survives. Solicitor Dorsey implied to the jury that this "exculpatory" letter was not sent at its apparent date or time, an issue entirely ignored in the extensive Leo Frank literature. Curiously, no one at the Trial (or later) ever referred to the fact, or the reason, that his uncle had been blind since 1907. And despite the mistaken claim of his presence in the Frey book ('The Silent and the Damned'), Moses Frank was continuously absent from Atlanta for over 3 years (Apr 21, 1913 - Oct 1, 1916). However, his exact whereabouts between Apr. 28 and mid-Sept of 1913, is still unresolved; he and his wife Sara were 'unavailable' for the Trial and Rae Frank (in Aug.) said he was already 'in Europe' from where she had been 'sent' Leo's "Apr. 26" letter (the outer envelope from 'overseas' was not produced). Moses did not register in Frankfurt until Sept. 15, 1913 and he may have been in Hamburg (with his wife) since May 9th.
One of the most intriguing circumstances in the pre-trial development of this case involved a document signed by the black cook in the Frank/Selig household (Minola McKnight). Frank's attorneys, would long argue that it was coerced by the police as a result of "third degree methods." Since 1913, it has never been shown in its entirety, and we are glad to present it here. Also unmentioned in the last 9 decades is the sequence of events that led up to its appearance. Minola would make three affidavits in all (May 3rd, June 2nd & 3rd), but her over-night incarceration was specifically caused by her husband Albert's statement made on May 26, and notarized on June 2nd (at the left). This description of events has never been cited, with only an oblique reference in the Samuelses' Night Fell on Georgia (1956). The most striking sentence (and odd omission) is shown here for the first time: "Mrs. Frank had a quarrel with Mr. Frank the Saturday morning of the murder she asked Mr. Frank to kiss her good bye and she said he was saving his kisses for _______ and would not kiss her." Readers may wish to consider its authenticity, as new light is shed on why Leo Frank "so thoughtfully" bought his wife a box of chocolates from Jacobs' Pharmacy just before returning home at 6:30 pm on April 26th.
