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 and confirmed a special grand jury session would be called if necessary.
Suspects Sorted: Two Jailed, Two Freed
Coroner Donehoo issued warrants Thursday sending Leo Frank, the factory superintendent, and nightwatchman Newt Lee to the Tower jail, where they remain held under suspicion pending further inquiry. Just thirty minutes before their transfer, James Gantt and Arthur Mullinax were released from police custody.
The scene at headquarters was charged with emotion. Mullinax's mother and sister had kept vigil at the station all day. When he finally walked free, his mother threw her arms around him and wept. Both Gantt and Mullinax departed immediately for home.
Frank arrived at the Tower first, moving quickly through the jail entrance. Lee followed on foot, pausing briefly at the barred doorway before the two were processed and assigned to their cells.
Record Number of Witnesses
More than 200 witnesses, believed to be the largest number ever subpoenaed for an inquest in Georgia, were called to police headquarters Thursday. Coroner Donehoo ordered every employee of the National Pencil factory to appear. The crowd of workers, many of the women dressed in their finest, flooded the building and spilled onto the street. All were sworn in as a group and excused until Monday's session at 2 o'clock.
Donehoo clarified that his purpose in summoning the factory workers was not to examine conditions at the plant or assess Frank's character, but to gather direct testimony about Mary Phagan as a working girl at the factory where she had been employed for over a year.
A Letter Found on the Trolley
Detectives were briefly intrigued by a letter addressed to Mary Phagan, discovered beneath the seat she had occupied on the English Avenue streetcar the day she was killed. A conductor brought it to investigators. After reviewing the contents, detectives said they attached little significance to it, noting only that it appeared to be from a friend.
