Inquest, To Be Resumed Thursday, Will Bring Out Important Facts Not Yet Made Public — Medical Experts To Be Called by Coroner
A new layer of mystery was added to the Mary Phagan case on Wednesday, May 7th, 1913, when the authorities failed for reasons not yet disclosed to carry out the order given by Solicitor Dorsey for the exhumation of the remains.
Solicitor Dorsey stated that he had issued the order in the hope that new clews might be discovered. A difference of opinion regarding the advisability of the exhumation had evidently arisen among officials, though those involved remained tight lipped on the matter. Coroner Donehoo acknowledged that Dorsey's order had been given but confirmed it had not been carried out, declining to elaborate further.
An earlier report published in The Georgian, based on statements made by officials, had indicated that the body had been exhumed for the purpose of conducting a microscopic examination of every wound on the body for finger prints and other clews. It is nonetheless the clear intention of the authorities to proceed with the exhumation.
Dorsey Maintains Silence
Solicitor Dorsey has very properly refrained from making public every move of the prosecution or disclosing the evidence he has been able to obtain. It would appear probable that the exhumation will take place, if not on Wednesday then soon thereafter, as belief continues to grow that clews worthy of further examination may yet remain on the body.
It was reported that finger prints on the body were to be photographed and compared with the prints of persons under suspicion, though whether this report has any basis in fact remains uncertain. Following the discovery of the remains in the factory basement, the body was handled by several persons including embalmers, and whether any finger prints of value still remain is considered doubtful.
Chart May Be Made
It is said that a complete chart will be prepared by medical experts for use at trial, documenting every wound and mark found on the body.
Notwithstanding speculation regarding the purpose of the exhumation, Solicitor Dorsey declared on Wednesday morning that obtaining a record of finger prints was not the primary aim. One of the principal reasons for the action, he stated, was to secure a strand of the girl's hair for comparison with hair found on the lathing machine in the tipping department at the factory, where detectives previously discovered blood spots on the floor and other evidence of a struggle.
"I cannot talk in regard to the matter," he said. "The body was exhumed, it is true, at my request. But to reveal further plans would be hurtful."
Thinks She Did Not Leave Factory
The Solicitor expressed full agreement with the theory that Mary Phagan never left the factory after receiving her pay on Saturday noon. He declared that if any search was being conducted for the man seen in the company of a girl on Saturday, April 26th, by employees of the Terminal Station, it was not being
