Witnesses quizzed in detail but nothing important brought out; officials say they are satisfied with case as it is being developed
Whatever evidence police officials may have directly linking any suspect to the killing of Mary Phagan was not produced at the morning session of the coroner's inquest Thursday. What that evidence consists of, officials refuse to say, other than expressing satisfaction with the progress being made in unraveling the mystery.
Leo Frank, superintendent of the National Pencil Factory, is expected to be the most important witness of the day, with an entirely new line of questioning anticipated.
The principal witnesses at the morning session were "Boots" Rogers, former county policeman, and Lemmie Quinn, foreman of the tipping department at the National Pencil Factory. Neither offered testimony materially damaging to Frank or Newt Lee, both of whom are being held in connection with the crime.
Rogers was questioned closely about the morning the crime was discovered and described bringing officers to the scene in his automobile. Beyond his impression that Frank appeared nervous when detectives visited him at home, he offered nothing that pointed suspicion clearly in any one direction. He was certain, however, that the time clock tape recording Newt Lee's half hour rounds showed no missed punches when Frank removed it from the clock that morning. A tape subsequently brought to police headquarters showed three such misses.
Quinn's Story Unchanged
An effort to break down Lemmie Quinn's account that he visited the factory and spoke with Frank between 12:10 and 12:20 on the Saturday afternoon of the murder came to nothing. Coroner Donehoo attempted to get Quinn to acknowledge that he had previously told officers he had not been at the factory between Friday and the following Sunday. Quinn refused to admit any such statement and maintained his account, supporting Frank's own testimony from the previous Monday by insisting he had stopped in briefly and gone into Frank's office.
Miss Hattie Hall, the stenographer who was at the factory office until noon on Saturday, was also called during the morning session and testified regarding Frank's movements while she was present.
Frank Pale, but Calm
Frank was brought into the Commissioner's Room at the police station before the inquest began but was later excused while Rogers was called. The factory superintendent was pale though calm and composed. He exchanged a few whispered words with his counsel, Luther Z. Rosser, and managed a faint smile at a remark directed at him. He appeared to bear the strain of the days he had spent in a cell.
Lee was not admitted to the hearing room at the outset and was held instead in a nearby office. The night watchman appeared almost indifferent.
