Famous American Detective Cables He Will Return Immediately in Response to Col. Felder's Plea for His Services to Capture Slayer
William J. Burns, the world-renowned detective, is expected to take charge of the Mary Phagan murder investigation.
The man who exposed the dynamite conspiracy and brought the McNamara brothers to justice will likely arrive in Atlanta within days to help unravel the mystery surrounding the strangulation death of the young factory worker. The announcement came Monday following an exchange of correspondence between Colonel Thomas B. Felder and Mr. Burns in the days since the body was discovered at the pencil factory.
Burns is currently en route from Europe and is expected to reach New York by Tuesday or Wednesday. He will confer with detectives in the city before proceeding to Atlanta.
Credit Largely Due Felder
The arrangement is credited largely to Colonel Felder's persistence. After being retained by citizens of Marietta and relatives of the slain girl, Felder traveled to New York to meet with Raymond Burns, son of the famous detective, and explore the possibility of bringing him onto the case. At the time, the elder Burns was abroad investigating the disappearance of Wilberforce Martin. Upon receiving Felder's cable, he replied that he would return at once.
It was confirmed Monday that Burns is now on his way back to America and that Felder intends to work the case alongside him. Felder is understood to be forgoing his own fee to cover the cost of hiring Burns and is also helping raise additional funds for the effort.
The two men share a long personal friendship dating back to the South Carolina dispensary graft case, which Felder prosecuted and on which Burns was employed as an investigator. Those familiar with Burns' remarkable career expressed confidence that he would move swiftly to crack the case.
Grand Jury Preparation Underway
With evidence against Leo M. Frank and Newt Lee nearing a consolidated form, Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey spent Monday sorting through the accumulated testimony and eliminating peripheral material in preparation for a Grand Jury presentation.
Whether the case will be ready for the Grand Jury this week remains uncertain. The sheer volume of testimony requires careful organization before it can be presented clearly and effectively. Dorsey stated that he would not rush the matter before the Grand Jury until it is arranged in a clean, coherent form.
Should the Grand Jury find sufficient evidence to hold Frank and Lee for trial, their cases are expected to be taken up immediately before Judge L. S. Roan, who opens the Criminal Court division of Fulton County Superior Court on Monday. The evidence against both men will be presented to the Grand Jury at the same time, according to Dorsey.
Sleuth Leaves Mysteriously
