Skilled Aide of Famous Detective Arrives in Atlanta; Keeps Identity Secret
The contributions received thus far toward bringing W. J. Burns to Atlanta in connection with the Phagan case are as follows:
The Atlanta Georgian, $100. The Atlanta Constitution, $100. Homer George, $10.
More than six additional substantial donations have been received from individuals who requested that their names not be published.
The Burns investigation into the Phagan murder mystery officially got underway on Friday.
William J. Burns, who is expected to personally direct the case following his return from Europe around June 1, cabled instructions to his New York office shortly after the arrangement was confirmed. One of his most capable operatives was immediately dispatched to Atlanta to begin gathering evidence in advance of the detective chief's arrival. The agent departed New York shortly after midnight Wednesday and was expected to reach Atlanta by Thursday night or Friday morning at the latest.
The operative will take every precaution to conceal his identity and keep his findings confidential until the time comes for him to report to Burns directly or to Colonel Thomas B. Felder.
FUND RAISED BY PUBLIC
The public subscription campaign to finance Burns and his New York associates gained considerable momentum following The Georgian's announcement Thursday that contributions were being sought.
Colonel Felder reported Friday morning that a number of substantial pledges had come in by telephone, and that he had directed donors to forward their checks to Charles I. Ryan, cashier of the Fourth National Bank. He said he had not yet determined the exact total raised, but expressed no doubt that it already amounted to several hundred dollars.
"I know of more than six subscriptions that will be made this morning, but I gave my word that the contributors' names would not be published," Felder said. "The fund will be raised without difficulty, and we are confident enough in that outcome that one of the Burns men should already be on the ground right now."
VALUABLE EVIDENCE REPORTED
Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey held a closed conference at his office Thursday night with city detectives and members of his staff. It was understood that the meeting was prompted by the discovery of significant new information or evidence bearing on the Phagan case, though Mr. Dorsey declined to make any public announcement.
The examination of witnesses by Mr. Dorsey is set to continue Friday. Among those scheduled to appear is J. Williams, a former police officer who now operates a livery stable near the National Pencil Company plant on South Forsyth Street. Williams entered the factory building shortly after the body of the murdered girl was discovered. It was he who lay down in the position of the dead body while the night watchman, Newt Lee, re-enacted his initial discovery of the corpse.
