who was involved in the leo frank case

Leo Frank

was an American factory superintendent at the 'National Pencil Company' in Atlanta, who was accused of murdering Mary Phagan, a minor factory worker, in 1913. His trial and the legal battle that ensued became a media sensation. When another suspect, Jim Conley, a black sweeper at the factory, was introduced, the case took a racial turn.

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What was the significance of the Leo Frank case?

This year marks the 100 th anniversary of the conviction of Leo Frank, one of the most troubling cases in American legal history. The Frank case is known for its grisly culmination: In 1913, after Frank was convicted of murdering a young woman who worked in the factory he managed, he was sentenced to death.

What was the name of the law firm that represented Leo Frank?

The firm was called Rosser, Brandon, Slaton and Phillips, and according to affidavits in the 1,800 page Georgia Supreme Court Case File on Leo Frank, Governor John M. Slaton had been associated with the bribery and criminal witness tampering against National Pencil Factory employees who had testified against Leo Frank.

When did Leo Frank confess to his wife about the murder?

Leo Frank admitted it on the afternoon of August 18, 1913, in his trial statement to the judge and jury, and before the August 18, 1913, incriminating statement, Leo Frank made his second alleged (hearsay) murder confession to his wife Lucille Selig Frank on the evening of April 26, 1913 (Minola McKnight, State’s Exhibit J, June 3, 1913 ).

Who was the hangman in the Leo Frank case?

For the Frankites, the Hangman, lynch party agitator, or simply put the man who could be described as instigating the extrajudicial assassination of Leo Frank is populist politician, publisher, and lawyer Tom E. Watson. In terms of the sum total of the Leo Frank case, the Frankites label Tom Watson as enemy number one.

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What happened to the Frank case?

The Frank case became a watershed event for the American Jewish community, particularly for Southern Jews. What happened to Frank might have happened to any of them. The negative effects of the case and its aftermath reverberated for decades. Fearing for their own safety, some Jews even left Atlanta permanently. The case had national implications as well, being a major impetus in the establishment of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith in 1913, the year of Mary Phagan's murder.

Where was Leo Frank born?

Leo Frank was born in Brooklyn. In 1907, he went to Atlanta to become a co-owner and supervisor at his uncle's factory, the National Pencil Company. Frank quickly took on the many responsibilities of a respected citizen of the Atlanta Jewish community, marrying into an established family, becoming an active member of the prestigious Reform synagogue called The Temple and serving as president of the local B'nai B'rith lodge.

Who was the woman who was murdered in the National Pencil Company?

On April 27, 1913, a 13-year-old factory employee named Mary Phagan was found murdered in the basement of the National Pencil Company. The next day Frank was arrested and charged with the murder, based mostly on the testimony of another factory employee, James Conley.

Did Frank murder the girl?

The bitter irony is that Frank most assuredly did not murder the young girl. The case against him was flimsy at best, with contradictory testimony, flawed evidence, and many legal errors. A subsequent investigation revealed that James Conley, the man who gave the most damning evidence, was most likely the real murderer. It is clear that anti-Jewish prejudice was at the heart of this injustice. As the entry on Frank in the Encyclopaedia Judaica states, "There can be little doubt that Frank was innocent or that he would never have been brought to trial in the first place, much less convicted, had he not been a Jew."

Was Frank the Jew a Jew?

The fact that Frank was Jewish soon became an issue, when the prosecution implied that the Jewish faith encouraged such behavior. As a result, an already simmering anti-Semitism boiled over outside the courthouse where the trial was taking place, as an angry group of protestors gathered each day and called for Frank's head. One magazine went so far as to demand the execution of "the filthy, perverted Jew of New York."

Who is Kevin Proffitt?

Kevin Proffitt is the senior archivist for research and collections at the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati, OH, where he has worked since 1981. A frequent lecturer on American Jewish history and consultant on synagogue archives, his publications include Starting from Scratch: Creating the Synagogue Archives.

Where was Mary Phagan born?

Mary Phagan was born on June 1, 1899, into an established Georgia family of tenant farmers. Her father died before she was born. Shortly after Mary's birth, her mother, Frances Phagan, moved the family back to their hometown of Marietta, Georgia. During or after 1907, they again relocated to East Point, Georgia, in northwest Atlanta, where Frances opened a boarding house. Mary Phagan left school at age 10 to work part-time in a textile mill. In 1912, after her mother married John William Coleman, the family moved into the city of Atlanta. That spring, Phagan took a job with the National Pencil Company, where she earned ten cents an hour operating a knurling machine that inserted rubber erasers into the metal tips of pencils, and worked 55 hours per week. She worked across the hallway from Leo Frank's office.

What was the last hearing of Frank's execution?

The last hearing exhausted Frank's ordinary state appeal rights. On March 7, 1914, Frank's execution was set for April 17 of that year. The defense continued to investigate the case and filed an extraordinary motion before the Georgia Supreme Court. This appeal, which would be held before a single justice, Ben Hill, was restricted to raising facts not available at the original trial. The application for appeal resulted in a stay of execution and the hearing opened on April 23, 1914. The defense successfully obtained a number of affidavits from witnesses repudiating their testimony. A state biologist said in a newspaper interview that his microscopic examination of the hair on the lathe shortly after the murder did not match Phagan's. At the same time that the various repudiations were leaked to the newspapers, the state was busy seeking repudiations of the new affidavits. An analysis of the murder notes, which had only been addressed in any detail in the closing arguments, suggested Conley composed them in the basement rather than writing what Frank told him to write in his office. Prison letters written by Conley to Annie Maude Carter were discovered; the defense then argued that these, along with Carter's testimony, implicated Conley was the actual murderer.

What was the news story about Frank and Newt Lee?

Media coverage. The Atlanta Georgian headline on April 29, 1913, showing that the police suspected Frank and Newt Lee. The Atlanta Constitution broke the story of the murder and was soon in competition with The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Georgian. Forty extra editions came out the day Phagan's murder was reported.

How did Frank get killed?

However, on July 17, The New York Times reported that fellow inmate William Creen tried to kill Frank by slashing his throat with a 7-inch (18 cm) butcher knife, severing his jugular vein. The attacker told the authorities he "wanted to keep the other inmates safe from mob violence, Frank's presence was a disgrace to the prison, and he was sure he would be pardoned if he killed Frank."

What did David Marx do to help Jews?

In the half-century from 1895, David Marx was a prominent figure in the city. In order to aid assimilation, Marx's Reform temple adopted Americanized appearances. Nevertheless, friction developed between the city's German Jews, who were integrated, and Russian Jews who had recently immigrated. Marx said the new residents were "barbaric and ignorant" and believed their presence would create new antisemitic attitudes and a situation which made possible Frank's guilty verdict. Despite their success, many Jews recognized themselves as different from the Gentile majority and were uncomfortable with their image. Despite his own acceptance by Gentiles, Marx believed that "in isolated instances there is no prejudice entertained for the individual Jew, but there exists wide-spread and deep seated prejudice against Jews as an entire people."

Why did the defense request a mistrial in Frank's trial?

Meanwhile, the defense requested a mistrial because it believed the jurors had been intimidated by the people inside and outside the courtroom, but the motion was denied. Fearing for the safety of Frank and his lawyers in case of an acquittal, Roan and the defense agreed that neither Frank nor his defense attorneys would be present when the verdict was read. On August 25, 1913, after less than four hours of deliberation, the jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict convicting Frank of murder.

Did Conley lie to Frank?

In a new affidavit (his second affidavit and third statement), Conley admitted he had lied about his Friday meeting with Frank. He said he had met Frank on the street on Saturday, and was told to follow him to the factory. Frank told him to hide in a wardrobe to avoid being seen by two women who were visiting Frank in his office. He said Frank dictated the murder notes for him to write, gave him cigarettes, then told him to leave the factory. Afterward, Conley said he went out drinking and saw a movie. He said he did not learn of the murder until he went to work on Monday.

What is Frank's fix idea?

Frank’s attempts to cast suspicion on Lee and Gantt. Frank’s fixed idea that a tragedy had happened in his place of business. Frank’s haunting the Morgue, yet shrinking from the sight of Mary Phagan’s accusing face. Frank’s refusal to face Conley, and to have a talk with him in the presence of witnesses.

How long was the skeleton of the dead buried?

There was not even an identification of the skeleton of the deceased, which for thirteen years had been buried in a cave. For thirteen years the scholarly Aram had been leading a correct, quiet life, when he was arrested. His character, previous to the crime, was unblemished.

What do the books on evidence teach young lawyers?

The standard books on evidence teach young lawyers that one of the most striking phases of human nature is, the inclination to believe. Trained lawyers, entrusted with the lives of the Beatties, the Patricks, the Beckers, the Woodfolks, and the Franks, realize the value of the constant repetition, “I am innocent.

Why did Abe get Morse a wife?

Abe was in Europe, for his health. Abe had got Morse a wife by the gentle art of taking her away from an older man. Morse had looked upon the wife of Dodge; and while doing so his memory went back to the time when King David gazed upon the unveiled charms of Bathsheba.

When was the Roan case overruled?

17, 1914. An extraordinary motion for new trial was made and overruled in April, 1914.

Who is the author of The Old World and the New?

Its author is Edward A. Ross, Professor of Sociologyin the University of Wisconsin; the name of the book is, “The Old World and the New.”. This expert in Sociology makes a study of Immigration, the changes brought about by it, the diseases, crimes and vices incident to this foreign flood, &c. On page 150, he says—.

Did Aram tell Clark what had become of the deceased?

But there was testimony to the effect that Aram was in company with Clark (the deceased) the last time Clark was seen in life; and Aram (like Frank) did not even try to tell what had become of the deceased. This was the circumstance that weighed most against Aram—who confessed, after sentence of death!

What is the legacy of the Frank case?

One legal legacy of the Frank case is principally historical . It was one of the earliest cases to seriously consider expanding the scope of federal habeas court review of a state court judgment of conviction after the case had been fully tried and litigated in the state court system.

What happened to Leo Frank?

The Frank case is known for its grisly culmination: In 1913, after Frank was convicted of murdering a young woman who worked in the factory he managed, he was sentenced to death. Following a series of unsuccessful legal appeals, Frank’s death sentence was commuted to life in prison by the Governor of Georgia in June 1915.

Who was Leo Frank's black cook?

Leo Frank’s own Black cook, Minola McKnight, signed an affidavit saying she overheard Frank’s wife and mother discussing how Frank had confessed to the murder. She (and her husband) also gave damning evidence of Frank’s movements on the day of the murder that conflicted with Frank’s already weak alibi. (Pages 34, 378-79, 423-428.)

Did Leo Frank lie?

Leo Frank was caught lying so often and so unapologetically that he was actually his own worst enemy. He refused to take an oath on the Bible, and then refused to be cross-examined by prosecutors. But James Conley withstood sixteen hours of cross-examination—under oath. (Pages 92ff, 122, 136-140, 362-382.)

When did Mann give conflicting stories?

The Nation of Islam meticulously examined those claims and shows conclusively that Mann had given many conflicting stories—in 1913 and in 1982—that are irreconcilable with the known facts and that the aged Mann was very likely coaxed by Frank’s advocates into making his 1982 claims. (Pages 435-464.)

Where was Frank convicted?

Frank was convicted in Atlanta, but most of the 13 appeals occurred outside Atlanta, and every one of those courts—including the US Supreme Court—upheld the conviction. (Pages 276-277, 282.)

Who was Leo Frank's attorney?

In fact, Leo Frank’s main appeals attorney, Louis Marshall, as president of the American Jewish Committee, fought to undermine anti-lynching legislation, calling it “unconstitutional” and a violation of “state’s rights.” (Pages 88, 478-479.)

Who was the attorney that tried to keep blacks from jury duty?

Leo Frank’ s attorneys fought this tooth and nail, and did everything they could to keep Blacks from participating in any part of the trial. It was Frank’s attorneys—not Georgia prosecutors—who used their power to eliminate Blacks from the jury pool.

Did Atlanta police frame Leo Frank?

Atlanta police did not “frame” Frank; nor did they arrest him because he was Jewish. Both private detective agencies hired by Frank concluded that Leo Frank was the murderer of Mary Phagan. Another attorney hired by Frank similarly found and stated openly that his client was guilty. (Pages 31-34, 47-48, 50-52, 65-66, 91 note 187, 147, 247.)

What was Henry Clay Beattie's testimony?

In the case of Henry Clay Beattie, the testimony was about on a par, in character and convincing power, with that against Frank; yet, Beattie continued to lustily cry out, “I am innocent! They are about to commit judicial murder,” and there were numbers of our most intelligent people who believed what he said.

Why did the lawyers and detectives save Leo Frank?

The truth of the matter is, that the lawyers and detectives employed to save Leo Frank were themselves the authors of the hue and cry about his being a Jew, and they did it for the sordid purpose of influencing financial supplies. Wealthy Israelites all over the land have been appealed to, and their race pride aroused, in order that the lawyers and the detectives might have the use of unlimited funds. The propaganda in favor of Frank has been even more expensive than that in favor of Morse.

What was the most preposterous claim made by Frank partisans in recent years?

One of the most preposterous allegations made by Frank partisans in recent years is that Watson’s “inflammatory” writings poisoned the atmosphere of the trial and swayed the jurors — a claim that makes one wonder just how familiar with the case these “expert” writers are after all, since Frank’s trial ended in August 1913, and Watson’s first public mention of the case wasn’t until March 1914.

Where did Morse live?

There was a man of the name of Morse; and he was a parlous knave, to be sure. He, also, lived in New York, and he was an adept in the peculiar methods of Wall Street.

Was Morse in prison?

Morse was in the Atlanta penitentiary, and he was a very sick man. His lawyer said so; his doctor said so; the daily papers said so. Morse was suffering from several incurable and necessarily fatal maladies. His lawyer said so; his doctor said so; and the daily papers said so. Morse was a dying man; he had only a few days to live; his will had been made; the funeral arrangements were about complete; the sermon on the virtues of the deceased was in course of preparation; the epitaph was practically written; and all that Morse wanted was, that Dodge’s wife and his own should not have to bear throughout the remainder of her chequered existence, as the ex-wife of both Dodge and Morse, the bitter recollection that the man who took her from Dodge had died in prison.

Who was the lawyer that helped the Leo Frank case?

Frank legal defense fund that began growing rapidly after the murder of Mary Phagan was used for the purpose of trying to hire one of the best and most influential criminal lawyers in the South, firebrand Tom E. Watson, to defend Leo M. Frank for $5,000 — an impressive sum by 1913 standards. The State’s prosecution team also attempted to recruit Tom Watson, but for a fraction of the offer made by the Leo M. Frank defense fund. Watson turned down offers from both parties.” Watson was later to be a U.S. Senator, and had earlier been a candidate for Vice President of the United States for the Populist Party, sharing the ticket with William Jennings Bryan for President.

Who was Rufus Choate?

When Rufus Choate, the greatest criminal lawyer in New England, was applied to by the friends of Professor Webster, he offered to take the case if they would consent for him to plead manslaughter. He meant to put the defense on the line, that the two men had had a quarrel in the laboratory; and that, in the heat of passion, the Professor had killed the Doctor. Webster’s friends declined this proposition, and Choate refused the case.

Why did Monteen Stover look in Leo's office?

Monteen Stover clearly specified she looked in both Leo’s inner and outer office, because she was there waiting to collect her pay envelope (this was never disputed by the defense). She was there as one would expect any employee to be there who came for their weekly pay. Monteen did what any normal person would do after waiting in what she thought was a deserted building; she finally gave up and left.

Why was the Elite Lynching Party formed?

The Elite Lynching Party formed because the outgoing Governor John Marshal Slaton broke his oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and the Honor for the State of Georgia, commuting the sentence of his own law client Leo M. Frank from death to life in prison.

How did Leo Frank attack Mary Phagan?

She ran terrified in the only direction she could travel away from him, toward the bathroom. There Leo Frank continued his violent assault, jackhammering his fists against her face and slamming her against the floor until she became unconscious on the metal room bathroom floor and she started bleeding out. Leo Frank then ripped up a strip from the crotch area of her petty coat and put the torn fabric under the back of her head to catch the pool of blood from her slumped body. He then tore and bisected up her bloomers, ripping it up the right leg across the crotch to the seam, revealing her virgin thirteen-year-old vagina. He unbuckled his pants and undid his fly, pulled down his pants and underwear, revealing an STD infected erect Jewish penis, and then like a filthy dog he ravaged Mary Phagan, savagely drilling and pumping his “without-a-condom-prostitute-seasoned” diseased little Jewish schmeckle into her dry virgin vagina, bloodying it, leaving medically observed inflammation, breaking her hymen and leaving the remains of her still-attached-but-torn-underwear drenched with her blood (Mary Phagan Autopsy, Undertaker Notes, P.J. Bloomfields Mortuary, 4:30 a.m., April 27, 1913).#N#This Was a Crime of Passion and Revenge against the Little Girl who Spurned and Rejected Her Infatuated Boss Leaving Him Raging with Frustration

What is a lynching?

Lynching was more about strangling someone in midair against their own body weight, which often involved a dance, as the victim kicked, twisted, and jerked, before becoming unconscious from the lack of oxygen to the brain . In a hanging, the neck was broken, and the individual went into shock as the brain could no longer communicate with the rest of the body. Death was usually swift, but in a lynching the individual died in a much slower struggle as a result of oxygen deprivation causing brain damage. Leo Frank died of brain damage.

Why was the Leo Frank case so important?

For many people, black and white alike, the Leo Frank case was a powerful racial awakening about the fanatical tribalism historically and genetically innate in Jews, because the lynching wasn’t actually about bigotry, prejudice, media frenzies, or anti-Semitism. Those pejoratives were then and are today false accusations. The slanders come from members of the cultural terrorist religion of Judaism, the historical enemies of Gentile Western Civilization, forever living dysfunctionally and antagonistically within Gentile nations, and doing so in a parasite-host or virus-host paradigm.

How did Leo Frank die?

Leo Frank died of brain damage. Lynching was about unlawful acts of extrajudicial murder through a hanging strangulation, by ensuring the rope length was not slack enough to cause vertebrae disconnection, thereby taking longer to kill the principal in rare cases up to thirty minutes.

What happened to Leo Frank?

On August 16, 1915, nearly two months after the June 21, 1915, commu tation, Leo M. Frank was abducted from prison by a group of men from the State of Georgia’s highest social, legal, and political strata. They anointed themselves as the Knights of Mary Phagan. After droving Frank 175 miles to Cobb County at the edge of Marietta, they lynched him near an intersection at Sheriff William Frey’s Gin. A mature oak tree helped fulfill the most perfectly executed slow strangulation lynching of Leo M. Frank, just after the crisp dawn dew kissed a glorious rising sun on the horizon, bathing golden sunshine on Tuesday morning, August 17, 1915. This event would lead to the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan on Thanksgiving Midnight 1915 at Stone Mountain where they burned a cross. The Anti-Defamation League, whose leaders aggressively push their racist anti-Gentile agenda on the individual countries of Western Civilization, was galvanized by their patron martyrs lynching that fateful day.

Overview

Background

Murder of Mary Phagan

Trial

Appeals

Commutation of sentence

Antisemitism and media coverage

Abduction and lynching of Frank