Visual Artifact Page
“TRAGIC FACES OF STRANGLED MARY PHAGAN”
From the Atlanta Constitution
Mary Phagan’s funeral
Left to right: sister Ollie Mae Phagan (Barrett), mother Fannie Phagan Coleman, stepfather John Coleman, half-brother Benjamin Coleman and sister Lizzie Marietta Phagan
jim conley
Seen washing a red substance out of his work shirt a few days after the murder of Mary Phagan.
“leo m. frank on way from tower to inquest”
Left to right: Chief of Detectives Newport Lanford, Leo Frank, Chief James Beavers
the charges against leo frank
As shown in the Atlanta Constitution, May 25, 1913
Solicitor Hugh Dorsey (1871-1948)
Led the prosecution against Leo Frank. He was elected governor of Georgia 4 years after the trial.
leo frank’s defense team
Leo Frank was defended by a team of eight lawyers. The two most prominent however were well-known Jewish attorney Reuben Arnold (left) and Luther Rosser (right).
the key players of the leo frank trial
In this dramatic illustration, the prosecution team is shown to the left of Frank and the defense team is shown to the right.
the jurors
An initial cohort of 144 potential jurors was whittled down to the final twelve for the Frank trial.
A writer for the Atlanta Constitution said of the group, “Of the many juries called upon to serve in famous cases in Fulton County, none has classed higher in intellectual fitness or physical appearance than the men who make up the Frank jury. For the most part the jury is composed of young men this side of 40—men who have the appearance of having succeeded in life and who give promise of still greater success."
Jim conley
Jim Conley testified on August 4, 1913. He appeared in court clean-shaven and wearing a new suit and polished leather shoes.
the first day of the trial
This picture from the trial’s first day shows several of the key players…
Newt Lee - seated, far right
Judge Leonard Roan - seated at stand
Leo Frank - at center, with arms crossed
Lucille Frank - seated directly behind Leo in black hat
Hugh Dorsey - standing, far left
Leo and Lucille Frank
Seated in the courtroom.
first day of the trial
conley testifies
This illustration from the Atlanta Constitution shows Jim Conley being questioned by Solicitor Hugh Dorsey.
diagram of the court room
Atlanta’s three newspapers created many illustrations like this one to help tell the story of what was happening during the trial.
illustration of the national pencil factory
Showing Jim Conley’s movements according to his accounting of events.
illustration of the national pencil factory
The jury
witness - Monteen stover
Testified during the trial that she went to receive her pay on the same day Mary was killed. She said she arrived at Frank’s office at 12:05pm and waited until 12:10 pm, but he wasn’t there. This contradicted Frank’s testimony that he was in his office continually from noon til 12:15.
witness - alonzo mann
Alonzo Mann was an office boy working on the day of Mary Phagan’s murder. He spoke on behalf of Frank, saying that he’d never seen the superintendent do anything inappropriate. Reporters noted that Mann appeared unusually nervous on the witness stand.
“leo frank testifies”
On August 18, Leo Frank finally took the stand.
“frank ends statement”
Illustration and story from the Atlanta Journal.
Leo frank testifies
Another article from the Atlanta Georgian.
Frank’s timeline
On August 22, the Atlanta Constitution printed this timeline of Leo Frank’s whereabouts and activities on the day of Mary’s murder.
lucille selig frank (1888 - 1957)
Photo taken around the time of the trial.