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Leo Frank murder trial.... Mary Phagan.....
Leo Frank murder trial.... Mary Phagan.....
Item # 580933
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July 30, 1913
THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, Georgia, July 30, 1913
* Leon Frank trial begins w/ illustration
* Mary Phagan murder case
* From the city where it took place (best)
The Leo Frank case has become well known in American history for several reasons, not the least of which being the several film and television depictions of the trial, but also because Frank was a Jewish-American businessman, his case turning the spotlight on antisemitism in the United States and led to the founding of the Anti-Defamation League. There was also the element of Frank being cast as a representative of Yankee capitalism, a rich northern Jew lording it over vulnerable working women in the South.
Leo Frank was the superintendent of the National Pencil Company in Atlanta, convicted on Aug. 26, 1913 of the murder of one of the factory workers, 13 year-old Mary Phagan. He would be found guilty and in 1915 sentenced to death, but the governor commuted the sentence to life imprisonment, to the great outrage of the citizenry. A mob of some 25 armed men kidnapped Frank from prison and hanged him.
This is an excellent issue on the beginning of the trial with a banner headline reading:
"THREE WITNESSES DESCRIBE FINDING MARY PHAGAN'S BODY"
which is above an uncommonly huge illustration of the courtroom scene, showing Leo Frank and others. This illustration is headed: "The Defense Center of the Trial of Leo M. Frank". The last column has heads: "Newt Lee Sticks To Original Story Despite Attempts To Confuse Negro", he being the Black night watchman implicated in the trial, who said he helped dispose of Mary Phagan's body; plus other heads as well (see). The text begins: "During the second day's proceedings of the Leo M. Frank trial the sensation for which the morbidly curious have been craning their necks failed to materialize..." (see).
The coverage is extensive, carrying over to inside pages where is also found another great illustration headed: "Members of Mary Phagan's Family Who Are Attending Frank Trial". (see)
A terrific issue, not only because this reporting is in an Atlanta newspaper where the trial was held, but because it is unusually graphic, has a front page banner headline, is from the beginning of the trial, and is quite displayable.
This is the complete newspaper, somewhat irregular & partially loose at the spine, light browning, otherwise good. Should be handled with care.
Category: The 20th Century
No Longer Available
