Saturday, 20th September 1913: Mary Phagan Case To Be Example For Cops School Of Detection, The Atlanta Journal

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Taking the Mary Phagan case as an example, Chief of Police

Beavers is going to instruct his men just what to do from first to

last in working on similar cases. He will give specific instructions

about the preliminary steps in detection.

The chief's firmest orders will be for the officers first to

disturb the body as little as possible. He wants few footprints

around the corpse. Also he will tell his men not to touch the body

or clothing any more than possible. This is liable to obliterate

finger prints. The value of this evidence, said the chief Saturday,

is inestimable in modern police work.

Until a finger print system is installed in the local department

government experts will be called upon in future cases.

PAGE 6, COLUMN 6

NEW COURT HOUSE

TO BE

RUSHED TO

COMPLETION

The basement and the first floor of the new Fulton county

court house will be ready for occupancy by the first of January,

1914, according to Chairman Shelby Smith, of the Fulton county

board of commissioners.

The offices of the clerk of courts, the sheriff, the tax collector

and the tax receiver will be the first to move into the new

structure, but it is expected to be the fall of next year before the

entire building is ready for occupancy.

Rush orders have been given all contractors, according to

Mr. Smith, and every effort will be made to hurry the completion

of the building.

It had been hoped that the building would be ready for

occupancy when the new municipal court starts work on January

1, but this will be impossible, and it is probable that the five

justices of the municipal court for a time at least will occupy the

court rooms now used by justices of the peace.

PAGE 11, COLUMN 3

POLICE ARE

INVESTIGATING

DETECTIVE

BLACK'S FLIGHT

Following a lengthy conference with Detective John Black,

Chief of Police Beavers was later closeted with Chief of Detectives

Lanford. Instructions were given the latter to make a thorough

investigation of the alleged fight of Black in a room of the

Exchange hotel in Birmingham, Ala., and make a report in writing

direct to the police chief.

In the interim, it is learned, Black will continue to serve on

the local detective force.