Saturday, 25th April 1914: Conley Denies He Confessed Murder, The Atlanta Journal

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Negro Says He Will Disprove Charge Made by Negress in Affidavit

The negro Jim Conley, through Attorney William M. Smith, has issued a statement denying the charge that he confessed to the murder of Mary Phagan, which was made in the extraordinary motion for a new trial for Leo M. Frank at the hearing before Judge Hill on Friday. Conley asserts he barely knows Annie Maud Carter, the negress who claims he confessed to her in the tower, and that he only saw her when she passed his cell door and they exchanged greetings.

Conley declares through the attorney that he will be able to show an alibi to disprove the charge of Rev. C. B. Ragsdale, who claims to have overheard a conversation in an alley back of the Terminal Hotel in which Conley admitted the crime to another negro on the Monday evening following the tragedy.

Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey, when asked for a comment on the sensational evidence introduced by the defense, said, "I am not unduly alarmed." Further than that, the solicitor would make no comment.

Before the hearing on Friday adjourned, Attorney Luther Z. Rosser stated the defense now has no further evidence to introduce. It is not improbable, however, that in the week which is to elapse before the hearing is resumed, more evidence may be unearthed by the defense and put into the record.

The solicitor, with a corps of detectives from headquarters, is busy investigating the new evidence of the defense, but he will not comment on the progress of his investigation.