375 Sheet – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

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Reading Time: 3 minutes [408 words]

Here is the translated text as follows:

LEO M. FRANK, 343

Has Conley lied? Has Dewey Hewell lied? Has Gantt lied? Has Miss Ruth Robinson lied? And even Frank, in his statement, admits that he knew Mary well enough to know that Gantt was familiar with her, because Chief Detective Harry Scott was told on Monday, April 28th, that this man Gantt was familiar with little Mary. And yet you expect an honest jury of twelve men—although out of your own mouth you told these detectives, whom you wired your uncle would eventually solve the problem, that this man Gantt was so familiar with her that you directed suspicion towards him. How did you know it if you didn't know little Mary? And in addition, as I have stated, you tell me that this brilliant man had helped to make out the payroll fifty-two times and seen little Mary's name there, and he didn't even know her name and had to go and get his book to tell whether she worked there or not?

And I wouldn't be at all surprised, gentlemen of the jury—it's your man Frank's own statement—that shortages occurred in the cash even after this man Gantt left. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the truth of the business is that this man coveted that little girl away back yonder in March. I wouldn't be at all surprised, gentlemen, and, indeed, I submit that it's the truth, that every one of these girls has told the truth when they swore to you on the stand that back yonder in March, after this little girl had come down to work on the office floor in the metal department, they observed this man, Leo M. Frank, making advances towards her and using his position as superintendent to force her to talk with him.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if he didn't hang around. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he didn't try to get little Mary to yield. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't look upon this man Gantt, who was raised on an adjoining farm in Cobb County, as an obstacle to the accomplishment of the evil purpose which he had in hand. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if, instead of discharging Gantt for a one-dollar shortage, which Gantt says, "I'll give up my job rather than pay," that you put him out of that factory because you thought he stood in your way.