In case you’ve never heard of the true crime story about the murder of Mary Phagan, now is your chance. If you’ve ever wanted to know the birth of the Anti Defamation League (ADL) this is also your chance.
The murder of 13 year old Mary Phagan took place in Atlanta GA in 1913 and the subsequent arrests, trial and appeals confirmed the guilt of Leo Frank.
Below you will find links to the video series I conducted with Pete Quinones along with some other videos I did myself and with a few other shows.
This is a real “who done it” until you walk your way through all the evidence, trials and appeals and you realize it’s an “over and shut case” pointing to Leo Frank. The gruesome murder and sexual assault of Mary Phagan by her boss shook the south and then the nation as the evidence and trial pitted a renowned leader in the Jewish community (Leo Frank) versus two black men working at his factory (Newt Lee and James Conley) in a struggle of whether a black man could be trusted to tell the truth against a white man (as jews were considered at the time).
This saga can be split up in the following segments:
The South in 1913 for blacks, jews, whites and the press.
The incident (murder and sexual assault)
The initial investigation and attempted framing of innocent black men.
Grand Jury and Indictment of Leo Frank
Trial of Leo Frank
Appeals, motions to set aside trial through GA supreme Court and eventually SCOTUS ruling.
Governor Slaton conducts a several day commission and inquest to determine whether to commute the sentence of Leo Frank or not.
Commutation and eventual lynching of Leo Frank
Formation of the ADL and the KKK and the propaganda campaign for the narrative.
Posthumous pardon of Leo Frank
Research Material
The great outcome of this case is the vast amount of original documents still available to review including court filings, the murder trial transcript and contemporaneous news reporting during the time and books written about the saga. Here are some links to help dig through the documents yourself.
Filings
Websites:
Books
Nation of Islam -
Steve Olney
Dinnerstein
Video/Audio of Books, newspapers and documentaries
Mary Phagan YouTube channel.
Playlist - NOI audio book
Playlist - The American Mercury on The Leo Frank Trial
Playlist - Book by Mary Phagan-Kean (1987)
Playlist - Tom Watson’s Mag
The American Mercury Audio Books - link
IN-DEPTH SERIES
LPR - Solo part 1
Guest - No Way Jose Podcast
TPQS - Part 1
TPQS - Part 2
TPQS - Part 3