April 26, 1913 | Mary Phagan, a thirteen year old girl who worked at the National Pencil Factory of Atlanta, GA, is murdered after picking up her paycheck |
Newt Lee, an African American night watchman at the Factory who had discovered Mary’s body, is arrested on suspicion of murder. |
April 28, 1913 | The superintendent of the National Pencil Factory, Leo Frank, is questioned as a matter of routine for the investigation. Displeased with the progress of the investigation, Frank personally invites a Pinkerton detective to help with the case. |
Suspicions of Frank are raised because Mary’s friend, a fifteen year old boy, tells investigators that Mary was afraid of Frank because he had made flirtatious advances toward her. Also, Newt Lee tells investigators that Frank acted nervous the day of the murder (though two other workers dispute this story). |
May 1, 1913 | Jim Conley, an African American sweeper at the Factory, is arrested after being found in the basement trying to rinse out a blood-stained shirt. |
May 8, 1913 | Newt Lee and Leo Frank are ordered by a coroner’s jury to be held under the charge of murder. |
May 13, 1913 | Rumors abound that notes that have been discovered near Mary’s body. |
Solicitor Hugh Dorsey announces that he will ask for indictments from a grand jury against both Newt Lee and Leo Frank, though the evidence will concentrate on Frank. |
May 23, 1913 |
May 26, 1913 | After intense questioning, Jim Conley admits that he wrote the notes found next to Mary’s body, but claims that he wrote them at the order of Leo Frank. |
June 4, 1913 |
June 28, 1913 |
July 18, 1913 |
July 28, 1913 |
August 4, 1913 | Jim Conley testifies the chief prosecution witness against Leo Frank. |
August 21, 1913 |
August 25, 1913 |
August 26, 1913 |
October 31, 1913 |
February 17, 1914 |
February 24, 1914 |
April 6, 1914 |
October 14, 1914 |
November 14, 1914 |
December 21, 1914 |
April 9, 1915 | The Supreme Court of
the |
June 20, 1915 |
June 21, 1915 |
July 18, 1915 | A prisoner slashes Frank’s throat. Two other prisoners, both doctors, save Frank’s life by stopping the bleeding and stitching the wound. |
August 16, 1915 |
August 17, 1915 | In the early morning
hours, the men who had
seized Frank drive to the outskirts of |
August 20, 1915 |
March 4, 1982 |
January 4, 1983 |
March 11, 1986 |