1913 Leo Frank Trial: Roan’s Guidance, ADL Controversy, Apr 2025

1913 Leo Frank Trial: Roan’s Guidance, ADL Controversy, Apr 2025 delves into the trial of Leo Frank, B’nai B’rith leader (1912-1914), charged with Mary Phagan’s murder, with Judge Roan’s August 25, 1913, guidance defining murder, malice, and the need for guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Roan allowed Frank’s character to create doubt, though not to negate clear proof, with death or life imprisonment options. The 1986 pardon, secured by ADL’s Dale Schwartz, faced scrutiny in the Phagan Family Newsletter (April 2025) and Mary Phagan Kean’s 2025 book, debunking Schwartz’s racial slur attribution to Roan, linked to Frank’s defense (Rosser and Arnold). Frank’s racial tactics against Jim Conley, including a poisoning attempt, are documented. The ADL, founded in 1913 as ADL of B’nai B’rith, dropped the name post-1986. This 2025 review highlights the trial’s racial strategies and pardon dispute.