Stains on Shirt Were Not Made While Shirt Was Being Worn

VERDICT VOYAGER

Bacteriologist's report reveals blood was applied to garment externally; Mary Phagan's body exhumed a second time  New witnesses had been summoned for the inquest, with indications that the session, promised as the final one in the coroner's investigation, could last the entire day.  Before the inquest convened, it emerged that several witnesses uncovered by detectives would not be called to testify at all. Whatever evidence they could provide would remain out of public view until a later date.  Also confirmed Thursday morning was that Dr. Claude A. Smith, the city bacteriologist, had mailed his analysis of stains found on a shirt to Chief of Police Beavers late Wednesday afternoon. The shirt was believed to have been found at the home of Newt Lee, a Negro man. According to the report, the stains were not old and were likely human blood.  More significantly, the report stated that the shirt had not been worn since it was last washed. This meant the blood had either been deliberately applied to the shirt or used to mop up something. It had not been transferred through normal wear.  Floor Chips Also Show Blood  The bacteriologist's report also addressed wood chips taken from the floor of the pencil factory, concluding that they too bore traces of human blood. However, no comparison was made between the blood on the chips and the blood on the shirt.  Body Is Exhumed  The body of Mary Phagan was removed from her grave in Marietta for a second time Wednesday evening. Dr. H. F. Harris of the State Board of Health conducted another examination, the details of which are being kept secret.  Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Coleman, the murdered child's parents, have objected so strongly to the second exhumation that investigators do not expect the body to be disturbed again.  Solicitor Questions Lee  Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey, who has taken active charge of the murder investigation, spent more than an hour in Newt Lee's cell at the Tower on Wednesday, subjecting the Negro to close questioning. Despite vigorous cross examination, Lee is said to have held firmly to his original account.  Bill Bailey, who shared a bunk with Lee during a stint on the chain gang years ago, spent twenty four hours in Lee's cell after being placed there by detectives. Bailey may yet be called as a witness at the inquest.  Detectives Visit Factory  Shortly after 1 o'clock, City Detective John Black and Harry Scott of the Pinkerton Agency were driven to the National Pencil Company plant in the automobile of former County Policeman "Boots" Rogers.  The two officers entered the building and remained inside for approximately half an hour. Upon returning to the street, both men declined to comment in detail, though they acknowledged the visit was meant to clarify certain points in the investigation.

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00:00Stains on shirt were not made while shirt was being worn. The Atlanta Journal, Thursday, May 8,

00:061913, page 8, column 5. A number of new witnesses had been summoned for the inquest, and the

00:12indications were said to be that the session, promised as final in the coroner's investigation,

00:17might last all day. It became known, before the inquest convened, that several witnesses whom the

00:23detectives have discovered would not be introduced there at all. The evidence that they can furnish

00:28whatever it may be will not become public until some later time, it was said. It was stated further

00:34Thursday morning that the report by Dr. Claude A. Smith, city bacteriologist, upon the analysis by

00:40him of stains upon the shirt supposed to have been found at the house of Newt Lee, the Negro,

00:45had been mailed to Chief of Police Beavers late Wednesday afternoon. The report set forth, it was

00:50said, that the stains are not old, and that probably they are stains of human blood. It was learned

00:56further regarding the bacteriologist's report that it stated that the shirt had not been worn since

01:01it was washed, in other words, that the blood had been thrown on the shirt, or had been mopped up

01:06by

01:06it. Regarding the chips taken from the continued on page 9, column 1, row 1 floor of the factory,

01:13the report concluded that they too showed human blood. No comparison between the blood on the chips and that

01:19on the shirt was made. Body is exhumed. The body of Mary Fagan was removed Wednesday from the grave

01:25at Marietta for a second time Wednesday evening, and Dr. H. F. Harris of the State Board of Health

01:31made another examination, the nature of which is being kept secret. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Coleman,

01:37parents of the murdered child, have objected so strenuously to the second exhumation, it is said,

01:43that it is not expected that the body will be again removed from its resting place.

01:47Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey, who has taken active charge of the investigation in the murder

01:53case, spent more than an hour in Newt Lee's cell at the Tower Wednesday, questioning the Negro. It is

01:59said that Lee stuck closely to his first story, despite a vigorous cross-examination. Bill Bailey,

02:04who was bunkmate of Lee when both were in the chain gang some years ago, spent 24 hours in the

02:10cell, having been sent there by the detectives. It is probable that Bailey may be used as a witness at

02:15the inquest. Detectives visit factory. Shortly after one o'clock, City Detective John Black and

02:21Harry Scott, of the Pinkerton Agency, who are working on the Fagan murder mystery, were driven

02:26to the building of the National Pencil Company's plant in the automobile of ex-county policeman Boots

02:32Rogers. The officers entered the place and remained about half an hour. When they returned to the street,

02:39both detectives were non-committal. They acknowledged, however, that they had visited the factory in an effort

02:45to make themselves clear on some points.

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