Character Witnesses Are Called in the Case by City Detectives Friday, May 9th, 1913

#MurderToward the close of the inquest, city detectives called a series of character witnesses to speak to the conduct of Leo M. Frank during his time as superintendent of the National Pencil factory.

Tom Backstock, of 21 Hightower Street, a youth of about sixteen or seventeen years, told the jury he had worked at the factory roughly a year ago, for a period of about six weeks, leaving when he found a better position. He said he did not know Frank personally but recognized him from his time there.

Asked whether he had occasion to observe Frank's conduct toward the women at the factory, Backstock said he had seen Frank "pick" at the girls. He could not recall their names, saying he had not worked there long enough to become well acquainted. When the coroner pressed for details, the boy said he had seen Frank place his hands on some of them, though he could not say how many times. He also raised the name of one girl in connection with a rumor he had heard since the murder, but acknowledged he knew nothing of it firsthand. He said he had never heard any of the girls complain directly, but had seen some of them trying to get out of Frank's way.

Miss Nellie Wood, of 8 Corput Street, said she had worked at the factory for only two days, approximately two years ago, employed as a forelady. She said she did not know Frank well, but that during her brief time there he had placed his hands on her when it was not called for.

The coroner asked whether she had seen him behave similarly toward other girls. She said she had not.

Asked whether that was the extent of it, Miss Wood said it was not.

On her second day at the factory, she said, Frank asked her into his office to discuss business, specifically whether she intended to stay on. He moved to close the door. She objected. "Don't worry," he told her. "No one is coming." She found him too familiar and told him plainly she was too old for that sort of thing. He attempted to pass off his behavior as a joke, but she was not persuaded and did not remain at the factory.

Mrs. C. D. Donegan, of 165 West Fourteenth Street, said she had worked at the factory for about three weeks, also approximately two years ago. Her account was considerably milder than the others. She said Frank had smiled and winked at the girls, but that nothing more than that had occurred. She denied telling Detective Scott anything beyond what she stated on the stand.