Monday, May 12th, 1913, The Phagan Case Day by Day

A Daily Record of the Baffling Mystery, From Discovery to the Present

The following is a chronological account of the Mary Phagan murder investigation, as it has unfolded from the beginning:

Sunday, April 27th, 1913 — The body of Mary Phagan is discovered in the basement of the National Pencil Company factory. Newt Lee, the Black night watchman who made the grim discovery, is arrested. Arthur Mullinax, a street car employee, is also taken into custody. Both are held on suspicion.

Monday, April 28th, 1913 — Leo M. Frank, superintendent of the factory, is detained for questioning but later released. J. M. Gantt, a former bookkeeper at the pencil company and acquaintance of the dead girl, is arrested in Marietta. A Black elevator boy is also taken into custody. The Pinkerton National Detective Agency enters the case.

Tuesday, April 29th, 1913 — A bloody shirt is found at the night watchman's home. Investigators advance the theory that the evidence was planted. Mary Phagan's body is buried. Detectives announce they have sufficient evidence to convict. Frank is permitted to confer privately with Lee.

Wednesday, April 30th, 1913 — The Coroner's inquest begins. Newt Lee takes the stand. Some one hundred and fifty employees of the pencil factory are summoned to appear before the Coroner. George Epps, a newsboy, testifies about sharing a streetcar ride with Mary Phagan on the last trip she would ever take.

Thursday, May 1st, 1913 — Frank and Lee are ordered to the Fulton Tower on warrants issued by Coroner Donehoo. The transfer is made without incident.

Friday, May 2nd, 1913 — Both prisoners, speaking to a reporter for The Constitution at one o'clock in the morning, declare their innocence and vow to prove it.

Saturday, May 3rd, 1913 — Evidence surfaces that impostors, posing as Pinkerton detectives, have been questioning key witnesses in the case. No arrests are made.

Sunday, May 4th, 1913 — Detectives again announce their belief that they can secure a conviction against the murderer, whoever that person may prove to be.

Monday, May 5th, 1913 — Paul P. Bowen, a former Atlanta youth, is arrested in Houston on suspicion of involvement in the killing. He is released that same evening.

Tuesday, May 6th, 1913 — Detectives obtain an affidavit from a woman who claims she heard screams coming from the basement of the factory building at approximately 4:30 in the afternoon on Memorial Day.

Wednesday, May 7th, 1913 — Testimony is secured from Monteen Stover, who states that she visited the pencil factory at five minutes past noon on Memorial Day and found the offices completely deserted.

Thursday, May 8th, 1913 — The inquest resumes. Character witnesses are examined. Frank and Lee are formally ordered by the jury to be held under suspicion of murder for investigation by the Grand Jury.