Tuesday, May 13th, 1913, Solicitor Dorsey Is Working a New Theory in the Phagan Mystery

He Will Not Disclose Its Nature, but He, Lanford, and Beavers Declare No Arrests Are Contemplated

Solicitor Would Welcome Help of Burns; New Witness Miss Ross Talks With Dorsey

A new theory surrounding the murder of Mary Phagan has been presented to Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey in terms persuasive enough that the chief prosecuting officer of Fulton County has shifted the direction of the investigation to explore it. The theory was advanced by an unknown criminologist, and while Dorsey acknowledges there is as yet nothing definitive to show for it, he considers the idea well worth pursuing.

The Solicitor refuses to reveal the nature of the theory or identify who brought it forward. He did, however, offer a statement that many will find significant.

"We are not bottled up by any one theory," Dorsey said. "We have not concluded, and we are open to the truth."

If the new theory proves correct, it is said that it would effectively eliminate both Leo M. Frank and Newt Lee, the two men currently held by order of the Coroner's jury, from suspicion.

Dorsey stated that he has no knowledge of any planned new arrest in connection with the investigation. It is possible, he said, that detectives may be moving to take someone into custody whose name has not yet appeared in connection with the case, but if so, he said he has not been informed of it. Both Chief of Detectives Newport Lanford and Police Chief J. L. Beavers similarly denied any knowledge of an impending arrest.

Investigation Drags

The pace of the investigation continues to test the patience of those following it. Dorsey indicated Tuesday that he does not expect the matter to reach the Fulton County Grand Jury this week. Asked whether it might go before the jury the following week, he declined to give a direct answer, a response widely interpreted as suggesting that unless the Grand Jury itself demands the case be accelerated, it may be two more weeks before any attempt is made to indict Frank, Lee, or anyone else who might subsequently be drawn into the widening net of circumstantial evidence.

Solicitor Would Welcome Burns

On the question of whether celebrated detective William J. Burns might be brought to Atlanta to assist in the investigation, Dorsey said he would be glad to see Burns take up the case. Attorney Thomas B. Felder has been working to bring Burns here, but Dorsey said Felder has not consulted with him about the matter and that he knows nothing of the likelihood of Burns actually arriving.

Dorsey noted that he once observed two men connected to the Burns agency at the scene of the murder, but was uncertain whether they had done any active work on the case since. The head of the local Burns agency visited Dorsey's office Tuesday, though both men stated the visit had nothing to do with the Phagan investigation.