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  • 2 days ago
Subscriptions From Anonymous Donors Swell the Fund; Other Rewards Also Stand

The campaign to bring celebrated detective W. J. Burns to Atlanta in connection with the Phagan murder case gathered considerable force on Friday, as a wave of private contributions pushed the total fund close to the $1,000 mark. More than six substantial donations have been received from individuals who asked that their names not be made public.

The amounts disclosed thus far are as follows:

The Atlanta Georgian, $100. The Atlanta Constitution, $100. Homer George, $10.

The Georgian has indicated it will continue accepting contributions to the Burns fund. The paper also reaffirms its standing offer of $500 in reward money, separate from the $100 subscription above, for exclusive information leading directly to the arrest of Mary Phagan's killer.

Beyond the private fund being assembled to secure Burns' services, the $1,000 reward posted by the City of Atlanta and the $200 reward offered by the State of Georgia both remain in effect. Several additional rewards from other sources have also been put forward.

The renewed public enthusiasm follows Colonel Felder's announcement that Burns has given a definite indication of his willingness to come to Atlanta and take up the case. Interest in the investigation, which had shown signs of losing momentum in recent days, appears to have been considerably revived by that development.

FELDER OFFERS HIS FEE

Several individuals who had previously expressed a willingness to contribute came forward on Friday with pledges to add to the Burns total. Colonel Felder himself announced that he intends to direct his own attorney's fee from the prosecution toward the effort to bring Burns to the city, and that he will take an active personal role in the fundraising campaign to ensure sufficient funds are secured.

Mr. Felder declined once again to identify those who have sent contributions, but he confirmed that the first donations to the fund came from a group of prominent Atlanta women, who have pledged to give more if the situation calls for it.
Transcript
00:00$1,000 offered Burns to take Fagan case, Atlanta, Georgian, Friday, May 16, 1913.
00:06Subscriptions from persons who withhold names increases the fund other rewards.
00:10The fund inaugurated to bring W.J. Burns, the renowned detective, to Atlanta to clear the Fagan mystery
00:16was augmented Friday by contributions which bring the total close to the thousand mark.
00:21More than six substantial subscriptions from persons who ask that their names be withheld have been received.
00:26The fund thus far made public is the Georgian $100, the Constitution $100, Homer George $10.
00:33The Georgian will be glad to receive contributions to the Burns Fund and repeats its offer of $500 reward
00:39in addition to the $100 subscribed above for exclusive information leading to the capture of the Slayer.
00:46In addition to the straight fund designed to bring Burns to Atlanta, the reward of $1,000 offered by the
00:51city
00:52and the $200 reward offered by the state still holds.
00:55Other rewards also have been offered.
00:58Colonel Felder's announcement that Burns had signified definitely his willingness to come to Atlanta
01:03to undertake a solution of the mystery has revived public interest in the somewhat flagging hunt
01:08for Mary Fagan's Slayer.
01:10Felder offers fee.
01:11Persons who have stood willing to contribute a fund Friday expressed a desire to swell the Burns total.
01:17Colonel Felder has asserted that he will give his fee, as attorney for the prosecution,
01:21toward bringing Burns here, and will assist personally in the campaign for money sufficient
01:26to assure the great detective's presence in Atlanta.
01:29While Mr. Felder will not make public the names of persons who have sent him money for the Burns Fund,
01:35he said that the first contribution had come from several prominent Atlanta women
01:39who agreed to subscribe more if need be.
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