00:00In Loop of Death, Dorsey May Have Clue to Murderer, Atlanta Constitution, Saturday, May 17, 1913.
00:06Noose found knotted around neck of Mary Fagan being carefully examined by officers.
00:11Burns, right-hand man now probing mystery funds started by the Constitution for purpose of
00:16bringing noted detective to Atlanta has reached $1,500. In the noose found knotted around the
00:22throat of Mary Fagan's lifeless body, Solicitor Dorsey and headquarters detectives aver they
00:27possess a valuable clue to the girl's murderer. It is being inspected by experts who also are
00:32examining specimens of cord picked up here and there in the factory building in which
00:36the child was slain. Expecting to find a knot which compares with that which was used to
00:40strangle the victim, detectives are scouring every portion of the plant's premises. The
00:46knot in the wrapping cord is looped, sailor fashion, in an inextricable knot. No novice,
00:51the sleuths say, could form it so well. When the body was discovered, the noose fitted so
00:56tightly around the throat that it had formed a purple trench like scar in the flesh, knot tied
01:00by professional. The Solicitor and detectives hope to follow up the clue by comparing the death
01:05loop with specimens found in the pencil factory, but few amateurs, it is said, outside of professionals
01:12in stagecraft and a board ship, are expert enough to tie such an intricate knot as the one with which
01:18Mary Fagan was strangled. The chief of the W.J. Burns Criminal Department of Investigation,
01:23the right-hand man of the famous sleuth, has arrived in Atlanta and is making an investigation
01:28of the Mary Fagan mystery preparatory to the arrival of the noted sleuth. He is stopping at
01:35a downtown hotel and spent Friday in looking over the situation. Colonel Thomas B. Felder stated to a
01:41Constitution reporter last night that the assignment of his most efficient agent to the Fagan mystery
01:46is characteristic of the interest Detective Burns is taking in the local case. Burns has been given a
01:52description of the murder and its salient points by Colonel Felder and has become enthused over the
01:57prospect of solving it. We'll catch guilty man. We will catch the guilty man, declared Mr. Felder last
02:04night, and we won't be long about it. I am confident of success. Mary Fagan's murder will be cleared in
02:10less
02:10than a month. More than $1,500 was raised Friday for the Burns Employment Fund. A large number of
02:17influential businessmen sent checks during the day, while many assured Mr. Felder that they would
02:22subscribe immediately. Those promoting the movement anticipate raising the sum within the next few days.
02:28Burns will come shortly after June 1st, on which date he arrives in New York from Europe. Colonel Thomas
02:33B. Felder said Friday that he was positive the great detective was coming. The names of subscribers,
02:39according to Mr. Felder, will be withheld when such desire is expressed. In conjunction with the
02:44Constitution's move, the Journal and the Georgian have contributed $100. Homer George, manager of the
02:50Atlanta Theater, sent a check for $10. Must get own information. Solicitor Dorsey has announced that he
02:56will adopt the same attitude toward Detective Burns as he maintained toward the Pinkertons. He will gladly
03:01receive information and evidence, but will withhold all developments unearthed through his office.
03:06The Office of Solicitor General, he said, heartily welcomes Mr. Burns. We are delighted to have aid
03:12in arriving at the truth of the case, no matter from which source it comes. However, Mr. Burns will
03:17have to get his information firsthand so far as this office is concerned. We accept the statement
03:22without question that his employment is in entire good faith, but our attitude toward him is to be the
03:27same as our attitude toward the Pinkertons, namely that he will be expected to give and not to
03:32receive. The work being done by the city detectives is entirely satisfactory. The solicitor added that
03:39there were absolutely no new developments in Friday's investigation. Detective John Black of
03:44Police Headquarters stated that the police had unearthed nothing new, and that there were few
03:48prospects of developments in the near future. Herbert Schiff summoned. Herbert G. Schiff, chief clerk of the
03:55National Pencil Factory, has been summoned before the solicitor and had made stenographic statement.
03:59Also, he was ordered to bring the plant's books and papers to Mr. Dorsey's office.
04:04A number of witnesses were examined by Dorsey Friday. Last night, another conference was held
04:09between him, members of his staff, and detectives from headquarters. They were only arranging the
04:14evidence at hand, preparatory to its presentation before the grand jury, it was said. One of the
04:19witnesses who testified before the solicitor Friday was M.B. Darley, assistant superintendent of the
04:25National Pencil Factory, who has taken charge of Frank's position of general superintendent during
04:30the latter's imprisonment. Mr. Dorsey would not divulge the nature of Darley's testimony.
04:35Loewenstein subscribes. To add to the numerous donations to the Burns Fund, William J. Loewenstein,
04:41a well-known Atlanta businessman, informed a reporter for the Constitution last night that he would
04:46subscribe $10. Like the entire business world of the city, he said, I am extremely anxious to apprehend
04:53the guilty party, whoever he may be. I believe Burns can do it. Let us get him anyhow. If he
04:59cannot
04:59clear the mystery, it is beyond solution. Charlie Jones subscribes. Charlie Jones, the well-known
05:05proprietor of the one-word illegible saloon last night, contributed through the Constitution dollar
05:09amount illegible for the Burns Fund. He expressed confidence in the famous detective, and declared his
05:16opinion that as a result of Burns' investigation, the mystery would be solved in an amazingly short time.
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