- 1 day ago
Sunday, May 25th, 1913
Following are five affidavits submitted to the newspapers by Colonel Thomas B. Felder, of Atlanta, for publication with his statement answering the dictograph quotations.
First appears the affidavit of C. W. Tobie, representative of the Burns detective agency investigating the murder of Mary Phagan. Second is that of W. A. Milner, an attorney of Cartersville. Third, comes that of W. D. Rhea, formerly of Nashville. Fourth, is the deposition of C. R. Atchison, formerly of Nashville. And fifth, comes the affidavit of E. W. McNeal, formerly of Nashville.
Following is Mr. Tobie's affidavit:
MR. TOBIE'S AFFIDAVIT.
"GEORGIA—Fulton County:
"Personally appeared before the undersigned, an officer authorized by law to administer oaths, C. W. Tobie, who, first being duly sworn, deposes and says. That he is a citizen of Chicago, with offices in the First National Bank building of that city and that he is manager of the criminal department, west, of the William J. Burns National Detective Agency; that he has occupied this position for the past ten months; that he has been connected with the William J. Burns National Detective agency, as manager of the Kansas City, Missouri, branch office, since May, 1910; that for a year prior to that time he was connected with the Tilletson Detective agency, correspondents of the William J. Burns National Detective agency; that prior to that time deponent was connected with the Pinkerton National Detective agency for a period of nine (9) years; that he severed his connection with the Pinkerton National Detective agency in May, 1909.
WAS NOT DISCHARGED.
"Deponent says on oath that the statement that he was discharged by said agency is utterly, absolutely and deliberately false; that he resigned from said agency, and not under compulsion, but of his own volition.
"Deponent further says on oath that during the period of his labors as a detective, covering the United States, Canada and some of the foreign countries, his work has never been brought into question, and his character as a man and detective has never been assailed:
"Deponent further says on oath that about two weeks ago he was instructed by Raymond J. Burns, the secretary and treasurer of the William J. Burns National Detective agency, who was acting under instructions from his father, to come to Atlanta on a murder case and report to Colonel Felder. Arriving in Atlanta, he had a conference with Colonel Felder, and immediately entered upon the work at hand. Later he had a lengthy conference with Colonel Felder and Hon. Hugh M. Dorsey.
NO IMPROPER REQUEST. ….
"Deponent further says on oath that for the past ten days he has been diligently at work in an effort to unearth the Phagan murderer or murderers; that during this time no hint, suggestion or proposition has been made to him by either Jew or Gentile, man, woman or child, to work in the interest of Frank, or any other suspect; that during this period he has acted conscientiously,
Following are five affidavits submitted to the newspapers by Colonel Thomas B. Felder, of Atlanta, for publication with his statement answering the dictograph quotations.
First appears the affidavit of C. W. Tobie, representative of the Burns detective agency investigating the murder of Mary Phagan. Second is that of W. A. Milner, an attorney of Cartersville. Third, comes that of W. D. Rhea, formerly of Nashville. Fourth, is the deposition of C. R. Atchison, formerly of Nashville. And fifth, comes the affidavit of E. W. McNeal, formerly of Nashville.
Following is Mr. Tobie's affidavit:
MR. TOBIE'S AFFIDAVIT.
"GEORGIA—Fulton County:
"Personally appeared before the undersigned, an officer authorized by law to administer oaths, C. W. Tobie, who, first being duly sworn, deposes and says. That he is a citizen of Chicago, with offices in the First National Bank building of that city and that he is manager of the criminal department, west, of the William J. Burns National Detective Agency; that he has occupied this position for the past ten months; that he has been connected with the William J. Burns National Detective agency, as manager of the Kansas City, Missouri, branch office, since May, 1910; that for a year prior to that time he was connected with the Tilletson Detective agency, correspondents of the William J. Burns National Detective agency; that prior to that time deponent was connected with the Pinkerton National Detective agency for a period of nine (9) years; that he severed his connection with the Pinkerton National Detective agency in May, 1909.
WAS NOT DISCHARGED.
"Deponent says on oath that the statement that he was discharged by said agency is utterly, absolutely and deliberately false; that he resigned from said agency, and not under compulsion, but of his own volition.
"Deponent further says on oath that during the period of his labors as a detective, covering the United States, Canada and some of the foreign countries, his work has never been brought into question, and his character as a man and detective has never been assailed:
"Deponent further says on oath that about two weeks ago he was instructed by Raymond J. Burns, the secretary and treasurer of the William J. Burns National Detective agency, who was acting under instructions from his father, to come to Atlanta on a murder case and report to Colonel Felder. Arriving in Atlanta, he had a conference with Colonel Felder, and immediately entered upon the work at hand. Later he had a lengthy conference with Colonel Felder and Hon. Hugh M. Dorsey.
NO IMPROPER REQUEST. ….
"Deponent further says on oath that for the past ten days he has been diligently at work in an effort to unearth the Phagan murderer or murderers; that during this time no hint, suggestion or proposition has been made to him by either Jew or Gentile, man, woman or child, to work in the interest of Frank, or any other suspect; that during this period he has acted conscientiously,
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00:00Here are affidavits submitted by Colonel Felder, Atlanta Journal, Sunday, May 25, 1913.
00:06Following are five affidavits submitted to the newspapers by Colonel Thomas B. Felder of Atlanta
00:11for publication with his statement answering the dictograph quotations. First appears the
00:16affidavit of C.W. Tobey, representative of the Burns Detective Agency investigating the murder
00:21of Mary Fagan. Second is that of W.A. Milner, an attorney of Cartersville. Third comes that of W.D.
00:28Rhea, formerly of Nashville. Fourth is the deposition of C.R. Atchison, formerly of Nashville.
00:34And fifth comes the affidavit of E.W. McNeil, formerly of Nashville. Following is Mr. Tobey's
00:40affidavit. Mr. Tobey's affidavit, Georgia, Fulton County, personally appeared before the undersigned,
00:46an officer authorized by law to administer oaths, C.W. Tobey, who, first being duly sworn, deposes and
00:53says that he is a citizen of Chicago with offices in the first national bank building of that city
00:58and that he is manager of the criminal department west of the William J. Burns National Detective
01:03Agency, that he has occupied this position for the past 10 months, that he has been connected with the
01:10William J. Burns National Detective Agency as manager of the Kansas City, Missouri branch office
01:16since May 1910, that for a year prior to that time he was connected with the Tillotson Detective Agency,
01:22correspondence of the William J. Burns National Detective Agency, that prior to that time Deponent
01:29was connected with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency for a period of nine, nine years, that he
01:36severed his connection with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in May 1909, was not discharged.
01:42Deponent says on oath that the statement that he was discharged by said agency is utterly,
01:48absolutely, absolutely, and deliberately false, that he resigned from said agency, and not under
01:54compulsion, but of his own volition. Deponent further says on oath that during the period of
01:59his labors as a detective, covering the United States, Canada, and some of the foreign countries,
02:05his work has never been brought into question, and his character as a man and detective has never
02:09been assailed. Deponent further says on oath that about two weeks ago he was instructed by Raymond J.
02:15Burns, the secretary and treasurer of the William J. Burns National Detective Agency, who was acting
02:21under instructions from his father, to come to Atlanta on a murder case and report to Colonel Felder.
02:26Arriving in Atlanta, he had a conference with Colonel Felder, and immediately entered upon the
02:30work at hand. Later he had a lengthy conference with Colonel Felder and Honorable Hugh M. Dorsey,
02:36no improper request. Deponent further says on oath that for the past ten days he has been diligently
02:42at work in an effort to unearth the Fagan murderer or murderers, that during this time no hint,
02:47suggestion, or proposition has been made to him by either Jew or Gentile, man, woman, or child,
02:52to work in the interest of Frank or any other suspect, that during this period he has acted
02:57conscientiously, faithfully, and diligently, in an effort to ferret out the mystery and place the
03:03crime upon the shoulders of the guilty party. At no time has Deponent ever been requested,
03:08required, or instructed to investigate the police or the detective department, or, in short,
03:13to perform any other duty in connection with his stay in Atlanta except the duty which brought him
03:18to this city, namely the investigation of the Mary Fagan case. Deliberate falsehood.
03:24Deponent further says on oath that the statement imputed by an afternoon paper to Collier,
03:29to the effect that I informed him at the Piedmont Hotel that I was going to Colonel Felder's office
03:33to meet a committee of citizens, among whom were Mr. Hirsch, Mr. Meyer, and Mr. Greenstein,
03:40and several other prominent Jews in the city, is a deliberate, malicious, and willful falsehood.
03:46As a matter of fact, I never heard of either one of these gentlemen until I read their name in
03:50the
03:50papers on yesterday afternoon, and I have never met them or either of them at Colonel Felder's office
03:55or elsewhere, and Deponent firmly believes that this statement is made as a part of a well-planned
04:00conspiracy to discredit his efforts, and the efforts of Colonel Felder, to unearth the Fagan murderer
04:05or murderers. Deponent further said on oath that he never laid eyes on Collier in his life until he
04:11met him at the office of Colonel T. B. Felder on Sunday evening, May 18th, first met Collier.
04:16At the time of Deponent's arrival at said office, the conference between Collier and Colonel Felder,
04:22which had evidently been brief, was drawing to a close, and at Collier's invitation, I made an
04:27appointment to meet him at the Piedmont Hotel on the following morning, as he stated that he had
04:32very important information in connection with the Fagan case, which he desired to impart to Deponent.
04:37After meeting at the Piedmont Hotel, the said Collier stated to Deponent that he had a number
04:43of affidavits involving the chief of police and chief of detectives which he desired to submit to
04:48him, that he was not here on that mission, and declined to examine the affidavits, whereupon the
04:53said Collier stated to said Deponent that the city police and detective departments
04:57were undertaking to discredit Colonel Felder's, Solicitor General Dorsey's, and Deponent's efforts,
05:03and added that Deponent had three things to fight, to wit, jealousy, politics, and money,
05:09and repeated it by saying, Remember now, you are up against J.P. and N. Deponent reached the
05:15conclusion almost instantly that this man was a crook and humbug, and thereupon ended the interview
05:20abruptly, and although he has received numerous telephonic communications from him since,
05:25he has declined to meet him at his hotel or elsewhere in the city of Atlanta, has been
05:29blocked.
05:31Deponent further says on oath that he is advised and believes that in his diligent efforts to
05:36unravel the Fagan mystery, he has been obstructed by some secret agency at every turn of the road.
05:42In his efforts to interview witnesses, he has found them reluctant to answer questions and
05:46to give him necessary information, with the result that Deponent reached the conclusion that said
05:52witnesses were acting under instructions in their conduct.
05:55Deponent further says on oath that there is nothing in the Fagan mystery different to other
05:59mysteries and that with the cooperation of the agencies that should be in sympathy with the
06:03efforts of the William J. Burns National Detective Agency, guilt should be fastened upon the real
06:09criminal by absolute and conclusive evidence. C.W. Tobey, sworn to and subscribed before as this
06:1524th day of May, 1913, Benedict Kobach, Notary Public, Fulton County, Georgia, Mr. Milner's
06:21Affidavit.
06:22Georgia, Fulton County.
06:24Following is W. A. Milner's Affidavit.
06:26In person before me the undersigned attesting officer, authorized under the laws of said state
06:30to administer oaths, appeared W. A. Milner, who first being duly sworn deposes and says that he is
06:37a practicing attorney in Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia, and that he knows as Collier and his
06:42general reputation, and that said Collier's reputation is known by the good people of Bartow
06:47County, that said Collier's criminal record is known by the people in Cartersville and Bartow
06:51County, and that said reputation is bad, and that said Collier is unworthy of belief, that scores of
06:57people Bartow County will testify that they would not believe said Collier on oath, nor would
07:01deponent believe said Collier on oath. Deponent further says that said Collier arose in a religious
07:06meeting on one occasion and confessed that he was an ex-convict, so he has been informed,
07:11and that his record was criminal, and that he wished to reform. Deponent further says that said
07:17Collier married a lady in Cartersville, and that he bears an unsavory reputation in Bartow County,
07:23and that said Collier could not be believed on oath. W. A. Milner.
07:27Sworn to and subscribe before me, this 24th day of May, 1913, Benedict Kobach, Notary Public,
07:34Fulton County, Georgia, Mr. Rhea's Affidavit. Following is the affidavit of W. D. Rhea,
07:39state of Georgia, county of Fulton. Personally appeared before the undersigned officer,
07:44authorized by law to administer oaths, W. D. Rhea, who first being duly sworn, deposes and says
07:51that he was formerly a resident in the city of Nashville and lived there until 1897, and
07:57subsequently the deponent resided there from 1902 to 1910, when he removed to the city of Atlanta,
08:04where he has resided since at 308 Ponce de Leon Avenue, and now at the Georgian Terrace.
08:10Deponent further says on oath that he has known as Collier for thirty years, during a portion of
08:16this time he lived as next-door neighbor to him at Nashville, and that he is thoroughly well
08:20acquainted with his reputation, honesty, character, and veracity. Deponent further says on oath that he
08:27is in a general way acquainted with the criminal record of this man Collier, covering the period of
08:32his acquaintance with him, that he has from time to time been arrested for divers and sundry crimes
08:38such as forgery, blackmail, fraud, and that he has operated in a number of the states in the Union,
08:44and has been incarcerated in the jails of many of them, that he is looked upon as a notorious crook
08:49where he is known, and deponent does not hesitate to say that from his knowledge of his character and
08:54reputation he would not believe him on his oath. Sworn to and subscribed to before me this twenty-fourth
09:00day of May, 1913. Samuel Kobach, Notary Public, Fulton County, Georgia.
09:06Mr. Acheson's Deposition. Following is the deposition of Mr. Acheson, State of Georgia,
09:12County of Fulton. Personally appeared before the undersigned, an officer authorized by law to
09:17administer oaths, C. R. Acheson, who, first being duly sworn, deposes and says that he was born and
09:24reared in the city of Nashville, Tenere, and lived there until January 1, 1913, when he removed to
09:30the city of Atlanta, state and county aforesaid, and since that date has been a citizen thereof.
09:36Deponent further says that he resides at the Georgian Terrace in said city, and is vice president
09:41of the Massengale Advertising Agency, with offices in the Candler Building, said city, county, and state.
09:48Deponent further says on oath that he is known as Collier, Jr., from boyhood, and that he is thoroughly
09:54well acquainted with his reputation and character for truth and veracity. Deponent further says on
09:59oath that he is in a general way familiar with the criminal record of Collier, covering a period
10:04of approximately twenty-five, twenty-five years. Deponent knows that he has been arrested during
10:10this period in several states of the Union for the offenses of forgery, perjury, and impersonating
10:15others to obtain money, that he has been incarcerated in the jails of several states, that he is a moral
10:21degenerate, pervert, and a chornick crook and blackleg, and Deponent does not hesitate to
10:25say that from a knowledge of his character and reputation he would not believe him on
10:29oath. C.R. Atchison.
10:32Sworn to and subscribed before me this twenty-fourth day of May, nineteen-thirteen, Benedict Kobach,
10:37Notary Public, Fulton County, Georgia. Mr. McNeil's Affidavit. Following is the affidavit of
10:42Mr. McNeil. Georgia, Fulton County. Personally appeared before the undersigned and officer authorized
10:48by law to administer oaths. E.W. McNeil, who first being duly and legally sworn, deposes and says
10:54that he was a citizen of the city of Nashville tenor from 1887 to 1894. Deponent is now a citizen
11:01of Atlanta, with office and place of business at 92 South Forsyth Street. Deponent says on oath that
11:08he is familiar with the character and reputation of A.S. Collier. Junior Deponent says on oath that
11:14the said Collier is known as a professional crook, black-leg, and adventurer, that he has been
11:19charged from time to time with offenses of forgery, perjury, conspiracy, blackmail, etc., that from time
11:26to time he has been incarcerated in the jails from the city of New York to New Orleans. Deponent firmly
11:32believes that there is not a crime in the catalog that he would not willingly and quickly commit
11:37for money. On account of his father, Deponent makes this affidavit with great reluctance,
11:42but nevertheless is compelled to make this affidavit because of the charges made by the said
11:48A.S. Collier, Jr., against one of our best and most reputable citizens of the city of Atlanta.
11:54From a knowledge of the character of the said Collier, Deponent says without hesitation
11:58that he would not believe him on his oath. E.W. McNeil, sworn to and subscribe before me this,
12:05the 24th day of May, 1913. Benedict Kobach, Notary Public, Fulton County, Georgia.
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