A reading of The Atlanta Constitution, Thursday, May 1, 1913, page 3, columns 1 and 3-4, under the headline "Newt Lee Tells His Story During Morning Session."
Night watchman Newt Lee testified on Wednesday morning, April 30, 1913, at the coroner's inquest into the death of Mary Phagan. Cards identify Clark Howell as narrator and editor of the Constitution, Coroner George Paul Donehoo, Leo M. Frank as superintendent and Lee's employer, and Mary Phagan, the thirteen-year-old worker found dead in the factory basement on Sunday, April 27, 1913. The speaking figure is an AI-generated recreation shown beside credited historical photographs and newspaper illustrations.
The Constitution asks whether the person who killed Mary Phagan was still hiding in the basement when Lee found her body early Sunday morning. Lee said the body was face up, head toward the wall. Officers who arrived later found it face down, head toward the front of the building. The paper says cross-examination did not shake him, and that his manner left people at the inquest thinking the murderer may have been in the cellar, waiting to burn the body, until Lee came down.
Lee said Frank had told him to come two hours early that Saturday because it was a holiday, then sent him home until 6 o'clock when he arrived at 4. He said Frank looked nervous and excited, and telephoned later that night to ask whether everything was all right, something Frank had never done before. Former bookkeeper Gantt came for a pair of shoes while Frank was still there. Lee said Frank looked frightened, and he thought Frank feared Gantt, whom Frank had quarreled with and discharged. Gantt made a telephone engagement with a lady for 9 o'clock and left. Lee did not see Frank leave. Frank had a key.
About 7 o'clock Lee found the basement gas jet burning lower than he had left it. Asked by the coroner why he had turned the body over, he said he had not. He said the shape looked vague at first, and he thought boys had put it there to frighten him. He recognized a white woman from the bloody face and straight brown hair, then called the police. He said he punched the time clock every half hour, that his lantern had been cleaned on Friday, and that a fireman named Knollys probably had a key to the back door.
The closing card says this testimony, given Wednesday, April 30, 1913, is read from The Atlanta Constitution of Thursday, May 1, 1913, and that the voices and faces are AI recreations.
Newspaper: The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta), Thursday, May 1, 1913.
Headline: "Newt Lee Tells His Story During Morning Session."
Subject: Newt Lee's testimony at the coroner's inquest.
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