This video from The American Mercury’s centennial series focuses on Frank Arthur Hooper’s prosecution strategy during the 1913 Leo Frank trial for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan at the National Pencil Company. Based on the Leo Frank Trial Brief of Evidence, it examines Hooper’s closing arguments on August 21, 1913, where he addressed the jury, framing the trial as a pursuit of truth and justice. Hooper depicted Frank as a dual-natured figure, using the “Dr. Jekyll” analogy to highlight his alleged predatory behavior, supported by forensic evidence and witness testimonies. The episode underscores Hooper’s role as a key ally to Hugh Dorsey, whose earnest delivery helped secure Frank’s conviction on August 25, 1913. Set in a climate of antisemitism accusations and public unrest, the trial’s aftermath saw Frank’s 1915 lynching and the founding of the Anti-Defamation League, a pivotal moment in American legal history.<br /><br />
