Thursday, May 29th, 1913<br /><br />James Conley Makes New Affidavit, Swearing That He Wrote at the Dictation of Leo M. Frank.<br /><br />EVIDENCE CHAIN NOW COMPLETE, SAY POLICE<br /><br />Conley Declares Frank Gave Him $2.50 for Writing the Notes—He Writes "Night Witch" for Night Watchman.<br /><br />James Conley, the negro sweeper at the National Pencil factory, in which little Mary Phagan was murdered, made a new affidavit Wednesday morning in which he threw additional light on the case, incriminating Leo M. Frank, and which detectives think will solve the long-drawn-out mystery.<br /><br />"Write ‘night watchman,'" he is said to have been commanded by detectives Wednesday morning. The result was ‘night witch,' just as in the note found by the body of the murdered girl. This, the detectives declare, is the strongest corroboration of his statement that he wrote the notes at the direction of Frank, the factory superintendent.<br /><br />The city detectives are said to put full credence in his statements now, as in the new affidavit he is said to have sworn that the notes were written on Saturday, about 1 o'clock, and not on Friday, as he first declared.<br /><br />Feared for His Neck.<br /><br />His reason for deception the first time is said to be that he feared for his own neck if he admitted the truth. As matters stand now, he is regarded by the detectives merely as an unwilling tool, and not as an accomplice of the murderer, whomever he may be.<br /><br />According to this new affidavit, the negro's complete story of his part in the affair is said to be as follows:<br /><br />A little after 10 o'clock Saturday morning he was standing at the corner of Forsyth and Nelson streets, when Frank, his employer, passed by, going in the direction of Montag Brothers. Mr. Frank is said to have told him to wait there until he (Frank) came back. A few minutes later, according to the negro, Frank returned, and took him to the factory with him. Here he made the negro sit on a box by the stairs, so the affidavit is said to state, and wait and "see what he could see." When wanted, Frank is said to have told him that he would whistle.<br /><br />"Be careful not to let Mr. Darley see you," he swears the superintendent said.<br /><br />Heard Frank Whistle.<br /><br />About an hour later the negro is said to swear that he became sleepy, as he had had a beer, was in a comfortable position, and doing nothing. He dozed a while, and then awakened as he heard a sharp whistle, so he says, and saw Frank standing in the doorway at the head of the stairs.<br /><br />He responded to Frank's call, and when he reached the factory superintendent's side, the latter is said to have grasped the negro under the arm.<br /><br />Conley swears that Frank was quaking violently. The negro further swears that it gave him the impression that Frank wished to keep him from looking toward the rear.<br /><br />In this way the negro was led into Mr. Frank's office, so he swears. He also swears that as they passed the time clock he looked up and noticed that it was four minutes to 1 o'clock.<br /><br />
