Tuesday, 7th October 1913, Henslee Answers Sparta Citizens, The Atlanta Constitution

The Atlanta Constitution, Tuesday, 7th October 1913, PAGE 1, COLUMN 2. Made His Remarks About Leo Frank After Trial and Not Before, Says Juror Accused of Prejudice A. H. Henslee, juror in the Frank case, who has been declared prejudiced against the prisoner in a number of affidavits filed with the clerk of the superior court, yesterday sent the following letter to The Constitution, in which he denies many of the statements made by Messrs. Holmes, Johnson and Gray, of Sparta, Ga. Editor The Constitution: Replying to your article in today’s issue, October 6, in reference to Messrs. Holmes, Johnson and Gray, I will say I am sorry to think that they would go ahead and make such a statement over their signatures that I discussed and tried Leo Frank in their office on July 27. Having read their depositions in Solicitor Hugh Dorsey’s office, I will say that I spoke of the case freely, and met their many friends in the office on September 2, which was Tuesday morning. Frank Case Not Mentioned I am sorry to think they would express themselves and date their deposition as they did, either July 27 or June 27. I will say that I was in this office on June 27, but the Frank case was never mentioned. As for branding them all liars, I have never done so, but they have miscalculated the date. I did willingly express myself freely regarding the Frank case on September 2, which was after Frank was convicted. Tuesday morning, met many of their friends to whom they introduced me, and did say and express to these friends and to them, that Leo M. Frank, judging from the evidence of Jim Conley, was really a pervert. I made a statement to one of the Atlanta papers that I almost positively knew that the depositions received from Sparta, Ga., would not contain anything that I had said prior to the case, that they would be similar to those from Blakely, Ga. Regarding the statement that they knew me and my family for years, I wish to state that I hold these gentlemen in the highest esteem, as men whom I believe would defend and honor me and my family regardless of public sentiment. Surprised at Action I wish to state further, however, that after reading their depositions in Solicitor Dorsey’s office, I am surprised that men of their intelligence should come out in a newspaper and request a reply in such a way as they have. As to branding them liars, I have never done so. They got their dates wrong, that’s all. In conclusion, considering this as a reply to each one of them personally, instead of branding them as liars, I would gladly defend them at all times. Mr. Julius A. Lehman, of the firm of Floyd & Lehman, of the city of Atlanta, makes an affidavit, I understand, to the effect that I stated to him, on either June 2 or 6, while on the train between Atlanta and Experiment, Ga., that I believed Frank guilty. This statement also, I brand as false, as on Continued on Page Nine. Page 9, Column 3 Continued From Page One. June 2, 1913, I was on the train between Edison and Arlington, Ga. On June 6, I was on the train between Tifton and Ashburn, Ga. Will Ask Indictment Regarding his statement and affidavit, I brand them as absolutely false, and furthermore, I wish to state that I called on Mr. Lehman personally on Saturday afternoon, October 4, 1913, at his place of business, and stated to him, personally, that the only reason I came by was to inform him that I would get a bill of indictment against him when the next grand jury convened in Fulton County for trying to make me out a perjurer. That was all I had to say to him, and I then left his place of business. Regarding all of the foregoing statement, I will say that the proof is on record at the Franklin Buggy Company’s place of business in Barnesville, Georgia. (Signed) A. H. HENSLEE. Barnesville, Ga. Macon, Georgia, October 6, 1913. Solicitor and Assistant to Study Case in Valdosta Solicitor General Hugh M. Dorsey and his assistant, Attorney E. A. Stephens, have left for Valdosta, where they will spend the week quietly studying the 115 reasons cited by attorneys for Leo M. Frank as basis for a new trial for the murder of Mary Phagan, of which Frank was convicted after a long trial in the summer. The idea of the solicitor in leaving Atlanta came from his desire to devote his entire time to the matter which is due to be taken up on Saturday. He also had some business to attend to in Valdosta, and so chose that town as the place for studying the case. Several new affidavits attacking Juror A. H. Henslee were made public Monday afternoon by Attorneys Luther Z. Rosser and Reuben R. Arnold, for the condemned man. J. J. Nunnally and Virgil Harris, buggy dealers of Monroe, Ga., and Dr. W. L. Rickert, a dentist of the Walton County seat, signed them. They accuse Mr. Henslee of having expressed belief in the guilt of Frank between the time of the murder and July 28, the day upon which he was chosen as a juror. Mr. Henslee is busy preparing an answer to these attacks made upon him, as is Juror Marcus Johenning, also accused of bias. The former has conferred with the solicitor in regard to the matter, and, denying all the charges, declares his intention to disprove them, if possible. That Judge L. S. Roan will hear the motion when it is taken up was made practically certain on Monday when arrangements for a term of the criminal division of the superior court for October 13, 1913, were cancelled.