- Collection:
- Leo M. Frank Collections
- Title:
- the William M. Smith Family Papers
- Creator:
- Smith, William (-1949)
- Date of Original:
- 1915
- Subject:
- Trials (Murder)--Georgia
Frank, Leo, 1884-1915--Trials, litigation, etc.
False testimony--Law and legislation
National Pencil Company--Employees
Jews--Persecutions--Georgia--History--20th century
Lynching--Georgia--Marietta
Mass media and criminal justice
Murder in mass media
Journalism--Georgia
Journalism--United States
Sensationalism in journalism--Georgia
Sensationalism in journalism--Georgia--Atlanta
Sensationalism in journalism--United States
Affidavits
Attorney and client
Justice, Administration of
Witnesses - People:
- Frank, Leo, 1884-1915
Smith, William M. (William Manning) - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- family papers
correspondence
affidavits - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- image/jp2
- Description:
- This folder contatins materials belonging to William Manning Smith, attorney at Leo Frank's trial who initially defended National Pencil Company custodian Jim Conley, then reversed his position in 1914 after concluding that his own client was the guilty party. Smith campaigned vigorously for Frank’s release during Frank's lifetime, and after the lynching, continued work to clear Frank’s name. Here are two handwritten notes or affidavits (the first most likely transcribed from the second, which is far less legible, and includes Smith's initials) that state "In the articles of death I believe in the innocence and good character of Leo M. Frank." A typewritten note titled "My moves for Conley" that described Smith's strategy to prepare both the jury and his client Jim Conley to sway the outcome of the Leo Frank trial.
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/breman_lmfc_breman_lmfc_05-025vf-s
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/breman_lmfc_breman_lmfc_05-025vf-s#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/breman_lmfc_05-025vf-s/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Extent:
- 5 pages; 10.5 x 6.5 inches
- Original Collection:
- the William M. Smith Family Papers
- Holding Institution:
- William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum
- Rights:
-
