In 1982, at age 83, Alonzo Mann — the former office boy at the National Pencil Company — came forward with a sworn affidavit that shattered the narrative of one of America's most infamous miscarriages of justice: the 1913 conviction and 1915 lynching of Leo M. Frank for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan.
Mann, who was just 14 in 1913, revealed he had withheld crucial information out of fear. On Confederate Memorial Day, April 26, 1913, he returned to the factory shortly after noon and saw janitor Jim Conley holding the unconscious (or dead) body of Mary Phagan on the first floor. Conley, alone with the girl slung over his shoulder, threatened Mann: "If you ever mention this, I'll kill you." Terrified, the young boy fled and told only his mother, who insisted he remain silent to protect him and the family.
Mann testified briefly at Frank's trial but was never asked about what he saw upon returning. Conley's testimony — claiming Frank killed Phagan and forced him to help move the body — was riddled with lies, according to Mann. Conley alone had the body on the ground floor, not Frank. Mann believed Conley attacked Phagan for her $1.20 paycheck, not for sexual motives, as her money was never found.
Haunted for nearly 70 years, Mann regretted his silence, believing his full testimony would have acquitted Frank and prevented his lynching by a Marietta mob. He shared the secret with family, friends, and even a reporter decades earlier, but only in 1982 — facing heart issues and a pacemaker — did he make it public through reporters Jerry Thompson and Bob Sherborne.
This affidavit highlights how fear, antisemitic crowds yelling "Kill the Jew," perjured testimony, and a rushed trial led to tragedy. It underscores that courts and juries can err gravely, with irreversible consequences.
Mann hoped revealing the truth, even late, would clear the record: Leo Frank was innocent; Jim Conley was the killer.
Keywords: Leo Frank case, Mary Phagan murder, Alonzo Mann affidavit, Jim Conley lies, 1913 Atlanta trial, wrongful conviction, antisemitism history, exoneration evidence.
Demonlumi stands like a midnight flame among the quiet headstones, her presence turning the graveyard into a runway of dark enchantment. Draped in a sleek black gown with a daring slit, she carries a lace parasol that frames her silhouette with gothic grace. Her jet-black hair, bold makeup, and confident posture give her the aura of a modern-day gothic muse—mysterious, captivating, and completely unbothered by the whispers of the dead. A beauty carved from darkness, she doesn’t just walk through the shadows… she owns them.
Editt for headphones."2nd Chapter Of Acts" - beautiful music - two sisters and their brother, Annie, Nelly, Matthew Ward in the good old days... 1976 I think it was. The original release is on their album "With Footnotes"
EASTER SONG
(Annie Herring)
hear the bells ringing
they're singing that we can be born again
hear the bells ringing
they're singing Christ is risen from the dead
the angel up on the tombstone
said He is risen, just as He said
quickly now, go tell his disciples
that Jesus Christ is no longer dead
joy to the world
He is risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
hallelujah
hear the bells ringing
they're singing that we can be born again
hear the bells ringing
they're singing Christ is risen from the dead
the angel up on the tombstone
said He is risen, just as He said
quickly now, go tell his disciples
that Jesus Christ is no longer dead
joy to the world
He is risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
hallelujah
hallelujah
(All rights reserved by the copyright owners. This nonprofit fan-made video is solely to promote awareness and interest in the artists and the music.)
dark, dangerous, and drop-dead gorgeous. Her body moves like a spell, all curves and confidence wrapped in black lace and attitude. She’s the kind of vibe that makes you stare too long, caught between temptation and worship. A storm in heels with a devil’s smile.
