Here’s a condensed, approximately 2,500-character rewrite of Officer John R. Black’s testimony, summarizing the key events and tone while keeping the factual accuracy and courtroom clarity intact.
John R. Black, a city policeman, testified that he went to Leo Frank’s home early Sunday morning with officer “Boots” Rogers after the murder was discovered. When they arrived, Mrs. Frank answered the door in a bathrobe, and Mr. Frank appeared from behind a curtain, looking pale and nervous, his voice trembling as he struggled to fasten his collar and tie. Frank asked rapid questions about what had happened at the factory—whether the night watchman had reported anything and if he could first get some breakfast. On the way to police headquarters, Black told Frank that Mary Phagan had been found dead in the pencil factory. Frank replied he didn’t know anyone by that name, saying he knew few of the young employees.
At the undertaker’s, Frank gave only a brief glance at the body and then stepped behind a curtain. Leaving the mortuary, he said he thought he might have paid the girl the day before and could confirm it by checking the company’s cash book at the factory. There, Frank quickly unlocked the safe, located the payroll book, and pointed to her entry, saying, “Yes, this little girl worked here; I paid her $1.20 yesterday.”
On Monday morning, Black saw Frank remove the night watchman’s time slip from the clock and verify the punches as correct. Later, Frank claimed the punches were off, suggesting Newt Lee had time to leave the factory unnoticed. Black recalled that Frank’s lawyers, Rosser and Haas, appeared at police headquarters that morning, and at Haas’s request officers searched Frank’s home and laundry to eliminate suspicion. Black and Scott later arranged for Frank to talk privately with Newt Lee; Frank agreed willingly and later said Lee “still stuck to his story.” Frank appeared agitated that day but was cheerful and composed afterward.
In discussing events, Frank said that he and Lee were the only ones at the factory at 6 p.m. Saturday, except for ex‑employee Gantt, whom he had reluctantly allowed to enter to retrieve his shoes. Gantt was later arrested. Black examined Lee’s home and on Tuesday found a bloodstained shirt in a barrel. Frank remarked around that time that errors in Lee’s time punches might have allowed him to leave the premises for about an hour.
Cross‑examined, Black admitted uncertainty about the exact sequence of conversations concerning the time slips and the discovery of the shirt, saying he had been “so crossed up and worried” from the investigation that he couldn’t be certain of the order. But he maintained that Frank had mentioned the irregular time punches around Monday.
