Mary Phagan-Keane Interview with Jake Shields from the Fight-Back Podcast

Mary Phagan-Keane, the grandniece of Mary Phagan, who was murdered in 1913 at Atlanta’s National Pencil Factory, shares her perspective on the Leo Frank case, the convicted factory superintendent, and the contentious role of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Below is a rephrased overview of her personal connection, research, and views.

Personal Connection

Family Naming and Secrecy: Named after her murdered great-aunt, Mary Phagan-Keane was kept in the dark about the case until age 13 due to a family pact of silence, initiated by her great-grandmother. Her mother also discovered the case later in life.

Traumatic Discovery: In high school, a teacher’s question about her relation to Mary Phagan left her shocked, especially when classmates teased her about being “dead.” Her father revealed that Leo Frank, whom he called a “sexual deviant,” murdered Mary after she picked up her wages and was later lynched.

Persistent Curiosity: By age 15, at Shamrock High School in Atlanta, repeated questions from teachers about her connection to Mary Phagan continued into college, pushing her to confront her father’s reluctance to discuss the case.

Research Endeavors

Archival Exploration: At 15, Mary visited the Georgia Archives, where a large image of Frank’s lynching spurred her determination to uncover the truth.

Extensive Collection: Over 57 years, Mary amassed a collection, which she donated to the Georgia State Library to counter claims of Frank’s innocence. Early books (1913–1950), such as Guilty or Not Guilty by Francis X. Bush, offered balanced views, while later works like A Little Girl Is Dead included inaccuracies.

Lost Transcript: The trial transcript disappeared during a professor’s book project, but Mary’s “brief of evidence” supports Frank’s guilt.

Case Overview

Murder Details: Mary Phagan was killed after collecting $1.20 in wages. Frank’s conviction was based on witness testimonies of his harassment, contradictory statements, and physical evidence.

Grand Jury Composition: The grand jury, including four Jewish members, voted 21–0 to indict Frank, refuting claims of antisemitism. Jim Conley, a Black janitor, did not testify at this stage.

Witness Testimonies: Several women and boys reported Frank’s inappropriate behavior, contradicting his claim of not knowing Mary. His defense team, with eight prominent lawyers, attempted to shift blame to Conley, a strategy that failed.

Trial and Appeals: The jury convicted Frank in four hours, and 13 appeals were rejected. False claims, such as bite marks or murder notes tied to Black folklore, were disproven.

ADL and Historical Revisionism

ADL’s Role: The ADL, partly established to defend Frank, is accused of suppressing records, including the trial transcript, to frame Frank as a victim of antisemitism.

Alonzo Mann’s Claim: In 1982, Mann alleged he saw Conley with Mary’s body, prompting a pardon effort. Mary believes Mann was pressured; a 1983 pardon attempt failed.

1986 Pardon: A covert posthumous pardon, facilitated by the ADL, Governor Roy Barnes, and Rabbi Stephen Lebow, avoided addressing Frank’s guilt and excluded Mary’s family.

Grave Marker Dispute: In 1994, a family-approved grave marker for Mary was replaced in 1995 after Rabbi Lebow’s objection, omitting context about the pardon. Mary installed her own marker.

Debunking Misinformation

Antisemitism Claims: No evidence of antisemitism surfaced during the trial; newspapers rarely mentioned Frank’s Jewish identity, except when his mother insulted the solicitor. Allegations of antisemitic mobs or a Jewish exodus are unfounded.

Knights of Mary Phagan: A New York Times story falsely linked the KKK to the case; the lynchers were a 150-man Vigilance Committee seeking justice, not driven by antisemitism.

Other Falsehoods: Misrepresentations include claims of mob justice, biased media, an unfair trial, and Mann’s testimony. Media portrayals, like the NBC miniseries and Parade musical, wrongly depicted Mary as flirtatious.

Ongoing Efforts

Conviction Integrity Unit: On April 26, 2019, the anniversary of Mary’s murder, Barnes, Lebow, and the ADL launched a unit to exonerate Frank. Mary found requested records missing.

Public Outreach: Mary’s website, littlemaryphagan.com, shares primary documents, and her 2025 book revision critiques ADL strategies. Community notes on Twitter (2021–2025) and podcasts, such as Stu Peters’, counter ADL narratives.

Personal Reflections

Emotional Impact: Learning about the case at 13 was deeply upsetting, and Mary remains pained by the smearing of her great-aunt’s memory, yet her family history fuels her resolve.

Family Perspective: Her Jewish adoptive grandparents believed Frank was guilty, shaping her opposition to ADL manipulation, not the Jewish community.

Life’s Purpose: Without children, Mary views her research as her calling, dedicated to preserving Mary Phagan’s legacy.

Conclusion

Mary Phagan-Keane’s mission is to honor her great-aunt’s memory by challenging ADL efforts to clear Leo Frank’s name. Her work refutes false narratives, uncovers hidden actions, and upholds justice for Mary Phagan, focusing on truth rather than antisemitism.