The American Mercury’s Week Four Recap: Leo Frank Testifies in the 1913 Murder Trial

In this installment of The American Mercury’s series on the 1913 Leo Frank trial, the focus is on the fourth week (August 18–24, 1913), when Leo Frank took the stand to defend himself against the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan at the National Pencil Company. Sourced from the trial’s Brief of Evidence, the video details Frank’s unsworn statement, where he claimed to have been working in his office, denying any involvement in the crime. It examines the prosecution’s cross-examination, which highlighted Frank’s nervous behavior on the day of the murder and inconsistencies in his alibi. The trial, steeped in antisemitism allegations and public unrest, resulted in Frank’s conviction, his 1915 lynching by a mob, and the creation of the Anti-Defamation League, a case that continues to provoke discussions on justice and bias.