Hugh M. Dorsey’s Closing Arguments Part Two in the 1913 Leo Frank Trial

This video from The American Mercury’s series presents the second part of Hugh M. Dorsey’s closing arguments in the 1913 Leo Frank trial for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in Atlanta. Spanning nine hours on August 22, 23, and 25, 1913, this segment, sourced from the Leo Frank Trial Brief of Evidence, focuses on Dorsey’s rebuttal of defense claims by Luther Rosser and Reuben Arnold. Dorsey reinforced forensic evidence—blood and hair in the factory—and Jim Conley’s testimony, alleging Frank’s involvement. He highlighted Frank’s refusal to confront Conley and his nervous behavior as evidence of guilt, while dismissing antisemitism allegations by affirming his respect for Jewish leaders. Dorsey also emphasized factory girls’ testimonies about Frank’s predatory behavior, countering defense narratives. The trial concluded with Frank’s conviction, his 1915 lynching after a commutation, and the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) founding. The video addresses the racial dynamics of the Jim Crow South, where Conley, a Black man, was believed over Frank, a white Jewish man, due to the evidence’s strength. As of May 22, 2025, the case remains contentious, with the Georgia Innocence Project advocating for exoneration, opposed by Phagan’s family. X discussions show division, with some citing Alonzo Mann’s 1982 affidavit implicating Conley, while others support the trial’s verdict. The video frames Dorsey’s arguments as a critical examination of justice and bias.