The Mary Phagan Murder Inquest Was Conducted Under Coroner Paul Donehoo, Atlanta, April–May 1913

From April 30 to May 8, 1913, Atlanta witnessed a pivotal coroner’s inquest into the murder of Mary Phagan, conducted under the stewardship of Coroner Paul Donehoo, a man of remarkable mental acuity despite his visual impairment. This judicial inquiry, designed to probe the strangulation death of the 13-year-old factory worker, brought together a six-man jury and a array of witnesses under oath. Leo Frank, the National Pencil Company superintendent, offered two testimonies—on May 5 and May 8—with inconsistent details of his day, while Newt Lee, the night watchman, recounted discovering the body. Lemmie Quinn’s shifting statements and Dr. J. W. Hurt’s confirmation of strangulation added complexity, with Pinkerton detective Harry Scott noting Frank’s early agency involvement. The inquest concluded with a recommendation to hold Frank and Lee, paving the way for Frank’s grand jury indictment on May 24, secured by a 21-0 vote. Donehoo’s leadership illuminated this early investigation, shaping a case that would resonate through Atlanta’s legal and social fabric.