M J GOLDSTEIN, Sworn In For The Defendant, 77th To Testify

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M. J. Goldstein, witness for the Defendant in rebuttal, at the Trial of Leo Frank in the Fulton County Superior Court of Atlanta, Georgia, in 1913 (Testimony Portion From July 28 - August 21, 1913; Closing Arguments August 21-25, 1913)
M. J. Goldstein arrived at the Selig residence at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 for a card game in the dining room.

Leo Frank sat in the hall, reading a magazine, laughing heartily at jokes.
Nothing unusual—no nervousness, no bruises, no anxiety.
Frank never played poker with the group.
He entered once to share a humorous story, then returned to his seat at the group’s request.
Frank went to bed around 10:30 p.m.; Lucile followed 15 minutes later.

On cross-examination, Goldstein confirmed Frank’s merriment was genuine—the magazine distracted the players with his laughter.
Goldstein’s evening-long vigil from the dining-room table—with a direct sight-line through the open doorway—vaporized the State’s portrait of a drunk, bruised, confessing Frank.
A light-hearted family card night became the final, unassailable alibi.

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