J R LEACH, Sworn In For The Defendant, 112th To Testify

J. R. Leach, 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)
J. R. Leach, division superintendent of the Georgia Railway & Power Co., testified that:

Georgia Avenue cars leave Broad & Marietta on the hour and every 10 minutes;
2 minutes to Whitehall & Alabama;
10 minutes from Whitehall & Alabama to Georgia Ave & Washington St.
Washington Street cars leave 2 minutes after the hour; same 2-minute hop to Whitehall & Alabama, then 10 minutes to Georgia Ave & Washington.

Leach confirmed the English Avenue car (Matthews & Hollis) is a “hard schedule” that routinely runs early—often cutting off the Fair Street (due 12:05) and River cars. He suspended a motorman the previous week for arriving ahead of time, yet early arrivals were frequent, especially when crews were relieved for meals.
On cross-examination, Leach admitted cars come in early every day; catching them is difficult. The English Avenue line habitually beat the 12:05 Fair Street car—making a 12:03–12:04 arrival at Marietta & Forsyth routine.
Leach’s insider testimony shattered the State’s rigid 12:07 schedule, proving Phagan’s car could have dropped her four minutes early—placing her inside Frank’s office by 12:07½.