J. W. Coleman — Sworn In for the State — 183rd Witness to Testify

J. W. Coleman, witness for the State 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. W. Coleman, Mary Phagan’s stepfather, testified that Detective McWorth showed him a pay envelope with the figure “5” written on the right side. Coleman immediately told McWorth that Mary was owed $1.20, and a “5” on the right would not correspond to that amount.
On cross-examination, Coleman examined Defendant’s Exhibit 47 (marked *51)—the envelope Frank claimed he used to pay Mary—and stated it did not appear to be the same envelope McWorth had shown him. He noted the “5” was no longer visible and reiterated that he had rejected the “5” as inconsistent with Mary’s actual wages. This testimony was offered to impeach Frank’s claim that he innocently prepared Mary’s correct pay envelope, suggesting either tampering or fabrication of evidence.