Who was Mary Phagan? Mary Phagan was a young girl whose tragic death in 1913 shocked the nation and led to one of the most controversial trials in American history. Born in 1899, Mary worked at the National Pencil Company in Atlanta, Georgia. On April 26, 1913, she went to the factory to collect her paycheck but never returned home. Her body was found in the factory basement the next day. The case quickly gained national attention, leading to the arrest and trial of Leo Frank, the factory superintendent. Frank’s conviction and subsequent lynching remain subjects of intense debate and discussion.