Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-23
Sheriff G. w. Mangun1
Makes Announcement
e Citizens of Fulton County

heat Of passion incident to the Leo NJ.
Frank trial has in a measure subsidized,
deem it advisable to address a few
words TO the voters and the people Of
the County relative to the many base
less. unfounded, and unfair rumors
which have been circulated about my
treatment Of the County's prisoner Leo
NJ Frank
These rumors many Of which are too
unreasonable 20 be dignifed with re
ply or denial. have largely originated
with my personal and political enemies,
solely for political purposes, but they
have been given such wide and such IN
geniOus circulation that | consider this
statement necessary, not as a lustluca-
ton Of anything which l have done, bul
in order that those who have listened
to these rumOrs may understand the
true facts in the case in order that the
good citizens Of the County viii not he
mlsltd by false statements originating
with a few men who, for gain or spite
are willing to attack a man Tor the
simple performance of his duty.
II has been said that I announced that
] believe Frank innocent of the charge
against him. This ! emphatically deny.
I have never made a statement Of my
personal belief in the case. but have
requested to do so. as saying himself
that he was innocent
During the trial / was criticised ne
cause ! failed 20 haudCuff Frank when
he was carried from the jail TO the
courthouse during his trial My enemies
say that in doing this / violated the law.
In this they willfully misrepresent or
show themselves densely ignorant The
law requires the Sheriff simply 20 safe
guard his prisoners, and this l nave
done.
Relative to my failure TO handcuff
Frank / say that II has never been the
custom of myself or my deputies IN our
five years service to the County, 10
handCuff a prisoner unless 1T was abso-
lutely necessary, and ] take occasion To
say that Of more than twenty white
men who have been charged with muir
der during my administration, only
three-GeOrge Burge, George Quarles
and Robert Clay-have worn steel cuffs,
and these men were known as desperate
characters Balm, Darden, Garner,
Reeves, Copeland. Nane, Matthews, Nc
Donald, Parham, Camp, Folds and many
others charged with murder, have been
allowed To walk to their trials with
unmanacled hands. Even negroes, when
there IS only one or two TO be moved al
a time. are not handcuffed unless there
is some reason to believe that they viii
attempt to escape or to do violence to
the guard
In other words. whenever it is posi-
BILE, without running any risk Of allow
ing prisoner to escape, we spare him
the shame Of appearing on the streets
with manacled hands, be he white or
black. Jew or Gentle. OF course, when
a large number often from twenty to
forty prisoners are being brought to
court by two or three deputies, we ma
II necessary TO manacle them In order
TO prevent their escape. but never when
there is only one prisoner unless he is
not only desperate but OF such powerful
build that In single combat he might
overcome even an armed deputy, FRANK
IS a man Of slight stature, a physical
weakllng
carried Leo Frank to and from jail in
an automobile, when other prisoners
have walked from the court of justice to
the place OF their Incarceration. The
reason for the use Of the automobile IS
simple and obvious There were many
threats against the life of the prisoner
and the Sherfs office had received
many anonymous communications from
people, who threatened 10 lynch Frank:
Always there were crowds gathered
about the courthouse to see the prIs-
oner and had 1 walked him TO the jail
he could have been surrounded by peO-
ple, some of whom might have attempt
ed TO do him harm; or in the surround
ing crowds there might have been
friends. who would have sought TO lib
crate him.
Necessarily / had to use an automo-
bile tO protect the prisoner and 70
guard him effectively, otherwise every
one Of my deputies would have had to
assist in guarding him and they were
needed elsewhere 7 is machine be-
longs personally TO on, " my deputies
and did not cost the yunty one cent.
Ny enemies have foolishly declared
that I attended the Frank trial every
day because OF a personal interest In the
fortunes Of the prisoner, and that l had
never before attended constantly on
criminal trial
Not only had threats Of violence
against the prisoner been freely made,
but there were many wild rumOTS that
the HillshOrO affair would be repeated
IN the Frank case, and that the judge
and other court officials were in con-
slant danger.
realized that never before had there
been such intense feeling, both for and
against a prisoner on trial in this coun-
For that reason. and that reason
alone. | attended constantly on the trial
Had violence been attempted, | would
never have forgiven my self. and the
public would never have forgiven me,
for allowing my deputies TO stand with
out a leader against mob, while L,
the sheriff Of this county. sat safe in my
private office, unable to reach the scene
Of action, and the scene OF my duty,
urtn il was too late to be Of any actual
assistance to my men. / was there be
cause il was my duty TO be there and
for no other reason.
have been criticised by many be
cause they could not get seats in the
courtroom and the charge that l showed
partially IN this matter has been made.
I deny the charge fatty and firmly. l
was sorry that every man In the county
who had any desire to hear the trial
could not do So but space was very linn
tied That the courtroom was not larger
is not my fault, as l had no control over
it. | was instructed by the Judge, and
IT is my sworn duty to obey his or
ders. TO close the doors when the seats
in the room had been filed, and this
I did
to pass in and out Of the room after
the doors had been closed to the general
public, but ! deny the charge that they
were all friends of Frank. They were
attorneys court officers. city detectives.
policemen in plain clothes and in praC-
tically all instances their presence in
the courtroom was necessary, and they
had a right TO demand and receive ad-
mittauCc.
That the court was filed with men
Of the same race as the defendant
also deny AT practically every session
there were ten Gentiies to every jew
IN the room.
Il has been said that Frank has been
allowed privileges at the fail accorded
no other prisoner THIS u A LIE AS
PLTlk IL AS 1T IS BASE. HE HAS