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

heat Of passion incident to the Leo NJ
Frank trial has in measure subsided,
I 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 Couuty's prisoner. Leo
NJ Frank
These rumors, many If which are too
unreasonable to 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 m
genious circulation that | consider TINS
statement necessary, not as lUstlucd- p
ton Of anything which / nave done gu!
in order that those who have listened
TO these rumors may understand the
true facts in the case, IN order that me
coed citizens Of the County VIII not ne
misled by false statements originating
with a few men who, for gain or spite
are willing to attack a man for the
simple performance Of his duty.
Ii has been said that I announced that
/ believe Frank innocent of the charge
against MIN This / emphaucaliy deny
I have never made a statement OF my
personal belief in the case, but nave
requested to do So. as saying himself
that he was innocent.
During the trial / was criticised be
cause 7 failed 10 handCutf 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 willlully misrepresent or
show themselves densely ignorant The
law requires the Sheriff simply to safe
guard his prisoners, and this ] have
done.
Relative to my failure to handcuff
Frank | say that 1t has never been the
custom Of myself or my deputies in our
five years service to the County; 10
haudCuf prisoner unless 1t was Hbso-
lutely necessary, and take occasion TO
say that OF more than twenty whlie
men who have been charged with mui-
der during my administration only
three-George BurEe, George Quarles
and Robert Clay-haVe worn steel cuffs.
and these men were known as desperate
characters Balm, Darden, Garner,
Reeves Copeland, Naue, Matthews, Nc
Donald. Parham. Camp, Folds and many
others charged with murder have been
allowed to walk 10 their trials with
unmanacled hands Even negroes, when
there is only one or two TO be moved at
time. are not handcuffed unless there
is some reason 10 believe that they VIII
attempt 10 escape or TO do violence 70
the Euara.
In other words. whenever It is posi-
bile. without running any risk OF allow
ing "A prisoner to escape. we spare MN
the shame Of appearing on the streets
with manaCled hands, be he white or
black. Jew OF Gentle of course, Wheh
a large number, often from twenty 10
FORTY prisoners are being brought TO
court by two or three deputies, we find
il necessary 10 manacle them in order
to prevent their escape, but never when
there Is only one prisoner unless ne IS
not only desperate but Of such powerful
T., rGr, ..F1gh l no
overcome even an armed deputy Frank
is a man of slight stature, physical
have also been criticised because I
carried Leo Frank TO and from JAN 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 az inst the life Of the prisoner
and the Sherlff's office had received
many anonymous communications from
people. who threatened to lynch Frank.
Always there were crowds gathered
about the courthouse to see the prls-
ouer. and had ! walked him to the jail
ne 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 Id
crate him.
Necessarily I had to use an automo-
bile to protect the prisoner and to
guard him effectively, otherwise every
one Of my deputies would have had 10
assist in guarding him. and they We're
needed elsewhere This machine be-
longs personally to one Of my deputies
and dfd not cost the County one cent
NV enemies have foulishly declared
mat I attended the Frank trial every
day because Of personal interest in the
fortunes Of the prisoner, and that | had
never before attended constantly on a
criminal trial
against the prisoner been freely made,
but there were many wild rumors that
the flilIShOru affair would be repeated
in the Frank case, and that the judge
and other court officials were in con
slant danger
While / did not credit these rumors.
I realized that never before had there
been such intense feeling, both for and
against prisoner On trial In this coun-
~
For that reason. and that reason
alone. ! attended constantly on the trial
Had violence been attempted I would
never have forgiven myself, and the
public would never have forgiven me,
for allowing my deputies to stand with
out a leader against a mob. while /,
The sheriff OF this county. sat safe In my
private office, unable TO reach the scene
" action, and the scene of my duty.
uutl il was too late 70 be OF any actual
--aSLH Ih.t it IllN ItltAtt 1 as ti+'t Z hJF-
cause it 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
partia1ty in this matter has been made.
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 lin
tied That the courtroom was not larger
is not nay fault, as ] had no control over
IL. | was instructed by the Judge. and
ii is my sworn duty TO obey his or
ders, to close the doors when the seats
in the room had been filled, and this
| did
Doubtless some parties were allowed
10 pass in and out Of the room after
the doors had been closed 10 the general
public. but | deny the charge that they
were ali 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 right to demand and receive ad-
mlttance-
That the court was fIled with men
Of the same race as the defendant
also DEM AT practically every session
there were ten Geutiles to every Jew
in the room.
1t has been said that Frank has been
allowed privileges at the Jail accorded
mo ythe, prisoner THIS Is a LIE As
pIIIE IL As IT Is BASE He HAS