Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-24
Sheriff {. w. Mangum
Makes Announcement

Now that the wave Of excitement and
heat Of passion incident to the Leo NJ.
Frank trial has In measure subsidized,
deem 1t 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 to be dignified with a 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 thls
statement necessary, not as a JusIIlCA-
ton Of anything which have done out
in order that those who have listened
to these rlmOrs may understand the
true facts in the case In order that tne
good citizens Of the county VIII not De
misled by false statements originating
with few men who, for gain or spite
| are willing to attack man FOR the
simple performance OF his duty
Il has been said that I announced that
| believe Frank Innocent OF the charge
against him. This | emphatically DENY
| have never made O statement OF my
personal belief In the case, but nave
only quoted the prisoner, when | was
requested 10 do so, as saying hlmseu
that he was innocent
During the trial / was criticised pc
cause ! failed to handcuff 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 wilfully misrepresent or
show themselves densely ignorant. The
law requires the Sheriff simply to SAFE
guard his prisoners, and this l have
done.
Frank / say that It has never been the
custom Of myself or my deputies in our
FIVE years service TO the County, 10
handCuff a prisoner unless II was abso-
lutely necessary. and l take occasion 70
saw 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 cuits,
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 at
| a time are not handcuffed unless there
| Is some reason to believe that they VIII
attempt to escape or to do violence TO
In other words. whenever il is posi-.
BILE without running any risk or 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 or Gentle. or course, when
a large number, often from twenty TO
forty, prisoners are being brought 70
court by two or three deputies, We ma
II necessary to manHCle 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
build that In single combat he might
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 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 Sheriff's office had received
many anonymous communications from
people, who threatened to lynch Frank.
Always there were crowds gathered
about the courthouse 10 see the prls-
oner, and had I walked him to the jail
he could have been surrounded by peo-
pie 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 I had 20 use an automo-
bile to protect the prisoner and 10
guard him effectively, otherwise every
one of my deputies would have had 10
assist in guarding him. and they were
needed elsewhere. This machine be-
longs personally to ono ~ my deputies
and did not cost the unity one cent.
My enemies have f0Olishly declared
that 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
against the prisoner been freely made,
but there were many wild rumors that
the Hillsboro affair would be repeated
in the Frank case, and that the judge
and other court officials we're in con
While / did not credit these rumors.
I realized that never before had there
been such intense feeling, both for and
against a prisoner on trial in this coun-
For that reason, ard that reason
alone, | attended constantly on the trial,
Had violence been attempted, | would
never have forgiven myself and the
public would never have forgiven me,
for allowing my deputies 10 stand with
out a leader against a mob, while l,
the sheriff Of this county. sat safe in my
private office. unable 90 reach the scene
Of action, and the scene OF my duty. !
until II was too late 10 be Of any actual
assistance to my men. | was there be
cause II 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 | showed
partiality IN this matter has been made |
/ deny the charge fatty and firmly.
was sorry that every man in the county 1
who had any desire 10 hear the trial
could not do so, but space was very linn
tied That the courtroom was not larger
is not my fault. Is l had no control over
It / 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
I'D
Doubtless some parties were allowed
to pass in and out OF the room after
the doors had been closed to the general
public. but ! deny the charge that they
we're all friends Of Frank They were
attorneys. court officers, city detectives,
policemen in plain clothes and in prac-
ideally all instances their presence in
the courtroom was necessary, and they
had a right 20 demand and receive ad-
wlttanCe.
That the court was filed with men
Of the same race as the defendant l
also denF At practically every session
there We're ten Gentiles TO every Jew
in the room,
It has been said that Frank has been
allowed privileges at the jan accorded
no other prisoner THIS IS a LIE AS
IsTTTTTTT. As 1T Is RACE HE HAS