Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-24
Sheriff {. w. Mangun1
Makes Announcement
lie Citizens Of Fulton County:

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 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 ana ShCh IN
geni0us circulation that ! consider TINS
statement necessary, not as a lustihca-
tion Of anything which l have DONE Dut
i'm order that those who have listened
to these rum0rs may understand the
true facts in the case, IN order that the
good citizens Of the County will not be
misled by ralse statements originating
with 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 announced that
believe Frank innocent OF the charge
against him. This l emphatically deny
! have never made a statement OF my
personal belief in the case, but nave
bhlN quoted lllb lIlNblAbAs Nh'A
requested TO do so, as saying himself
that he was innocent
During the trial / was criticised be
cause | failed to handCuH 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 mlsrepresent or
show themselves densely ignorant. The
law requires the Sheriff simply to safe
guard his prisoners, and this ] have
done
Relative 10 my failure to handeuff
Frank ! say that IL has never been the
custom OF myself or my deputies In our
FIVE years service 10 the County; TO
handcuff a prisoner unless II was abso-
lutcly necessary. and | take occasion 70
say that Of more than twenty white
men who have been charged with muir
der during my administration, Only
three George Burge, George Quar.es
and Robert Clay-have worn steel Guns,
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 WIN
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 10 escape or to do violence to
the guard.
ing a prisoner TO escape, we spare MIN
the shame of appearing on the streets
with manacled hands be he white or
black. Jew or Gentle, or course, Wheh
a large number, often from twenty TO
forty, prisoners are being brought 10
court by two or three deputies, we md
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, physical
have also been criticised because
carried Leo Frank TO and from jail In
an automobile, when other prisoners
have walked from the court OF justice 10
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 cOmmunlcauons from
people, who threatened to lynch Frank.
Always there were crowds gathered
about the courthouse to see the prlS-
oner, and had | walked him TO the jail
he could have been surrounded by PEG
DIe 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.
u
guard him effectively, otherwise every
one of my deputies would have had TO
assist in guarding him, and they were
needed elsewhere. THIS machine be-
longs personally 10 one Of my deputies
and did not cost the county one cent
NV enemies have fooliShly declared
that 7 attended the Frank trial every
day because Of a personal interest IN the
fortunes Of the prisoner. and that had
never before attended constantly on a
criminal trial
Not only had threats OF violence
against the prisoner been freely made
bur there were many wild rumors that
the HiUsbOro 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
gainst 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 myself. ard the
public would never have forgiven me.
for allowing my deputies TO stand with
out a leader against a 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
until II was too late 10 be OF any actual
assistance to my men l 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 l showed
uartialIty IN this matter has been made
/ deny the charge fatty and firmly. l
was sorry that every man I'm the county
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 as l had no control over
1t I was instructed by the Judge. and
II ia 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
Doubtless some parties were allowed
to pass In and out Of the room after
the doors had been closed 10 the general
public, but J 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-
tically all instances their presence in
the courtroom was necessary, and they
had a right to demand and receive ad-
ulttanCe-
That the court was filed with men
NJ the same race as the defendant l
also de1s All practically every session
there were ten Gsntiles to every Jew
in the room.
II has been said that Frank has been
allowed privileges at the tan accorded