Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-29
GRAND JUROR IN
TALK WITH
FRANK
Convinced After Long Converse
ton That Prisoner Is Not
Degenerate as Painted,

The first intimate glimpse OF the
prison life of Leo NJ. Frank, con-
victed and sentenced to hang for
the murder OF Mary Phagan, was
given to The Georgian Wednesday by
c. l.. Elyea, president Of the Elyea-
Austell Company, prominent business
man and member of the Fulton Coun-
ty Grand Jury that was recently ask
ed to indict Jim Conley as an acces-
sorry after the fact OF the murder
While voicing his reluctance to in
ject his personal beliefs and opinions
in the case, Mr.. Elyea declared posi-
lively that after talking with Frank
for nearly two hours, he is firmly
convinced that the young factory SUI
perintendent has been terribly SLAM
dered by the attacks that have been
made upon his moral character; that
the charges of perversion and degen-
eracy are utterly untrue and that
Frank is incapable of the deeds that
he is said to have committed.
81 have no hesitation" said Mr.
Elyea, 'in saying that Leo M. Frank
Is, in my opinion, as moral man.
and a man with as much strength
of character, as there is in the city
of Atlanta. No man can talk with
him as | did, for an hour and a half,
without becoming convinced that the
charges of perversion made against
him form the most terrible SANDER
ever uttered against white man.
Frank could not be the man he has
ny Ia in "a
eye and talks with forcefulness and
clearness that would not be possible
were he the degenerate he has been
painted"
Made No Preparation.
Mr.. Elyea's conversation with Frank
was held at a time when the convict
ed man was not expecting callers;
when he had no time to prepare set
prison speech, and when he had
nothing to gain by talking, and Mr.
Elyea declared that every word he
uttered came from his heart.
Il was struck with the attitude of
the man." Mr. Elyea said, "and de
cided to talk with him. When / en-
tered his apartment | was greeted by
an open faced, perfectly frank indi-
vidual, whose personality l believe
could impress anyone favorably.
am free to confess that / was in
fluenced by the newspaper reports to
believe him to be degenerate of the
worst type, but I can not believe, aft
er spending an hour and a half in his
presence, that he is the man he has
been pictured to the public.
He talked freely of his case, and
impressed me most favorably with his
candor and open hearted manner
do not believe it possible for anyone
who had actually committed such a
crime as has been charged to him TO
conduct himself as Frank conducted
himself, with naturalness that does
not seem possible to be affected. He
looks you straight in the face. and
especially impresses one with his
personality
Public Convinced of Guilt.
THE newspapers have not inten-
tionally done him an injustice, but
his case has suffered greatly on ac-
count of the daily charges against
him, whether they were true or not,
until the public mind became con-
WINGED of his guilt, though the ma
jority OF the people with whom I have
talked since my visit 10 the Jail have
expressed doubt
The public has believed that Frank
is living in luxury at the JAIL which
is a mistake. He occupies a cell in
one wing of the Jail, and is abso-
lutely isolated from anyone. His only
especial comfort is a small single iron
bed in the center of his cell.
Il believe the public will realize
that he has not had the considera-
ton that should be accorded him.