The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-09-03
FIND FRANK Guilty
no RECOMMENDATION TO mercy
By ATLANTA. JURY
THRONG likes VERDICT

| Populace Shows Its Approval by a
Noisy Demonstration When Jury's
| Finding Is Announced-Solicitor
l. Lifted on Mems Shoulders and Tri-
umphantly Carried Off.
Leo N. Frank, convicted late Mon
day Of the murder Of 14-year-old
Mary Phagan, showed no visible signs
of emotion early Monday night when
informed that he had been found
guilty. The factory superintendent
wife, with him when the message was
delivered, collapsed.
More than an hour before Frank
was notified the jury's verdict of
murder in the first degree was re-
ceived with noisy demonstration by
a crowd estimated at more than g.
900 persons that jammed the street.
All spectators were excused from the
Court room before the verdict was
announced. BY agreement Of coun-
sci the prisoner was permitted to re-
| main in his cell at the county Jail.
Only lawyers, Court officials and
newspaper men heard the verdict
rendered
After listening to the presenta-
ton of the evidence and argument of
counsel for more than four weeks
the jury retired at 12:47 o'clock
Monday afternoon when Judge Roam
concluded his charge. Shortly after
4 o'clock it was announced that a
verdict had been reached, but it was
nearly o'clock before the jury re-
turned to the Court room.
At 4:50 o'clock Foreman Win
burne read the verdict 1t contained
no recommendation to mercy. AS the
news was flashed to the crowd out
side there was loud cheering. Mount
ed policemen rode through the crowd
TO disperse it, but the demonstration
continued unabated.
Solicitor Hugh Dorsey, who con-
Quoted the prosecution, was the first
person to leave the Court room. AS
he stepped into the street he was lift
ed to the shoulders Of several men
and carried for more than hundred
feet through the shouting throng.
Mary Phagan's body bearing marks
of violence was found in the base
ment of the National Pencil Factory
early Sunday morning, april 27. The
girl previously had been employed at
the factory and had gone there at
noon, April 26, for her wages. Near
her body was found two notes, on
which were accusations against a
long black negroe."
Newt Lee, negro night watchman
of the factory, who found the body,
Immediately was arrested on suspic-
ion Superintendent Frank and sew
eral others connected with the fac
tory were detained several days later.
Among these was James Conley, ne-
gro sweeper.
Franks trial began July %. The
State built basis Of circumstantial
evidence and then called James Con-
ley to the stand to give the only di-
rect testimony against the defendant.
Conley swore that he had stood guard
outside the factory Office while Frank
was closeted with the pretty 14-year-
old girl, and that later he helped
Frank carry the body to the base
ment. The negro also told story of
other alleged incidents at the fac
tory office, charging the defendant
with degeneracy. The defence's at
torney's attacked Conley's veracity by
attempting to prove an alibi for their
client and by producing three pre-
vious affidavits, in which the negro
told widely varying stories OF the
crime.
Late in the trial the defendant
took the stand, making a statement
of general denial. He said he paid
Mary Phagan her wages on the day
she disappeared, and that she left his
Office Immediately
| Judge Roan's charge to the jury,
! delivered Immediately after he had
overruled a motion of the defence
for a mistrial, was terse and direct.
With reference to reasonable doubt"
he said: "You are not compell-
ed to find from the evidence his
guilt beyond any doubt, but beyond a
reasonable doubt, such a doubt as
grows out of the evidence, or for the
want Of evidence; such doubt as
reasonable and impartial man would
entertain about matters of the high
est importance to himself, and after
all reasonable efforts to ascertain the
truth This does not mean fanci-
s"! d~"N+. CO. >onjured up by the ju-
y"
/ Or "- = trial much stress was
n'cn~' -: : y sides on the question
-" - TX c -acter. Judge Roam
,Ha~c~? -: that while evidence
>s tHo Gcscr"a' S good reputation
~~av:~rs ~ he cath of Mary Phag-
IN was - he considered possibly as
creating doubt Of his guilt. such ev-
iaeare would not suffice to clear him
! IL. in tho oniDi0n OF the jury, other
testimony was cufficient to show that
he had committed the crime charged
against him.
On Tuesday Judge Roam sentenced
Frank 20 1eath. the date of the exc
cut;cn being fixed as October 10. At
torneys for the defence made motion
for new tri"l and the date set for
the hearing in October 4. This rem
Gcrs il certain that Frank will not be
hanged on the tenth, for if an ad-
verse ruling is given to the motion
for now trial an appeal will be TAX
on to the Supreme Court. which will
necessitate long delay.