Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-23
Sheriff c. w. Mangum
Makes Announcement

heat of passion incident to the Leo NJ.
Frank trial has in a measure subsidized,
/ deem 1t advisable to address 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 he 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 ana such m
genious circulation that l consider IlIS
statement necessary, not as q guslilCd-
tion OF anything which | have done, but
in order that those who have listened
to these rumOrs may understand lhe
true facts in the case, in order that the
good citizens of the County viii not be
misled by false statements originating
with "a 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 / emphdtically deny,
have never made a statement OF my
personal belief in the case, but have
only quoted the prisoner, when was
that he was innocent.
During the trial I was criticized be
cause | failed 10 handcuH FRANK Wheh
he was carried from the jail to the
courthouse during his trial MY enemies
say that In doing this | violated the law
Ia this they willtully 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 10 handcuff
Frank | say that it has never been the
custom n myself or my deputies IN our
five years service TO the County, 10
haudcuh a prisoner unless II was abso-
lutely 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, Vane, 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
time, are not handCufred unless there
is some reason to believe that they VIII
attempt to escape or to do violence TO
the guard.
In other words, whenever II Is posi-
BILE without running any risk Of allow
ing a prisoner to escape, We spare MIN
the shame " appearing on the streets
with manacled hands. be he white or
black Jew or Gentle. OF course, when
a large number, often from twenty 10
forty. prisoners are being brought 10
court by two or three deputies, we ind
II necessary to manacle them In order
10 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
or 4
is a man Of slight stature, physical
weakling
/ have also been criticised because l
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 ar' obvious. There were many
threats a inst the life OF the prisoner
and the ~hcrif'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-
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 to use an automo-
bile TO protect the prisoner and to
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 to one of my deputies
and did not cost the County one cent.
My enemies have fColishiy declared
that I 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
Not only had threats ~ violence
against the prisoner been freely made,
hut there were many wild rumors that
the HiIlsborO affair would Toe repeated
in the Frank case. and that the judge
and other court officials were in con-
slant danger
While I 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. and 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 to stand with
out a leader against 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 il was too late TO be OF any actual
assistance to my men. was there be
cause il 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.
I deny the charge fatty and firmly
was sorry that every man in the county
who had any desire to hear the tria,
could not do so. but space was very linz
tied That the courtroom was not larger
is not my fault, as / had no control over
it, ! was instructed by the Judge, and
il is my sworn duty 70 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
to pass in and out of the room after
the doors had been closed 10 the general
public but ] deny the charge that they
were all friends Of Frank They were
attorneys, court officers, city detectives,
policemen in plain clothes and in praC.
tically al, instances their presence in
the courtroom was necessary, and they
had "a right To demand AMI receive au-
mIttance
That the court was filled with men
Of the same race as the defendant |
also deH- Al practically every session
there were ten Geutles To every Jew
in The room.
u has been said that Frank has been
allowed privileges az the jeil accorded
NO utuy. prisoner THIS IS a LIE As
FIFTH IL rs If Is BASE. lie HAS