South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-07
PRAYS FOR MERCY ON
MEN WHO PUSHED CASE
Court Room Crowd Moved BY
Remarkable Appeal of Con-
vlCted Man As Judge Pro-
nOunCeS Doom.

ATLANTA Ca. March LEO NJ.
Frank was today resentenced TO be
hanged April Il. for the murder Of
Mary Phagan. whose body was found
i'm the basement of "A pencil factory
here several months ago.
Frank formerly lived in Brooklyn.
Just before sentencing Frank, Judge
Hill asked the convicted man if ne had
anything to say.
The prisoner made somewhat
lengthy statement declaring his inno-
cence OF the crime for which he he
has been convicted.
Il know fun we'll that your honor
has naUEht to do with the various vi
cissitudes of my case. But / wish to
say in your presence and in the pres
cnce OF the Supreme Being whose eve
IS now upon us. that ] am innocent of
the murder of little Mary Phagan and
j have no knowledge of how il occur
red"
Frank spoke of himself as a blood
sacrifice and said III he is executed
the state viii be guilty of murder. He
referred TO many vile stories" circu-
lated regarding him during the trial
90 mislead the people, and declared
them false. I'm closing his statement
ne again declared his innocence, say
ing:
II pray God may deal gently with
those who have erred against me-"
Your honor. / am now ready that
sentence be pronounced upon me-"
All those present in the court room
We're visibiy impressed by Franks
statement. 5
Here is a summary OF the principal
grounds, most of which have been
made public by Franks counsel in the
last few days on which a motion for
new trial was asked
!. That George h. Epps, a 15-year-
old neWsboy and a playmate of the
Phagan girl swore falsely and at the
direction Of John Black, a city detec-
tive, when he testified that Mary had
said she was afraid OF Frank and that
he had tried To flirt with her.
%. That Black without any basis of
fact concocted the damaging story Of
Franks alleged attentions TO the lit
tie factory girl and got ii before the
jury TO convict the young superinten-
dent regardless of his innocence or
guilt
Was Waiting For Car.
o. That new evidence supported by
the affidavit of Mrs. Ethel Harris
Miller, "a well 10 do and reputable wo-
man shows without a vestige of doubt
that Frank was at a street corner
waiting for "a car at the time the
negro Jim Conley. swore on the stand
that he was assisting Frank dispose Of
the body of the slain girl
4. That DR.. TT. r. Harris. a director
of the state board Of health. and So
lcitOl Hugh NJ. Dorsey. conspired to
Lee" from the jury DR.. Harris dis
covery that the hair pins found on the
second floor OF the factory were not
those OF the slain girl.
.. That Albert McKnigh1, husband
of the negro cook in the Frank house
hold, swoTe falsely when he testified
for the state that he saw Frank come
home on the day of the crime. walk
nervously about the dining room and
then instead of eating his luncheon
FASTENED back TO his office.
Affidavits have been obtained from
Mcknight and the Epps boy in which
they confess their testimony was false
I'm the most important particulars
Jim Corley swore on the stand that he
and Frank were engaged in dispOsing
OF The body from 1885 until 1850 the
afternoon OF the crime. Miss Helen
Kern. an acquaintance of the factory
superintendent, testified that she saw
him waiting for his ear at 1:10. but
her evidence seemingly was disregard
I'd by the jury. The affidavit OF Mrs.
Miller made public Friday strongly
corroborates the statement OF Miss
Kern