Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-10
FRANK SAYS. III. Us INNOCENT
Denounces .spirit of Mob Violence
Which Pervaded the Court Room
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! Atlanta Ga.,@ Dec. 4 1e-Leo NJ
Efr1ank; Convicted Of the murder Of
9lsfy Phagan, a 14-yea!-old factory
girl IN this City in April, 1913. wa:
yesterday sentenced to be hanged or
Friday, January %.
Before receiving sentence, which
was pronounced by Judge Ben Fl.
Hill, Frank made a statement de-
Inouncing the spirit of mob violence
which pervaded the court room" at
his trial, declaring his death would
n,ay an indelible stain upon Georgia s
name for justice" and charging that
Jas. Conley, colored, who was the
States principal witness against
Frank, has committed perjury.
yesterday marks the third time
frank has been sentenced to death
for the Phagan girls murder. I
Frank was taken from the Jail tc
rhe courthouse under an escort OF
deputy sheriffs. The prisoner walked
into the courtroom with firm ster
ma faced Judge Hill with the calm
less which has characterized him
throughout his fight for life.
In reply to the usual query by the
,ourt if he had any reason to give
why sentence should not be passet:
lpon him, Frank made the followin:
.tatement:
MAY it please your honor, this i,
inomentous day-a day of far grea
II Importance to the State Of Georgi;
md to the majesty of the law eve
nan to myself, for under theguis' :;
IF law your honor is about to pre-
iounce words that will condemn T.
leath an innocent man. Transcendin,
Importance the loss of my own lif
: the indelible stain and diShono
resting upon the name OF this state
~ reason of its judicially numbering
IN innocent man. The jury's verdic;
If August 25, 1918, finding me guilt.
,s the death of Mary Phagan: dlc
,ot then and does not now speak th
ruth. | declare to your honor and tt
he world that, that verdict was made
II an atmosphere seething with mol
,io!ence and ciamnr fo1E my Lille
.erdict based on evidence absolutely
'age, which under other clrcum
tances would not have been given ;
noment's credence.
~ deeply sympathize with TIL
;arents of Mary Phagan. The brut
hat brought so much grief upon
hem has plunged me into sorrow ant
n:sery unspeakable, and is about tt
accomplish my undoing.
"But this l know my execution vii
mark. the advent of ANEW era II
}:iecrgia, where a good F.name and
stainless honor count for naugh
against the word of vile criminal
where the testimony of Southern
Unite women. Of unimpeachabl'
haracter is branded as false by The
prosecution, and disregarded by tn
ury, where mob crying for BLOOD
Invaded the courtroom and became
he dominant factor in what shoult
lave been solemn judicial trial. Oh
hame-that these things be true.
Life is very sweet to ne. 1t is moi
IN easy thing to give up the love o
lear ones, of wife and parents, OF
.ver loyal friends. Though this be
rue, death has 10 terror for me.
20 to my end in the full conscious
less of innocence, and in the firm
;onviction that, as there Is God II
ieaven my full vindication mus!
.ome some day. With the dawn of
hat day, there will come to the peo.
Die of Georgia a full realization OF
this horrible mistake mistake lr-
:eirievable-the execution of an in
..occnt man, victim OF perjury
5eriudice, and passion"
1t was learned here yesterday that
franks attorney have had under
consideration final plan to get his
Ease once more before the courts,
They declined to say what their plan
is. but lawyers who have followed
The case predicted an effort will be
made to take the case before the
United States supreme icourt@on the
alleged grounds that afspIrit OF mob
violence prevailed att Franks trial.
;deptiving the defendant oof' due pro-
.ess of law:
Should proceedings in the courts be