The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-21
Attacks on Franks Character

AttaChS Ou rIdnk 8 OnaracIeT
 A woman of the underworld stated that on the afternoon and night of the day of the murder Frank had telephoned her repeatedly for a room in her house to which he could bring girl. She said that he pleaded for the room and finally told her over the telephone that it was a mat ter of life and death and that he must have room in her house because he could trust. no one else. That story was carried under two-column head; was played-up heavily. A little later reports that the woman had been offered money to leave the city were published; still later, the woman left the city
 That story was the widest, most vicious of lies. The state did not dream of using 1t in the prosecution; newspaper men ad- init that it was lie and that Frank has a legitimate criticism of the papers which used it; and I was told by leading edi- tor in Atlanta that the only reason he could assign for the woman having made the statement was that she wanted to win the favor of the police department.
 But there were no big stories to tell that the Famby woman's statement was lie. There were no great, arresting headlines to counteract the damage that had been done, and I can see no reason why many men, not informed intimately as to the case, should not think today that Frank tried to rent that room.
 Again the papers carried a statement from policeman named Robert House. He said that while patrolling the parks he had caught Frank with a young girl. That story was emphasized. A picture of House, dressed in a policeman's uniform and riding horse, was carried by one Of the papers. l do not know the out come of the investigation of Houses story, but its value is best indicased by the fact that the prosecution, hard as it fought to convict Frank, did not put the policeman on the stand during the fight as to Frank S character.
 News Stories C0lOred
 Then, too, there crept into the pa pcrs. unconsciously I believe, note of acceptance of conley's version when he finally began talking. After one of his later tatemants he was taken to the factory to give pantomime of his account. One of the papers in report ing that said that Conley illustrated how Frank fell against him as they were getting out of the elevator after placing the childs body in the base ment. Careful reporting would have rut 1t that Conley illustrated Frank 1 f,ll against him, as Conley alleges ha did. That may not seem important but 1 the newspaper men know that it is | important in its effect upon the pub lie mind.
 Complementing these printed stories | We're innumerable reports that passed | on the street. One was that Frank had | vile reputation. in Brooklyn, where | he had lived prior to going to Atlanta | It was even whispered that he had | been married there (his present wife is | an Atlanta girl) and that he had killed | his wife. One of the Atlanta papers | requested the Brooklyn Eagle to in-. vestigate Franks record in Brooklyn | The report was that there was no flaw | that was known. To the credit of the | Atlanta paper it should be said that | it gave prominence to the Eagles re- port.
 It was after the masses of people | had been convinced by such stories, | printed and imprinted, and by the at titude of the police and prosecuting officials that Frank was a guilty beast 1 that he was tried, not only for his life, but also as to whether he was the most despicable of degenerates. It was in blood d-seeking atmosphere which was the natural outgrowth of the belief of the masses that the trial actually took place.
 And that trial! It is one of the se- verest indictments of the American system of criminal procedure that has ever come under my notice. With all the passion against the man, all the clamor for his head, I believe that if the trial had been conducted rationally 1t would have been impossible to get all those l2 men to unite in q. verdict If guilty on the evidence. I do not crit icize Judge Roan. the presiding judge or MT. Dorsey, the prosecutor, or coun- sel for the defense criticize the sys- teiI. The men involved wore merely working under the rules.
 Trivial Testimony Brought Out
 The bars were down. virtually, and testimony was given and argument