The Pensacola journal., 1914-12-31

Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 30-Wiu the state
of Georgia send an innocent man 70
the galIows on January II? Is Lee
N. Frank, who must die on that day
guilty or innocent of the murder of
fourteen year old Mary Phagano
Rarely in the history of American
criminal Jurisprudence has the entire
nation been SO thoroughly aroused
over a murder case. In Atlanta
probably majority Of the people be
heve Frank guilty Of the murder of
Mary Phagan. But from all over the
nation there has poured into Atlanta
flood of protest and opinion that
Frank is innocent. United States
senators. business men of promi-
nence all over the country. and even
judges of criminal courts have ex-
pressed the conviction that Frank 5
guilt has not been proved to their
satisfaction. Frank IS a Jew. but the
great cry of protest against his exc
cution has arisen from Jews and
Christians alike
The Facts in the Case.
Here are the facts upon which
Frank was convicted:
On the morning Of Sunday, April
27. 1918, the body u Mary Phagan,
q fourteen year old girl, was found
in the basement Of the pencil factory
Of which Frank was the superin-
tendent by Newt Lee, the negro night
watchman. Marks on the throat in
dicated she had been strangled. Two
notes found beside the body, alleged
to have been written by the girl, said
she was the victim of criminal as
sault. A crowd which rushed into
the basement obliterared traces
which might have led directly to the
murderer.
The news was teIephoned to Frank,
and that day he was brought down
town to discuss the matter with the
police. There was at that time no
suspicion that Frank might be the
murderer. He was asked whether or
not he knew the girl. Frank replied
promptly that ne did; that she was
an extra empIoye of the factory, and
that on the previous day he had seen
her in the office of the factory and
had paid her some money due her
Frank said she had been laid off be-
cause of q shortage of material, and
that she had come to him on Satur-
day afternoon, While he was at work
on his books, to get her pay and to
ask when she might be re-employed
He said he paid her, that she left the
office, and that he saw no more Of
her.
Cards Stacked Against Frank?
Frank was arrested. Four days
later the police took into custody
James Conley, a negro employed in
the factory as a sweeper. Conley
told four different stories. They all
Frank. Detective Scott, |
2 witness for the state, openly said |
ConIey was coached in his testimony
and told, when he said something |
lnrea sonabIe. that "he must do bet |
ter than that" The affidavit of Con- |
ley. that the accused had asked him |
TO write notes and leave them by the
dead girls side, that with Franks
aid he had carried the body of the
girl down from the second floor OF
he pencil factory to the engine rooI5
md that Frank had given him $40
md then taken it away from hin
again, was the chief evidence in ia
rial against Frank
The charge is made Jnht Solicitu
General Dorsey, who handled tn
,ase for the state, acquiesced in the
coercion of witnesses against F'rark
I is declared also that Dorse>
mob, which was already calling 60.
franks death
During the course of the trial
Dorsey is said to have turned Z
frank and stated, pointing his finge.
t the defendant: You know tia
f that little girl had left the factor
nd told what advances you ha
made to her, men by the thousand
would storm any Jail you might b
ocked in to get at you" He tho
dded as an afterthought, &c
curse it wouldn't have been right
o that
At another point he said: "Gentle-
len of the jury, if you don't convic
his man on this evidence, l say, !
way with your courts and You.
lries, and not have any law at ~
The feeling against the defend
MT manifested itself in numerou,
letters received by coun :
Il for the Defense declared one u I
ranks attorneys. Two men q. I
Ugh standing, who dared to stat
ublicly their belief in the defend &
nts innocence also received anony q
lous threatening communications. !
m reliably informed that one man i