The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-16
CONDEMNED MAN
NOT FAIRLY TRIED
Atlanta Ministers Strongly Voice
Demand for Another Hear
ing OF Frank Case.
MIND OF PUBLIC lNFLAMED
Detective Burns Arrives From
New York, and Will Make
Investigation.
tspecial TO The Tllnes.pisnatcb !

Especial TO The Times Disratch1
Atlanta. Ga. March 15.-Demand for
n new trial for Leo NJ Frank was
strongly voiced by several Atlanta min
listers In their sermons this mornipp
ana tonight, all declaring that In their
opinion the condemned man had not
been fairly tried, and that to executs
him under tho present sentence Womb
b. Judicial murder
one OF the strongest pleas for n nov
triai was made by DR.. a. r. Holderbv
pastor Of Moore Memorial Presbvterian
church DIR. Holderby has served this
chureh Tor Years, and ho is recognized
as ono OF the ablest ministers OF Al
ianta Dr. Holderby said in part:
as preacher of the gospel and as
Ia clti@en OF Georgia, IL becomes my
| duty for the second time to warn tho
state OF the sin and danger OF taking
human ne unless 1t is absolutely
sure that life has been duly forfeited.
Leo NJ. Frank has been condemned to
death. ~
1 am not asserting his guilt or inno
cencc. nor do I care any more about
FRANK than would about the poorest
negro in Georgia. l never heard Of
this man until his arrest / would feel
IL my duty to appeal for a fair trial for
any man.
This Frank has not had, as every
un o,ascd man must admit; nor Is it
likely ne can get such trial in Atlanta
on account of tho prejudice nroinst
him. This should not be- but is tru.
10 would be unfair to hang n sheep
Killing dog on the evidence upon which
Frank has been convicted
should this man be executed and
| u be discovered that he was not guilty
then the State OF Georgia would be
guilty OF an atrocious murder Leo NJ.
Frank should have a new trial. and If
should be held In a judicial atnlos-.
| phere."
| Public Mind Infiamed.
| Rev C. O. Bricker pastor OF the
! First Christian Church. spoke on SINH
! lar lines. He asserted tina. the public
mind was intiamed, that q victim waa
demanded for the murder of Mary
| l'haEan. and that the jury convicted
frank In response to this popular
! clamOr
Rev Mr.. Cary. a leading Methodist
minister. declared that TO hang Frank
ON N" evidence Of self-confessed. de-
ing short OF legal calamity"
Rev Fred Lines. pastor Of the First
universalist Church. asserted that
Frank was unfairly tried, and that TO
hanE MIN under the present sentences
would disgrace the State
There were also made public TO-DAY
numerous letters from persons in
Georgia and other Southern States de-
c!aring that Franks trial was a dis
grace TO the State. and that ne should
w riN'-Il dH'iNeT Cll;(nce. ESWSD9
in Thomasville. Dalton and at other
places in Georgia also voiced a demand
| for 4 new trial
Detective William j. Burns reached
here this afternoon from New York.
| and Will begin work on Franks case
Eurns was silent as to his moves In the
case.
Whether or not he will end eavor first
or all 10 quiz Jim Conley i'm the Tower
he would not say. II is reported, how
ever that his first action will be to
Interview Frank. He Will probably nor
leave Atlanta until his Investigation
has been com plcted and his final re-
port has been rendered
Albert Mcknight. who gave dam.
! aging evidence against the accused at
the trial, and repudated II three weeks
ago, was found unconscious this morn
ing By the Southern Railway tracks.
| having been struck by a train. The
negro is in hospital and may die
lie has been missing since he made tho
AFFIDAVIT rcpudiatins his testimony
against Frank.