Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-19
Another Prisoner Attacks Alleged
Slayer of Mary Phagan at Pen
Farm, Severing the Jug
ular Vein.
RECOVERY IS HELD DOUBTFUL
William Green Says He Thought He
Was Doing Right in Making
Assault, but Sorry Now.
FLOW OF BLOOD NOT STOPPED
BULLETIN.

LEO Ne EFdflk lhE III TIE UCOTbia
state prison hospital tonight with
what attendants said was a fighting
chance for recovery. Physicians had
succeeded in stopping the flow of
blood from a Jagged wOnud in his
throat, made with a butcher knife
in the hands of William Green, a
fellow convict serving a life term
for murder. The blow was struck
as Frank slept in his bunk in a DOR
mitory late last night.
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ca, July Is.
Leo M. Frank. whose death sem
tence for the murder of Mary Phagan
recently was commuted to life i'm
prisonment, was attacked by another
prisoner at the state prison farm
here last night and seriously injured
by being cut in the throat.
Prison officials said that the at
tack on Frank was made by William
Green, who also is serving a life
term for murder. Franks recovery
is said to be doubtful.
The attack on Frank, which was made
shortly after II o'clock, was made from
behind. The assailant used butcher
knife Franks jugular vein was cut, but
neither the spinal cord nor the windpipe
were injured.
Knife Hid in Clothing.
THE otforlr yyao v,oada n the dOrT1itOFV.
All lights were out at the time! Green
is alleged TO have had the knife secreted
in his prison clothing.
So sudden was the attack that no
guard had time to interfere. Frank fell
TO the floor, his cries calling the atten-
tion of guards. who switched on the
lights Blood was squirting from Franks
wounds and another prisoner was trying
to make his way back to bed. A knife
made from q file and which the convtcts
had used in killing hogs during the day
was found on the dormltory floor.
DIR. George B. Compton. the prison sur
geon, was Immediately called, but before
he could reach the prison dormitory two
surgeons, who are serving terms In
prison, were at Franks side administer
ing first aid.
Chance TO Recover.
'I guess they've got me- Frank Is
quoted as having said to the doctors when
they reached him. He did not lose
consciousness. Frank was removed to the
operating room in the hospital where
the wound was dressed. The physicians
had not succeeded in stopping the flow
of blood at last reports Prison officials
said Frank had chance to recover, but
that his condition was very serious.
Frank was brought to the state prison
farm June p after midnight from the
Fulton county jail I'm Atlanta. A few
hours after his arrival here 1t was Of
ficciaIly announced that the then Gov
ernor Slaton had commuted his sentence
TO life imprisonment.
Less than a week ago the state militia
companies here and at Macon were
ordered held in their armories. report
having reached the state officials that
an attempt would be made to lynch
Frank. While Frank was on the operat-
ing table Warden Smith took Green
statement
sorry for Act.
I'm awfully sorry that l did this
he is reported to have said. AT the
moment 1 thought that I was doing what
was right. / thought that | was doing
something that ought 10 he done
IT am sorry because of the criticism
that il may bring on the officials of the
state farm. especially of Warden Smith.
] would not do a thing in the world to
injure him in his position. He had
confidence in me and 1 have violated
that confidence. I am ready to suffer
the consequences
Green said that Frank was asleep when
he was attacked. There was only one
knife wound.
After Green made his statement he was
put in irons and placed in solitary con-
finement-
more complete examination showed
Franks throat was slashecd for several
inches and The jugular vein partially sew
cred.
Sunac animosity has been shown to-
ward Frank by his fellow prisoners since
his arrivnl at ths farm but prison off
cials said nothing had indicated danger
Of an alta X on him.
Green was placed in solitary confine-
ment. He IL serving a hfe term foe
murder