Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-18
PRISONER ATTACKS
HIM WITH KNIFE
Life-Term Murderer Jumps From
Behind and Cuts His
Jugular Vein.
DORMITORY DARK AT TIME
Physicians Have Hard Time
Stopping Blood, and Report
Condition as Serious.
DORMIT0RY DARK AT TIME

MlLLEDGEVILLE. GA. July IL
Leo NJ. Frank whose death sentence for
the murder of Mary phagan recently
was commutcd TO life imprisonment
was attacked by another prisoner at
the state prison farm here tonight
and seriously injured by being cut in
the throat.
Prison officials said that the attack
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 IL o'clock. was made
from behind. butcher knife being
the weapon used. Franks left jugulaf
vein was cut, but neither the spinal
cord nor windpipe was injured
The attack on Frank was made In
the dormitory which the prisoners oc-
cupy In common at night. All lights
were out at the time. Green is alleged
to have had the knife secreted in his
prison clothing.
So quick was the attack made that
| no guard had time to interfere. Frank
fell backward TO the floor. utterinE a
cry of pain. the lights were quickly
switched on and the guards saw him
PROSTATE upon the flo. blood spurt-
ing from his wounds. while prisoner
was trying to make his way back to
his bed.
a knife that had been made Of a
file. and which the convicts had used
in killing hogs during the day was
found on the dormitory floor How
the knife WAS smuggled into the prison
! is n mystery.
SURGEoN-PRIsONE
RENDER FIRST AID
| DR.. George B. Compton. the prison
! surgeon. was Immediately called. but
before he could reach tho prison dor
mitory, two surgeons who are serving
terms in prison were at Franks side.
administering first aid.
Il guess they've got me-" Frank is
| quoted as having said to- the doctors
when they had him. He did not lose
| consciousness.
Frank was removed to the operating
| room In the hospital department of the
| prison, where the wound was dressed
! The physicians have not succeeded in
| stopping the flow of blood. and Frank
is growing weaker.
Prison officials who had been with
| the doctors during the operation stated
that Frank had chance to recover
but that his condition was very serious
Frank was brought to the State
| prison farm in the early morning of
June y, after midnight trip from the
Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. by train
| to Macon. Ga, and thence by automo-
bile TO tte prison.
a few hours after his arrival here. 1t
was officially announced that the then
| Slot hnl rnp mi tnH !, ic
tence to life imprisonment.
Frank always has insisted that he
| would in time prove that he was in
| noccnt of the charge of having MUIR
dered Mary Phagan.
Less than a week ago the State
| militia companies here and at Macon
! we're ordered held in their armories,
| IL report having reached the State off {.
| cials that an attempt would be made
| to force an entrance TO the State prison,
| remove Frank and lynch him.
GREEN'S STATEMENT
TO PRISON OFFICIALS
While Frank was on the operating
table Warden Smith and other prison
officials had Green brought before
them and his statement was taken.
I'm awfully sorry that / did this"
moment / thought that was doing
what was right. l thought that I was
doing something that ought to be
| done.
IF I had to do it again, I wouldn't
| do it for anything in the world am
especially sorry. now that l realize
| the seriousness of the crime | am
| sorry because of the criticism that it
may bring on the officials of the State
! Farm, especially of Warden Smith.
! wouldn't do Il thing in the world to
| injurc him in his position. He had
| confidence in me, and l have violated
that confidence. 1 am ready to suffer
the consequence"
| Green said that Frank was asleep in
! bed when he was attacked. There was
| only one knife wound.
| Immediately after Green had made
! his statement he was taken to the
| hasemehto of the prison. where he was
! put In irons and placed in solitary con-
| hncment.
WITH CONSCIENCE CLEAR
FRANK NOT AFRAID TO DIE
| After Franks wound had been dress
| ed he turned to the physicians attend
ing him and asked: Am / going to
| die"
| I'VE don't know" said DR.. George
| b. Compton, the prison surgeon. You
are in serious condition and will
have to be quiet"
IF am going to die" replied Frank,
Il am not afraid. Nothing stands be-
| tween me and God. 1 hope that tho
man who attacked me will be for
given"
/ Mrs Frank, wife of the wounded
prisoner. was a guest at the home OF
Superintendent Smith on the prison
farm tonight. She swooned when she
| learned OF the attack, but later rallied
and she was taken to tho hosnit n I