The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-21
REWARDS FOR tyNcHERS. 4
GOV. HARRIS SAYS EVERY Ell
FORT WILL BE MADE TO CON-
VICT GUILTY PARTIES.
All Stories OF I.ynching Except One
State Frank Declared His Inno-
ccncc just Before lie Died.

Atlanta. Ca. Aug. 1S.-Plans for
Investigating the abduction and lynch
ing of Leo NJ. Frank went forward
steadily today. Gov. Harris stated
that thorough inquiry would be
made, and that rewards would be
offered for the arrest and conviction
of the men who took Frank from the
State prison at Milledgeville and
hanged him near Marietta.
Il am inAxpressibly shocked" said
the governor. This affair has placed
blot upon the fair name of our State
that can never be wiped out. The
lynching will be probed to the bottom
and every effort within my power will
be made to bring the guilty members
of the mob to justice. At the proper
time i will offer rewards for the ar
rest and conviction of the man, and 1
will urge the Judge, the solicitor and
the sheriff to make diligent efforts to
uppTtncHu tnem.
Gov. Harris will have a conference
with the three members of the State
prison commission tomorrow morn
ing. All Of the commissioners were
In Warden Smiths home the night
Frank was taken away. 1t is not an-
usual for them TO be there on Mon
day and Monday night as they make
weekly inspections of the prison.
The governor hopes to obtain in
formation from the commissioners and
possibly some Of the prison officials
who were overpowered, that will lead
to the Identification Of some of the
men. Only a part Of the gang wore
masks. If the identity Of any of the
men Is established the governor said
today he would. make every effort to
have them arrested.
Nothing was done at Marietta today
in the way Of an investigation. The
coroner's jury which held O. brief ses-
sion yesterday adjourned until next
Tuesday. Much interest attaches to
what may be brought out at a meet
ing of the Cobb county commissioners
yesterday. Official opinion here is
that Milledgeville Is the place for the
investigation or at least the beginning
of 1t.
That the prison commission would
not make an inquiry was further in
dicated today when another member,
E. l.. l'alney, stated that he did not
think any one connected with the
prison was 10 blame. The prison com
mission has absolute powers in
handling prlso~ affairs and in the
tomorrow the commissions
ers will act only in an advisory ca
pacity.
Stories represented as coming indi-
rectly from men who knew" and re-
citing details of the actual lynching
increased In number today. All ex-
cept one of these statements" sale
that Frank stated that he was not
guilty of the murder of Mary Phagan
Ii was the similarity of the state
ments" that began today to gain for
them some serious attention.
The manner of making the sup"
posed information public was for the
person telling the story to say that
1t had come from an intimate friend,
who had perfect confidence in him,
but whose name. of course. could not
be used. One statement" that caus-
ed much comment began by referring
to the loyalty and bravery" Of the
men who did the lynching, bat clos
ed with the statement that Frank
said just before he was drawn up
and strangled to death that he was
innocent. Each one Of these stories
indicate that Frank was not harmed
on the trip from Miliedgeyille to the
lynching scene, and that he met
death in full realization Of the fate
that awaited him.
After these stories had caused COM
ment another one was brought forth
today, in which 1t was said that
Franks last words conveyed an eva
sivc answer to question as to his
guilt.
One of these statements, published
here today, quoted a citizen Of Mari
eta, whose name was kept secret, but
who was said to be in u position to
know. as follows:
Ever since the day Gov. Slaton