Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-21
GEORGIA WILL HAVE:
NO |NTERF FERENCE
Governor Lets 1t Be Known That
Help in Frank Matter Is
Not Wanted.
ONLY AGGRAVATING SITUATION
Newspaper Editorials and Reso-
lutions Will Not Hasten
Justice for Lynchers.

ATLANTA. GA. August 2o.-C;over-
nor Nat f. Harris let it bo known to-
day that tho people OF Georgia would
resent outside interference or advice
in dealing with conditions growing out
OF the lynching OF Leo NJ. Frank.
The lynching." he said. was a crime
against the civilization of our State
and blot upon GcorGia's fair name
that cannot bc erased. None of us
approves OF mob violence or lynch law,
ana all of us regret what has happened
nave and viii continue to exert every
power at my command to bring the
members Of the mob TO Justice
But If the members OF the mob arc
brought TO justice, it will he through
the courageous efforts Of Georgia Of
hc:als and courts. supported b., the
sentiment of tho citizens Of the state.
and not through the newspaper eai-
torials and resolutions OF Indignation
and offers OF rewards coming from
other States.
AFRAID THEY WILL.
AGGRAVATE STU ALTON
II am afraid these things Will ONLY
serve TO aggravatc 4 situation that
already is deeply humiliating to our
people. and If they continue Will
cventuate in great deal more harm
than good by defeating the efforts Of
the state TO apprchend the guilty
parties"
The Governor has received many
kilograms and letters during the past
two days urging him to take decisive
action.
So far IS the public is advised. the
only forward step taken to-day in con-
nec,ion with the lynchinE was tho an
nouncemcnt that tho Governor soon
would ask the prosecuting officials OF
Baldwin and cobb Counties to confer
with him coon tn future action
The state prison farm is in Baldwin
County. Franks death, SO far as
known. occurred in Cobb County The
Superior Court judge. tho solicitor and
tho shc.iff OF tho two counties will bc
invited To the conference.
There has been some doubt among
these officials. according to common
report. as to which should take the
initiativ" in discovering tho identity or
tho so-callcd "vigilancc committees"
which abducted Frank from Millcdge-
Vile and later loft his body hanging
near Marietta.
II is ronicndcd on behalf of The
Miiledgcvillc authorities tha, tho actual
killing Of Frank did not take place in
that county, and. therefore, the real
prosecution of the case would not lie
in their hands
ON behalf Of the Cobb County au.
thoritics. it is argued that officials
there did not come in actual contact
with the mob and were unaware of the
crime until tho perpetrators had made
'heir escape. Governor Harris said he
would urge the judges and solicitors to
bring the matter before their respective
grand jures and would ask the shcriffs
to cooperate in every possible WAY.
No grand jury sessions are imminent in
either county. and, so far as could be
learned tonight, no special sessions
are contemplated.
ONE INVESTIGATION
APPARENTLY UNDER WAY
Apparently tho only investigation OF
the lynching actually under way is that
OF Coroner John Booth. OF Cobb County,
who cmpanelled Jury soon after he
cut down Franks body on Tuesday
morning, but postponed the sitting for
week after hearing the evidence of
two witnesses as TO the identity of the
vigilance committees" victim Coro-
nor Booth said to-day that thus far he
had discovered only two witnesses who
had seen the lynchinS party in auto
mobiles approaching tho vicinity Of the
giant oak near Frcys gin. One OF these
witnesses is William Frey himself, but
neither was able to fix the identity of
any member OF the party. The mem
bcrs OF the lynching committee" wore
heavy automobile goggles which effec-
nl,.
81 am sworn to inquire and TO in
uuire diligently" he said, "and | am
going to do it,"
The lynchng was referred to to-day
by one citizen of Marietta as "the
storm that recently passed"
We are not sorry it was done: we
are sorry it had to be DONE" was the
way another resident expressed the
feeling of large part OF the com
munity to-day 1t was freely admitted
that the action Of the vigilance COM
mittee might lead to other lawlessncss
that would be deeply regretted.
Reports have said that the Identity
OF many members OF the lynching Com
mittce" was known to "a ma jority OF
the residents Of Marietta. Diligent in
uuiry by persons who know Marietta
and her people proved these reports
untrue. The people OF Marietta either
do not know or do not want to know
who constituted the lynching party.
HUG AND PAT TREE
WHERE FRANK WAS HANGED
The trunk Of the oak tree 10 which
Frank was hanged was covered to-day
with cotton bagging. This was dono to
protect it from souvenir hunters. Tho
tree Is guarded day and night. Mr..
lcontinued on Second Pase.)