Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-04-29
FRANKS FLEA 60
FOR A PARDON.

After an adverse decision OF inc
tribunal of last rcsort-the supreme
Court of the United States-l'2o NJ
Frank. sentenced to death for killing
Mary Phagan, factory girl IN At
lauta. hassbut one hope OF escape
from the chair. The Governor OF
Georgia may be induced to mitigate
his punishment, as there is no likcll-
hood of the condemned man beng
hardened. 1t is said that fifteen
thousand names have been secured TO
a petition praying for communication
Of sentence.
The lot of an official who has the
mower to act in such case should
invoke the sympathy of all. A man
who fills a gubernatorial chair has
much with which to contend, and
among tho most trying of all his en-
pericnccs is to be compelled to decline
to interfere in cases where capital
punishment is about to be melted out,
All men, no matter how degenerate.
have relatives and friends, and they
are naturally persistent, and never
leave any stone unturned III their
efforts to bring about miscarriages OF
justice.
The governor of a state is burdcned
with a great responsibility. lie
binds himself before God and man to
perform his duties, and should nc
prove recreant he will lose the respect
of heaven and earth
When Andrew j. Montague was
Governor of Virginia, and after the
Supreme Court of the United States
had refused the petition of McCue.
who murdered his wife in Charlottcs-
vile, he was implored to save the
culprit from the punishment about
to be melted out to him. The con
demned mans little daughter was sent
into the gubernatorial mansion to i'm
plore mercy for her father. The Gov
ernor, kind-hearted man as he is, was
compelled by his sense Of duty, to
allow the child to leave with no hope
for her parent.
The case of the unfortunate Rev.
William Dodd is often cited to show
what interest is occasionally takeH.
in men who forfeited their lives by
their conduct. DR.. Dodd was convict
ed of forgery. 1t was 4 capital Of
fcnse in England at that time, ans:
two young men out Of the ordinary
walks of life had a short time before
been hanged for similar oifenses. Ne
great interest was taken in their late,
but when Dr.. Dodd, a prominent ana
popular minister, and author Of Il
commentary upon the Bible, was sent
enced to death, cry of horror spread
over England. A petition mile
long was presented to King George
the Third praying for clcmcncy. but
the sovereign. feeling as sorry for DR..
Dodd as any of his friends, declined
to- interfere.
The case of Leo NJ. Frank has been
pf national interest, and tEc news
papers of the larger cite have print
cd pages at times in behalf Of the
convicted man. The courts, however.
have found him guilty Of murder in
the first degree. Some arc inclined
to believe that the young man is tn"
victim of miscarriage of justice.
The tribunals which he has from
time Il, time faced think differently
however.
interference in such cases brings Il
terrible responsibility upon al cXecu-
tive. no matter how mcrclfully ne
may he by nature. The frst,law ever
given to the human race was alter inc
subsistence Of the flood. 1t was
blood for blood. In most countries OF
the world this decree Of heaven. has
heen affirmed by similar human lawS,
The man who sits upon jury l.
heavens representative as well az
that of his state. The Governor is
invested with the same responsibility
Should they act upon their own feet
ings in cases of capital crime and
refuse to carry out the law of God
and man they assume q responsibility
they may not realize at the time.