The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-06-21

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my life that | had that mans blood ON
my hands
Early eItra editions stated officially
that Franks sentence had been com
muted aud early IN the morning crowds
began to gather IN principal down town
street corners. The arrest Of II man
who attempted to dlsmOunt Il police
man by grabbing the horses reins
stirred the crowd nt Forsythe und
Walton streets 10 excitement and they
followed the officers 10 the city hall II
block away, where they took the pris
Oner pending the arrival VI patrol
wagon.
Speakers started to harungue the
crowd from the city hall steps, but
were stopped by un eXtrn force Of pO-
lice 1t was stated that delegation
was coming here from Marietta, the
former home Of Mary Phagan.
Two hearings were held here on
Franks application for executive Gle
mency one before the state hris on
commission, May 81, and the other be
fore the governor The Inter hearing
extended through several days, and
ended June lB
Many Ask Communication
Before the prison commission oral
argument On Franks behalf was made
by his counsel and jurists, lawyers aud
prominent citizens Of Georgia, Illinois
and Massachusetts. Petitions bearing
hundreds Of thousands Of names from
various state legislatures. societies aud
committees and thousands OF letters
urging clemency FOR Frank were pre-.
sented to the commission. In OprOd-
ton to the application there were filed
letter from Solicitor Dorsey who
prosecuted Frank, and protest from
citizens of Cobb county. Georgia, where
Mary Phagan formerly resided
Franks former counsel, prior 70 the
appeal for executive rlemency, had
made seven unsuccessful attempts be.
fore the county superior aud state su-
preme courts 10 obtain new trial or
the setting aside of the verdict The
federal district refused to grant him
writ Of habeas corpus for review Of
| the case and also denied Franks ap.
peal IN habeas corpus proceedings.
Four times the death sentence was
passed upon him.
The first official announcement of
| the governors decision was made nj
! =. - o'clock today. Extra editions OF
local newspapers containing the unof'
| ficinl announcement caused consider
able excitement among number ot
| crowds OF men who gathered on vari-
Ous street corners and around the city
hall Mounted police and patrolmen
were stationed on the outskirts Of the
crowds and at least one arrest was
made Comment disappearing the de
clsion was heard in the gatherings
| In his statement eIhaustlyely eN
planning his reasons for committing
Franks sentence, Governor Slaton re-
viewed the circumstances surrounding
the murder " Mary Phagan In the
National Pencil factory here ON April
20, 1918, the conviction Of Frank and
his appeal for clemency. Continuing
the statement reads
Tho murder was n most helnou,
one and the offender deserves tht
punishment uf death. The only ques
tlon IL n to the identity Of the erin
inal The responsibility IL upon th,
people Of Georgia 10 protest the live
Of her citizens and to maintain the dig
nifty Of her laws and II the choice
must be made between the approba
tIon Of citizens Of other states anC
the enforcement Of our laws agulns
offenders, We must choose the latte
alternative.
Militia Was Near
1T In charged that the court nnc
jury were terrOriIed by mob an,
that tho Jury were coorced into thcl
} verdict When Frank was indicte'
and the air was fillOd with rumors n
10 the murder and mutilatlon ~ tn
girl there was intense feeling, and I,
such an extent that my Predecessor
Governor Brown, stated IN an argl
ment before me that no had the mi
litia ready 10 protect tho defendant